Are We There Yet...annoying question or expression of doubt?

            I am about to ask you the most annoying question that you have ever heard. We have all said it or heard it in our life time. Some of us have said it in a whiney voice, an angry voice, a voice from a standpoint of needing information, and some of us have said or heard as just a way to get back at someone. So here it goes, “Are we there yet? It is that repeated question that is asked over and over…we see it in the movies and on television…and it is the sign that “this is going to be a long trip. It’s universal!

            Today’s Gospel reading sets us in a scene that is much like this question. Jesus has been travelling (for nine chapters) and many things have happened. He has been baptized, gathered his disciples, healed, and fed five thousand people. Now it is the festival and they are all at the temple. It was important to go to the temple during festival time. Jesus walks through the “portico of Solomon.” This was a BIG deal. The Portico was the place where the king would make judgements. Jesus walks right into this portico and in John’s Gospel; it is as if no one even notices. The people are consumed with their wanting to know one thing, “Are you the Messiah? C’mon, if you are, just tell us!

            Remember the book of John is sometimes referred to as the book of signs. Jesus is out there doing all this healing, preaching, teaching, and feeding the five thousand; and these people are with him, they see the things that he does but they still don’t get it. They are still asking him, are you the Messiah? Yeah, I saw you heal the leper, but are you the Messiah? I saw you feed 5000 with a few loaves of bread and some fish, but are you the Messiah? If you are just tell us! It is exactly like the “are we there yet?” It must have gotten pretty annoying to hear that same question over and over.

What is it that is making them constantly ask that same question, again and again? There own words suggest that they have been asking this question over and over, because they say, “why must you keep us in suspense?” I am sure there would be an exclamation point rather than a question mark at the end of that sentence. Was it curiosity? Did they truly not know who Jesus was after seeing all that he had done OR was it something else? What is one thing that could make them ask time and again who Jesus was; especially after seeing Jesus signs?

Maybe what drove them to this question was something called DOUBT. Think about it. They were living under Roman rule and they knew what God’s law was because it was written in the books we call the Old Testament. God’s commandments of what you cannot do. It is easy to get caught up in the world of what you cannot do. We see laws as being restrictive and punishing. But, there is a twist to all this law. The prophets write in this book called the Old Testament and they write of one who will come to set God’s people free; free from the bonds of captivity, free to see the world and God’s law, not as a restriction. But seeing God’s law as a freedom to live with one another and caring for one another.

Now this Jesus person comes into the world and is doing all these things. He is healing, teaching, preaching on how to live as God’s children. He is doing unthinkable things by sitting and sharing a meal (one of the most intimate acts of friendship) with people who society deems unlovable or not worthy to be God’s children.

The question that they ask is their way of expressing doubt in who Jesus is. They ask the question because they are afraid that if they become or remain followers of Jesus that they may be unclean or unworthy. Maybe they are afraid that if they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, they will be deemed outcasts. Afraid that they are following the wrong God and will be subject to the TRUE God’s wrath and condemnation; because, they have been conditioned to see God as judgemental and quick to punish, quick to cast out. With a God like that, no wonder they are waiting for the proverbial “other shoe to drop.”

But that is not what Jesus has shown them. Jesus shows us that God is compassionate and full of mercy and grace. When encountered by lepers and the blind, Jesus does not turn away from them but heals them. Jesus does not let anything stop him from doing God’s work in the world. He doesn’t check the person’s credentials or nationality he does what God calls him to do and (to steal the NIKE commercial line) “Just does it.”

I think that we can relate to these people. I think we have all, at one time or another, have doubted God in one form or another. I know we have asked it in our questions. The question at the very beginning of the sermon can be seen as a question of doubt. Are we there yet can be interpreted as I am afraid of your driving and just want this to be over OR I don’t like travelling and I just want to get there and get the trip done. Many of us have asked the questions like, “God what should I do? Did I do the right thing? How am I going to make it through this (insert the situation here)?”

These are times when we doubt ourselves and we even doubt God. In times of great difficulty we ask why God is punishing us, what did we do to deserve this, and here is my favorite “God only gives us what we can handle.” As much as I have problems with that statement, I find myself thinking it sometimes. But what you have to know that these doubts DO NOT mean that you lack faith. If anything, my hope is that it means that you want your faith in God to grow stronger. Because, sometimes and I hope every time, when you ask those questions we all turn to our scripture to look for the answers to these moments of doubt. I am not saying to look up any passages that say “Do not doubt” so you can shame yourself into faith cause that does not work. What I am saying is to look for those words of Jesus’ promise. Look up those passages where Jesus says, “I am with you to the end of the age.” “I am the bread of life and whoever comes to be will never hunger.” He does not say that you are not allowed to go back into scripture to look it up just to make sure. That is what the Word of God is there for. We have been given the word of God through written word so that we can go back in those moments of doubt and strengthen our faith in a God who promises so many things; forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and grace.

God also gave the gift of the spoken word. We are really good at sitting down and doing liturgy. We know when to stand and when to sit and we have the words for each song right in our hymnals. But one thing we, as Lutherans, find very difficult is telling our story of faith. God gave us all a voice. That voice is good at saying what we want or don’t want. But how many times have we actually sat down with one another and told our faith stories; our story of God in our life? It is not easy, but I can guarantee that when you do it enough, it does get easier. And you might be surprised because someone might need to hear your story of faith, doubts and all in order to be able to begin to see and tell their story.

Friends in Christ, it is not unusual or unfaithful to have moments of doubt. Look to the the commandments that say, I am the Lord your God who created all things; and rejoice in the promise…the Good News… that “God, so loved the world that he gave his only son; not to condemn the world but to save the world.” In those moments of doubt look to the God who gave his only Son on the cross for our sake; whose body and blood…the New Covenant we celebrate this day in the bread and wine of God’s Holy Supper.

My prayer is that when we come to the table and receive the gift of forgiveness from God that all our doubts be turned into the strength and confidence of God’s never ending love: AMEN.