This morning we celebrate the lives
and ministry of two very prominent disciples. Peter and Paul may be considered
the most famous of the disciples. They just might be the two most written about
disciples. We are always hearing about Peter or Paul in the New Testament. We
know Peter is at the heart of some important moments of Jesus life and Paul is
one of the most controversial people after Jesus Crucifixion and resurrection.
Peter is that most famous Peter who
is always answering questions. When Jesus asks in our Gospel, “Simon Peter, do
you love me?” What is his answer? “Yes” and he does this three times. He even
gets to the point where he feels hurt but still answers, “you know everything.”
He is telling Jesus, “of course I love you! You should know this by now!” I
could almost hear the anger in Peter’s voice; couldn’t you? This guy who put
his whole life on hold and is sticking by Jesus, following Jesus, and now Jesus
has the nerve to ask, “Do you love me?” That could be really hurtful.
Peter, sometimes, seems to have some
easy answers. There was another time when Peter came to what we might think as
an easy answer. Although it is not in our Gospel readings today, Peter answered
another question of Jesus; “who do you say that I am?” I can imagine Peter
saying, “that is easy, you ARE the Messiah.” Our Gospel of Matthew brings the
powerful response of Jesus “you are Peter and upon this rock I build my
church.” It is one of my most favorite passages in the bible.
There is one little problem with
this picture of Peter’s easy answers and Jesus declaration. The problem is that
Peter does not realize how complicated that this will become. It sounds good to
have those kind of answers because they are just answers. It is a problem for
Peter and us because just before this crucifixion of Jesus, Peter did not
answer an easy question so easily. It was not so much a question as a
statement. When it came to declaring that he followed Jesus, Peter gave a very
different answer. His answer was “I did not know him.” In fact he stated it
three times.
Yet God still called to Peter to
follow Jesus. Jesus appeared to Peter and called him to continue proclaiming
the Good News of God’s love through Jesus Christ. Paul, again, after seeing all
that had happened answered “yes” to God. Paul knew that the road of
discipleship would not be easy from all that he, himself, had witnessed. And
this is a key word that I want you to hear “WITNESS”. Peter had been with Jesus
all along and seen all that Jesus had done and had taught. Peter found out in
our reading of Acts that witnessing to the love of God was not so easy.
Let’s look at Paul. We know Paul’s
story. He was originally a Roman soldier. He felt that his calling was to go
out and round up those people that believed in Jesus and persecute and punish
them for not bowing down to the Roman ruler of the time; for not worshipping
the Roman emperor as a God. He would hunt them, track them, and even help kill
them.
But something happened when he was
on the road. God had had enough. The flash of light came up and knocked Saul
(as he was called then) off the horse and asked “Why do you persecute me?”
Literally, in the flash of a light AND with Jesus voice, Saul is now Paul. Paul
who would persecute the Son of God is now a witness to God. Paul witnessed that
God chose him to speak the truth to who Jesus is and who God is. Paul’s witness
became was very personal and his heart was transformed; from someone who went
after the people who believed in Jesus Christ to a person who was changed by
the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, changed by the love of Christ, and called in
that love and forgiveness to serve God.
In both of these disciples is the
gift of witness. They experienced, first hand, the love of God. They were able
to be a witness, despite their brokenness and their human failings, to see and
know the love of God and the power of God’s forgiveness. Brothers and Sister’s
in Christ, that is exactly what we are called to do and who we are called to
be. Despite our human brokenness and our shortcomings, we are loved by God –
not as a form of get out of jail free card but as something we can be a witness
to for ourselves and for others. It is the chance for us to look at our lives
and see where God is in our lives and we can be witnesses to the glory of God.
It is not all about being broken
either. It is about witnessing those good times in our lives and in the world
as well. This past week, at Chapel, and two weeks ago, we had Vacation Bible
School. Some of us got to witness the youngest people in our community
interacting together and making friends. It didn’t matter what church they came
from…some did not come to church here at all. They witnessed to me about where
they saw God; and we did it by seeing some of their favorite movies. We could
all learn some valuable lessons from these young voices.
Where else do we witness God’s love,
forgiveness, and kindness? It comes through all the ministries that we do in
the church. It comes from reaching out to the least, the lost, and the lonely
in this community and in the world; the person that may not feel worthy of
God’s love. Part of our witness is in words AND in action because when we say
and when we do, that is when we become a witness to others in hopes that their
lives may be changed and God is revealed to them. The funny thing is that even
when I say God being revealed to them, God has a way of bringing God’s
blessings revealed back to you and me.
SO, God calls us to witness and be a
witness. For that we can all say Thanks be to God: AMEN!
