(NB: Today, after a year's "exile" because of sanctuary remodeling and renovations, we returned to the Lord's House.)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Several years ago, a popular home
renovation show became famous for how they did their big reveal. While the
family was off on a vacation, the crew was hard at work demo-ing, fixing, and
rebuilding. Finally, it was time for the family to see their old house made
new. They gathered behind a large tour bus that separated them from their home.
Their excitement and anticipation was so palpable you could feel it in your stomach.
Finally, the host – along with the audience gathered at the work sight – commanded
the driver to move the bus. After a tearful exploratory journey, the host
gathered the family together and gently said, “Welcome home, family…welcome
home.”
This morning, after a year’s
separation from this sanctuary, we have returned to this home, to this House of
God. If you are thinking it’s been a long time, you are right: the last time we
worshipped here was December 29, 2019. In those almost thirteen months, there
was a lot of work done by committee members, our architect, two contractor
firms, their sub-contractors, and by many of you who volunteered in many ways.
There were some surprises along the way: some old construction treasures,
Covid’s unwelcomed arrival and impact on the industry, and material shortages,
just to name a few. So, after three hundred and eighty-five days of exile from
the sanctuary, welcome home, family of God…welcome home. Thank you for your
patience. Thank you for your diligent work. Thank you for supporting those who
worked these projects through. Thank you for remembering these projects and
workers in your prayers. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Make no mistake: this was all
done for a very specific reason. For years, there was talk about needing more space,
updating and bringing a 1968-year-model building into the 21st
century, and making the whole space more inviting and welcoming so people would
want to be here. It would be tempting to think these are the reasons why the
remodel and renovation was done. Yes, but no. Those are all secondary or even
tertiary reasons for the work done here. The reason, the ultimate reason
for all of this work is for the glory of God and for the beautification of the
House of the Lord.
In the Old Testament, David
lamented that he dwelled in a house made of the finest of woods and precious
metals but the shekinah shul Yahweh – the glory of the Lord – dwelled in
a tent. Beginning with King David and then culminating with his son, Solomon,
the people brought their gifts for the construction of the Temple. Only the
best – the best of their gifts, the best
building materials, the best workers, the best workmanship – for the Lord’s
house. Finally, on the day of dedication, Solomon prayed that the Lord, who
does not need an earthly dwelling yet promised to dwell among His people, would
enter the Temple and abide with His people. The shekinah shul Yahweh –
the glory of the Lord – entered, and what was a building, a beautifully
exquisite building the likes of which the world has scarcely ever seen again,
became the House of the Lord.
The House of the Lord: it’s His
House. He dwelt in the Temple and He dwells here, in this sacred building. Here,
in His own spiritually present and sacramental way, God deigns to dwell among
His people. And, He invites us into His presence. He comes among us who gather
in His name, in Water and Word, in Bread and Wine. Again, make no mistake about
it: this is His house, and it is for His purpose. He doesn’t entertain; He
absolves. He doesn’t merely encourage; He blesses. He doesn’t give you what you
want; He gives what we often don’t even realize. He doesn’t answer in our time;
He answers in His time, in His way.
He calls us into His house and
into His presence so He can deliver His gifts to us in Christ Jesus through the
work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, who called Philip with the simple invitation,
“Follow me,” still calls us. “Follow me” – through Baptismal water into death
and resurrection. “Follow me” – through the Word that is read and preached.
“Follow me” – to the Table where He Himself is both Host and Feast. “Follow me”
– from this Holy House out into the world where you encounter people, not that
unlike Nathaniel, who was found while sitting under a fig tree.
I find it fascinating that St.
John includes that little detail about a fig tree. Not just a tree, or even a shade
tree but a fig tree.
There is a story, found outside
the Biblical text, that in the ancient world, the fig trees would grow with
roots that would come up out of the ground. Old trees had such a gnarled, standing
root system – think of something like cypress trees – that these became popular
places for rabbis to teach their students who used the roots for both benches
and tables. There, Rabbis taught the Scriptures and students learned the
Biblical text. So, when Nathaniel was sitting under a fig tree, he wasn’t
kicked back waiting for a fig Newton.[1]
He was searching the Scriptures, seeking the One prophesied of old, perhaps
even comparing what the Biblical texts said with the One baptized by John in
the Jordan. Nathaniel’s comment about nothing good coming from Nazareth was
less a derogatory comment – “the 4th Ward? Nothing good ever happens
in the 4th Ward” – and simply overstating the case, doubting if the
Messiah would come from Nazareth. “So what if he’s from Nazareth…Moses, the
Law, and the prophets didn’t say anything about that.” Philip’s invitation to
Nathaniel was as simple as Jesus’ invitation to him: Come and see.
Indeed, they would see. For
Jacob, seeing heaven open and angels ascending and descending was only a dream.
For Philip and Nathaniel and all the other disciples whom Jesus would call, in
the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, they would see heaven
being opened and God dwelling among them to rescue and redeem the world. They
would see miracles as the Creator controls creation. They would see the Lord of
Life heal the sick and raise the dead to life. They would hear the Word made
flesh speak light into the darkness. They would believe, and they would
confess, Jesus as Christ the Son of the Living God. They would see evil men
rise up against Jesus, plotting to kill Him because He was stealing the
spotlight from them. But, they would not be present when Jesus hung from the
cross, or when He was crying for His Father’s presence, only for the Father to
neither respond nor send angels to minister to Him in His dying breath. Then,
they would see Him, on the third day as He promised, risen from the grave and,
forty days later, ascend into the heavens. In all of this, He fulfilled not
only His promises but all that had been written of Him by Moses and the Law and
the prophets.
We live in a time and place where
we are surrounded by people who also are searching for Someone or Something,
often not knowing who or what that might be. They are given ideas from
television and magazines, from Hollywood personalities and professional
athletes, from social media and social “influencers” who tell us to worship
fame, popularity, and fashion, and – of course – the almighty dollar. Often,
the unholy trinity of me, myself and I is espoused as the biggest god – lower
case g – to worship, because no one else is looking out for ol’ number one. People
want to think they can contribute to their salvation – either by the good
things they do, or by the lifestyle they live, or by the choices they make they
become good enough or worthy enough. Against a seemingly endless supply of gods
of health, wealth and happiness, the church stands with her message of Christ Jesus
and He alone, crucified, resurrected and ascended, saves. It’s not a popular
message. But it’s the only message, the only Word, that can save.
For two thousand years, the
Christian church has continued the invitation to come and see. For one hundred
and seven years, Zion has carried the same invitation to our neighbors and
family and friends. And now, entering our 108th year, we still
preach the same message and still offer the same invitation. Come. Come and
see.
So, invite them. Invite them –
friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, your doctor, your accountant, your feed
salesman, your beauty consultant, the kid flipping burgers, the senior citizen
42-player - invite them to come and see. Invite them here, to the Lord’s House,
to come, see the One who knows those who are still afar. Welcome them to come,
see the One who knows your sins, yet invites you to His presence. Come, see the
One who calls you to be baptized in His name. Come, see the One who son of
Joseph, son of Man, son of God. Come, see the One who tabernacles among us – in
this building, yes, but more than that, in His means of Grace that bestow
forgiveness, life and salvation without limit or limitation.
And perhaps, one day, by God’s
grace, you’ll be able to say to that once-lost soul, “Welcome home, my
friend…welcome home.”
Amen.
[1] If
you are reading this sermon and got that trifecta play on figs, Sir Isaac
Newton, and the delicious cookie, that’s a gold star for you. 😊
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