"CONSTRUCTION WORKERS"

April 30, 2000
Confirmation Sunday

Text: John 20:19-22

I assume you have seen the big bridge across the lake on Loop 360. If I were to ask who built that bridge, the answer I might receive is "What’s-his-name’ built it."

Of course, "What’s-his-name" did not build the bridge. "What’s-his-name" designed it, and he may have supervised the work. However, it was the construction workers who actually built the bridge.

What I am going to try to say in this sermon is that when we are the persons God intends us to be we are construction workers, working for Jesus. We are to be bridge builders for Christ. In the passage we read today, the risen Christ told the disciples several things. Among them, he told his disciples that they are to be involved in the forgiveness of sin business. That is to say, the bridge building business. Forgiveness is what builds the bridge that makes it possible for those on the sin side to cross over a huge gap to the side of faithfulness—if they are willing. The forgiveness Jesus was talking about in the passage we read today has to do with bridging the sin-gap that separates us from God. Forgiveness has to do with building bridges that makes it possible for people to move from where they are on the sinful side of the gap to living faithfully on God’s side.

We are to be construction workers, building bridges, working for Christ—construction workers laboring on the bridges designed and made possible by Christ. This is part of what Jesus meant when he said: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." We are to join with Christ in the bridge building business, doing what we are able to do so that people can move from where they are to where God intends them to be.

Earlier in the Gospel of John (chapter 3), we were told that God loves his creation so much that he sent his only son so that people could live as God intends. As God sent Jesus to bring healing and wholeness—that is, salvation—to the world, so Christ is sending us into the world as part of that same mission.

But how do we carry out this mission? We can discover some clues about what is involved being bridge builders for Christ by remembering some of the stories in the Gospel of John. These stories are just a few of the illustrations or examples of the kind of work Jesus did and the kind of work we are to do.

For example, in chapter 4 of the Gospel of John we can read a story about Jesus helping a woman understand herself, and in understanding herself, this woman began to get a new view of life. This is one way to work on bridge building for Christ—to help persons get a new view of themselves by helping them see themselves as God sees them.

Another example is the story in chapter five about Jesus healing a crippled man on the Sabbath. The religious people who were devoutly focused on maintaining religious traditions and keeping all religious rules were very upset because they were convinced that in healing this man on the Sabbath Jesus had offended God by violating one of God’s Ten Commandments. But Jesus understood the command to love God is the greatest of all commandments and that loving God involves loving the persons God has created—our neighbors. Therefore, loving God by loving our neighbors takes precedence even over the commandment to do no work on the Sabbath. As Jesus saw it, doing the work of love was to do holy work, and therefore in doing this work of love he was in truth keeping the Sabbath holy. Jesus did not allow religious customs or traditions to get in the way of his doing the work involved in loving persons. Building bridges between persons and God involves us in work that cares more about the needs of others than about our maintaining familiar customs or keeping traditional religious rules.

In chapter 6 there is a story about Jesus feeding a huge crowd of hungry people. Feeding the hungry is involved in building bridges between humans and God. But there is more. In that same chapter Jesus goes on to say that we humans need much more than the bread that feeds our stomachs; we also need the bread that feeds our souls; and it is in providing soul food that we provide the nourishment persons need to move from where they are to where God intends them to be. When we are construction workers, building bridges for Christ, we are to feed the hungry stomachs, but that is only where our feeding ministry begins. We have not completed our work until we have also offered the food of faith that nourishes the soul.

In chapter ten Jesus talks about his being a bridge builder by using the metaphor of being a good shepherd of sheep. He tells us that the good shepherd takes care of the sheep, even to the point of laying down his life for the sake of the sheep. The kind of bridge building Jesus did involved his caring for us so deeply and completely that he totally gave of himself for our good. And when we are construction workers working on Christ’s bridges, we are to follow his example and care so much for persons that we give of ourselves for their good.

In chapter thirteen we can read the story about Jesus dressing as a slave and doing what slaves of that day normally did. At their last supper together, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Bridging the gap between where we humans are and where God would have us be involves us in the kind of bridge building Jesus did. We are to take willingly the role of a servant or slave and do what needs to be done. It is in humbly doing the kind of serving that needs to be done, that the love of God shines through our lives and we are construction workers building bridges for Christ.

There are many, many other stories or examples in the Gospel of John, to say nothing of Matthew, Mark and Luke. But I am confident you have gotten the point. Jesus said to his disciples and to us: "As the Father has sent me into the world, so I send you." We are to work on bridges for Christ—bridges that will enable persons to move from where they are to where God intends them to be.

God, enable us to be construction workers whom Christ can use in bridging the gaps between where we humans are in our living and where you intend us to be. Amen.

God, we are grateful that you do not abandon us even when we have abandoned you. We are grateful your love is not merely a sentimental willingness to put up with anything, but a love that cares enough to be tough, a love that cares so deeply for us that it is at work in us and among us—even when we are suffering the consequences of sin. And God, we know sin has its consequences. Sometimes the sin of others brings us suffering; but, God, we are aware that far more often, it is our own sin that distorts our living. We thank you for not abandoning us when we have dug ourselves into deep, dark holes and are suffering the consequences of the choices we made. We are grateful your love is there with us, offering us the forgiving, healing possibilities of making use of the consequences of our sin for some sort of good. For your great and amazing love, we are grateful.

God, give us the faith we need to aware of your being at work in our lives. Give us the faith we need to draw upon all the resources you lovingly provide. Give us the faith we need to commit ourselves to being the persons you want us to be, living as you want us to live.

Trusting in your love made known in Christ, we pray. Amen.