“The Greatest Truth Contained in the Scriptures.”

SERMON      3/19/99

“The Greatest Truth Contained in the Scriptures.”

What would you say is the greatest truth contained in the scriptures?

I imagine that if I went around the congregation today and asked you this question individually,  some different responses and answers would come back to me.

Some of you might say that the greatest truth is that God is.

It’s the whole idea that there is a Creator.

That the universe,  and life as we know it is not just the result of some kind of elemental,  atomic,  chemical and biological lottery.”

“In the beginning,  God”…..some of us might say that this is the greatest truth of the scriptures.

Some of the rest of us might say that the greatest truth is about: 

          The Presence and Intimacy of God

           The Love and Forgiveness of God

                           ( the Kazan, Clinton/Lewinsky,Linda Tripp 

              parts of us)

           Has to do with God becoming human in Christ

           Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross

There are so many profound truths contained in the scriptures.  We might debate  about which is the greatest.

This morning,  I want to focus on one more truth in the scripture which has to be considered.  And this truth is contained not only in the  lesson read this morning,  but also in the scriptures read the last two Sundays.

On Sunday March 7,  the 3rd Sunday in Lent,  the scripture lesson was from John 4.  It was the account of Jesus and the woman at the well.  

Do you remember about the woman?

Well,  we don’t know much about her,  but based on the scripture we do know this.  

She had been married five times.  And in the conversation it’s like Jesus sensed a deep thirst within her.  He began to talk with her,  not about the water in the well,  but about a spiritual kind of water he seemed to sense that she is looking for.  He said to her…..”those who drink of the water I will give them, will never be thirsty.” 

From what we read in this story,  it’s not much of a stretch to conclude that here was a woman who had bounced from relationship to relationship.  A lonely woman searching deeply for something to fill the void in her life

There’s a folk song that goes like this….”It sure gets lonely walking down this road at night.  Not knowin what ‘s up there out of sight.  But you keep right on a goin,  though your tears are showin,  Hoping to meet someone who will lead you right.  And then you meet a stranger,  who greets you with a smile,  talks with you a while,  and walks with you a mile.”

Here was a woman who  had tried just about every thing she knew to find some peace and happiness. And then she met Jesus,  and one of the  great biblical truths is proclaimed.

Well,  keep that story in mind.  

Now to last weeks story recorded in John 9.  It’s the story of the man,  blind from birth.  Cesar ably preached about it last week.

Remember, Jesus passed the man sitting by the side of the road.  He stopped,  spit in the dirt and made a paste of it,  put it on the man’s eyes, and told him to go and wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam.  The man did as he was told and when he washed his eyes,  he could see for the first time.

Here was a man,  living in darkness all his life,  seen in that society as one punished by God,  a burden to his family,  a beggar,  a non person.  It’s not much of a stretch to conclude that he had long ago lost all hope of having a fulfilling productive life

But then he was encountered by  Christ,  and one of the great biblical truths surfaces again.

So now we come to the dramatic story,  read to us by Cesar this morning.

A friend of Jesus died.

The man’s sisters were heartbroken,  and further hurt because Jesus delayed in coming to their home.

It appeared that Lazarus had entered into the mysterious realm of death.

He was placed in a tomb.  A stone sealed his body inside.

From all outward appearances,  it seemed like it was all over.  Nothing could be done.  It was hopeless.  And to even assume that something could be done would be ludicrous,  cruel.  

And then the monumental biblical truth surfaces again.

And what is that truth?

It’s hard to describe…..hard to put in just a few words,  but I’ll try.

Maybe we would describe this great truth like this…..Nothing is impossible with God.

Or maybe we would describe it this way…..There is no situation beyond the reach of God.

Or maybe like this…. There is no hopeless situation.

Or maybe it could be put like this….As much as our lives seem to be stalled or at a complete dead end,  things are not as they seem.  There is not just hope and faith,  there is new life ahead.

Of course there are some who might think….Yeah Mike,  I know you’re right.  I know that God can do anything …..and God touches people and helps people and changes lives….. and that miracles happen.  But my situation is different.  My financial situation,  my physical condition,  my career situation,  my relationships,  my family situation,  my specific living situation.

I believe that the woman at the well was changed, and the blind man was able to see for the first time,   and Lazarus….I even believe that he was brought him back to life.

But that’s different. My situation is different from theirs.  Different from others

So what is the greatest truth contained in the scriptures?

Who can say?

But this truth we’ve talked about this morning has got to be at least considered.

The lonely woman at the well….the poor guy blind from birth…..the man sealed in the darkness of a tomb…..none were beyond the touch of God,  and each one found a completely new lease on life.

Could there be a word here for you and me today?

AMEN