I Believe....

February 4, 2008
 
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
 
What do you believe in?
 
We’re all familiar with the famous phrase “I think; therefore I am” penned by Rene Descartes, the 17th century French philosopher.  Centuries later, contemporary German theologian Eberhard Jungel reframed the saying as follows:
 
“I believe, therefore I am—namely, a new creature and as such, one called to represent the being of Jesus Christ in the communion of saints, as a person existing as a member of the church of Jesus Christ. The believer knows that he or she is called to represent the foundation of his or her faith before the world by a life which corresponds to God…”  (from Theological Essays II, 1995)
 
If Jungel is right, then what we believe shapes who we are.  It is more than a matter of thinking, it is a matter of believing. It is more than a matter of thought; it is a matter of conviction.  And to Jungel, the only belief that is an adequate foundation for one’s life is a belief in the triune God fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
 
But in the secular world around us, many choose to believe in other things.  I stumbled on a rather non-scientific survey (and by that I mean, an on-line message board!) that asked people to complete the phrase: “I believe….”  Look at some of the responses:
 
I believe that faith and dedication are the foundation for success.  (“Bobby”)
I believe that the best way to double your money is to fold it and put it in your pocket. (“Patricia”)  
I believe that a wise man does not play leapfrog with an unicorn.  (“Anthony”)
I believe in a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.  (“Lillie G.”)  
I believe Michael Keaton was by far the best Batman.  (“Aaron”)
I believe the purpose of life is to have one amazing adventure that would inspire other people to make the most out of their lives. (“Jessica”)
I believe that Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.  (“Jesse”)
I believe you should treat others the way you want to be treated, with respect. Also take the time to listen to the elderly, they absolutely love it!  (“Sharon C.”)

So how would you complete the statement?  What do you believe in?
 
That is the central question of the gospel of John, which will serve as our tour guide through this season of Lent.  Whereas the other three gospels carefully craft the story of Jesus, John is more interested in one’s belief in Jesus as the savior of the world. Its theme verse is found in John 20:31:
 
But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
 
There has been some scholarly discussion over this key verse in John.  Some early biblical manuscripts translate the Greek word pisteusate as “that you may continue to believe”, suggesting that John’s original readers were predominantly believers in need of encouragement against Jewish and Roman persecution.  Other manuscripts, including the NRSV version of the Bible, translate it as “that you may come to believe” suggesting that John’s work was primarily evangelistic, targeting people who were not yet believers.*
 
Regardless of which version was John’s original intent, it’s fundamental message is the same, and it agrees with Eberhard Jungel.  You are what you believe.  And believing in Jesus brings life.
 
Come along on this deeply meaningful, thoughtful reflection on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our signposts on this journey will be Jesus’ seven “I am” statements that mark John’s gospel.  Each one makes a unique claim about Jesus and offers a personal path to new life and deeper commitment.  Together, we will follow the well-worn, familiar path that leads us to the power of the cross and into the triumphant glory of the empty tomb.  
 
See you on the journey!
 
Magrey   


The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA  51012
Ph:  712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org

(*For a further look at the background of John’s gospel, I recommend John: The Maverick Gospel by Robert Kysar (Westminster John Knox, 2007), which has been very helpful in my preparations for this sermon series.)


John 8:1-12
8:1  while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2  Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.
3  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,
4  they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
5  Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
6  They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7  When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
8  And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9  When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
10  Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11  She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."
12  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

John 9:1-5
9:1  As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2  His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3  Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.
4  We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."