Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Way

So here we are about three quarters through this sermon series on Freeing Jesus. I’ve read this book twice now and it gets more interesting the more we delve into it. I want to thank Loren for the opportunity to share some thoughts on this chapter, Jesus as Way.

Last week Loren asked us as a group which of the series we liked the best and the results were varied.  As Earnest said last week, I’m also partial to the Way as it speaks to me as a roadmap to peace and Love.

Today’s scripture is a familiar one. The last sentence says, “I am the Way, the truth the life.” However, there’s a part missing. The missing part is “ no one comes to the creator except through me.”

In the book, Ms. Bass leaves off that last sentence too and offers a alternative to the finality of that statement and I believe it’s one the events along her faith journey where she starts to move in a progressive direction.

Diana quotes an unknown biblical scholar pointing to that final word “except”. He or she refers to this seemingly judgmental phrase as

“not the last word”.

They go on to say, Except is like a window that lets light into a closed room. It fits what the gospel says  about Christ coming as light into a world of darkness serving as a door that enables people to enter God’s sheepfold. Rather than restricting access to God the word “except” creates access to God. (quote unquote)

For those of us who have a somewhat pluralistic view of access to the divine, it’s a refreshing alternative.

Some of our more conservative Christian friends might say that we’re cherry picking scripture to suit our own benefit by leaving that last part off. When folks outside of our church ask me about Holmdel UCC I use the phrase that we are a church steeped in tradition but progressive in our interpretation of scripture. That’s the feeling I get with this book and with this chapter in particular.

For me, this book and this series is about one person’s journey of faith and how her understanding of Jesus evolved over time. As I said earlier, this particular part of the story , I believe is a turning point into a better understanding of Jesus for her and I’m sure many of us can relate.

We are all on our own faith journeys towards the Jesus Way. It’s so interesting to hear all the different paths that we’ve all taken to get us to where we are spiritually. Whenever we have a retreats or other types of church activities where we introduce ourselves, folks will share their journey. Some are textbook some are not. Some are beautiful, some are painful but here we are  “people of the way” worts and all trying to make our way.

This church continues on our journey of the way of Jesus. For 5 years now we’ve seen ups and downs and endured many challenges but here we are, still  standing and we are getting our footing back through great leadership and dedicated folks who live our mission and ONA statements, which emulate the Jesus Way.

This past week, Loren, Karen and I had an opportunity to discuss some of those challenges with Association and Conference leaders and have extremely constructive dialogue which will help us stay on the path and way of Jesus. It was an incredibly positive experience and I came out of it re-energized.

• You see it in the efforts to come to the aid of the citizens of Hawaii as they deal with this disaster.
• You see it in folks sitting with strangers in nursing homes and just being in the moment with them.
• Whenever the shepherd goes to look for the one and leaves the 99, that is the way of Jesus.
• When we show up to support Trans Youth that’s the way.
• When we take action to help the planet, that’s the way.

To quote Diana, “ The Jesus way is full of switchbacks, spirals, and unexpected turns; mystery, paradox, unknowing and unsaying”

However, through it all, the Jesus way is the way of peace and love.

I’ll close with a few lines of one of our choir anthems.