Christ, the image of God

Written by Ed Kauffman

Christ, the image of God

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Memorial Sunday

Since the beginning of time, probably, humankind has been constructing fortresses. The Great Wall of China was built to keep the northern tribes from invading the south.  Hadrian’s Wall in England was built to keep the Scots up north where they belonged.

*The fortresses and castles of Europe attest to the desire of each little fiefdom or family to keep invaders out.  *It’s fascinating to travel down the Rhine and see, at almost regular intervals, the fortress castles overlooking the river.  *People worked hard to place fortresses at strategic points, with well guarded entrances and defensive views.

*Wartburg Castle, shown on the front of the bulletin, may well have been the picture Luther had in mind when he penned the words of the hymn we just sang, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. 

Later fortresses took on different shapes.  *The Maginot Line in France was a vast network of tunnels, earthenworks, and bunkers designed to protect against invasion.  And in more modern times our landscape is dotted with missile silos, radar dishes, and seagoing or airborne defense systems.  There is still that dream of a space-based defense system that would keep us safe. (off)

Yet, no matter what system people have built for security, they have all either fallen into ruin, been by-passed, or rendered obsolete by advanced technology.  No matter what system the airports put in place to deter terrorism, someone will find a way around the system, although the one Henry shared with me this week has promise, where you go into a little booth and it detonates any explosives you may have on you.

The Psalmist says, “God is our refuge and fortress.  Therefore we will not fear…”   God is our fortress – or in Luther’s words, a mighty fortress is our God.  God, the Psalmist claims, is stronger than the earth itself – because of God we needn’t fear even in the midst of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions and tidal waves.  God is stronger than any earthly kingdoms or rulers, making “wars to cease.”  God, declares the Psalmist, is to be exalted throughout the whole earth. 

But this is a different kind of fortress.  God is not a fortress that protects us from anything bad happening, God does not make us invulnerable.  While that is the promise of those who build vast defense systems, and was the hope of those who built the castles and forts of old, we know that those are false promises.  While God does not keep bad things from happening, the security we find with God comes from the refrain of the Psalm found in verses 7 and 11.  “The lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (or refuge in some translations)

*Yahweh Sabaoth immanu  יְהו צְבָאֹות עִמָּנוּ

In the middle of the earth shaking, or nations uprising, or war, or whatever the situation is, we need not fear, because Yahweh Sabaoth immanu  יְהו צְבָאֹות עִמָּנוּ  the Lord of Hosts is with us. 

*Immanu – does that sound or look familiar?  *How about if we add another name for God on the end  “El”, and *it becomes Immanuel, God with us.  And we move, with Luther in his hymn, from Psalm 46, which extols God as the one who is our refuge and strength, to the one who truly shows us God, Immanuel, Jesus, God with us in the flesh. (Off)

If you want to know what God looks like, says Colossians, then all you need to do is look at Jesus.  This text from Colossians 1 probably borrows from an ancient hymn or creed, but is used by Paul here to remind the church at Colossae where their true security lies.  The phrases just keep piling up on each other.

The image of the invisible God, the firstborn of creation. All things – all things – visible and invisible, rulers, powers, all things were created by him and for him.  In him all things hold together.  He is the head of the church.  In him the fullness of God is pleased to dwell, and through him all things are reconciled to God.

This is Immanuel – God with us.  It is one of the highest expressions of Christ’s divinity that we have in Scripture.  I was asked the other day if God and Jesus are the same. And the answer is really yes and no.  All you have to do is explain the doctrine of the Trinity.  But this passage is one that would come down on the “yes” side.  For in it Jesus is elevated to the highest place – the fullness of God was in him. 

And why does Paul remind the Colossian church of all this.  Well, v. 11 says – “may you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience.” 

God is our refuge and strength, therefore we will not fear.  The Lord of hosts is with us, Yahweh Sabaoth imanu  יְהו צְבָאֹות עִמָּנוּ

The Colossian church lived in a time when security was also an issue.  And where did most people look for security?  Well, to Caesar.  In fact, many of the images Paul uses for Christ, were at the time used for Caesar.  It was Caesar who was the image of God and Caesar who was over all.  It was Caesar who provided security, the fortress against all foes.  Not so, says Paul.

While fortresses of all kinds may offer some short-term security and protection, we are reminded by these candles burning here in front that this life and the securities that we put our hopes in, whether political or economic or medical or whatever, will not keep us from experiencing all that human life has to offer us, even death itself.

But we need not fear, for God is with us.  And God is not only with us as some lofty, far away unknown, but God is with us in Jesus Christ, Immanuel.  In him the fullness of God is pleased to dwell.  God became flesh and dwelt among us.

Therefore we need not fear.  Therefore we have hope.  Therefore we can sing our hymns of joy and anticipate Christ’s coming.  Today, in the Church Year calendar is designated as Christ the King Sunday. Next Sunday we begin the season of Advent, a time to ponder what it means for Jesus to come as Immanuel.

Be still, the Psalmist says, Be still and know that I am God.  I invite you to take a few moments of silence to rest in God’s presence, to contemplate the strength and majesty of God, and to relax in the knowledge of God’s presence with us, a strong fortress.  Do not be afraid, God says, I am with you.

(silence)

 Prayer

God, our fortress and strength.  We confess that all too often we place our trust in things that do not last – be they political or economic or other powers of this world.  And when they falter, we react out of our fears.  Forgive us.  Help us to remember to put our trust in you, even in those times when the earth seems to shake and the oceans roar.  Help us to remember that you are with us.  God of our strength, we wait on you.   Amen.