JESUS WENT FIRST

A sermon by the Rev. Dr. Marie Sheldon

Harundale Presbyterian Church

Glen Burnie, Maryland

November 10, 2002

Text: “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.” (1 Thessalonians 4: 14)

Scripture Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Several weeks ago, I went back to Rochester, New York to join in the celebration of my previous church’s 150^th anniversary. A number of former clergy were there as well as members and friends who had moved away. There were time-lines of the congregation’s history posted on the walls along with all sorts of historical photographs. Members had made a large quilt, and each family or individual was invited to submit a square that was meaningful to them. All very nice, but what I enjoyed the most was the shared storytelling after dinner. People of all ages came to the mike. The stories that were really meaningful to me were the ones recounted by the youth – some who had come back from college for the celebration. They remembered a lot of the goofy ice breakers we used to start youth group meetings. They teased the youth leaders. They spoke about places we had visited. One of the last visits we made together was to a local haunted house around Halloween. It was dark, and the kids were wired. There was simulated fog while eerie music was piped in through multiple speakers. Some of the youth brought friends with them, and so to make sure they all stayed together, I asked that the kids go first – and the youth leaders would follow behind. I tried to be cool and self-assured – but my ulterior motive was not to be freaked out in the haunted house before the kids were. If I saw them handling the horror, I knew I could, too. Well, it didn’t take long for our young people to catch on. As we traveled from room to room, ghoulish creatures popped out of nowhere, and about midway through, we entered a chamber with strobe lights flashing and more surreal scenes. It was almost impossible to see where we were going. At that point the kids yelled out, “It’s time for the adults to go first. We’re sick of going first.” So, I bravely went ahead of the others, and to be quite honest, I jumped and yelled more than I did as a follower. It helps to have somebody else go first.

We all need leadership and direction, and if we’re mature we’ll realize that looking to someone who’s “been there” can help us sort things out for ourselves. That’s what support groups are all about. That’s why intelligent church committees that want to try new things call other churches to find out if an idea is working, how much it might cost, where to find people to help make it happen.

In the portion of the letter to the Thessalonian Church, which I read to you this morning, Paul is trying to offer some leadership and direction to this new Christian community. He had founded it on one of his missionary journeys, but now it was time for him to move on. The Thessalonians felt insecure. They were being pressured and threatened by persecution to return to their old pagan lifestyles. They missed some of their prominent leaders who had died. They thought the end of the world was near, and they were frightened about what might happen to them.

Paul loved these people, and so what he tried to do in this letter to them was to remind them that Jesus went first. In verse 14, Paul wrote: “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.” Whatever would happen to them – even the very threat of death – Jesus had gone through it first – and rose – and lives eternally with God the Creator. That, for Paul, was not a mere statement of fact, it was also a promise of eternal life to the Thessalonians and to us as well.

Death is without a doubt the most serious loss we human beings undergo. But there are many other difficulties – other losses – we encounter on our life’s journey. They vary, and many times they make us feel powerless and lost. What we need to remember during these times is that Jesus went first. He experienced most of what we experience: rejection, anger, abandonment, misunderstanding, physical pain and death. Jesus went through all these things and more to model for us that we can also go through them and emerge victorious – even when we’re scared. And these are frightening times. We hear about threats of terrorism every day. War is a distinct possibility. Crazy murderous people like the snipers who frightened us last month force us to wonder about our safety and that of our children. We may not be facing the same type of persecution that the Thessalonians did, but we are living with a social persecution that leaves all of us on edge – in one way or another.

Today we come together in Christian community – a community that is rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The sacraments we celebrate help us to clarify our connection to Jesus. In the sacrament of baptism, we are reminded that we must die with Christ in order to rise with him. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper, during the words of institution we hear Jesus’ familiar words: “Do this in remembrance of me.” I don’t know about you, but often when I hear or say those words, a sweet image of Jesus flashes in my mind’s eye – just for a few seconds – and that’s how I remember him. Reading the Letter to the Thessalonians, however, prompts me to remember Jesus in a different, more vibrant way. Jesus said he was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He went ahead of us in death and in life to light the way for us – to show us that in whatever dark place we may be walking, there is hope. His life was filled with joys and sorrows, just like our lives are. That’s what we need to remember about him. Jesus Christ is so much more than a pre-packaged image of a long-haired, pale-skinned blue-eyed conglomeration of Western European art. Jesus Christ is our mentor, our teacher and our guide.

And so, as you go through the week dealing with issues that are difficult for you: economic uncertainty, illness, caring for elderly loved ones, concerns about your children and grandchildren, problematic relationships, think on these things. Bring those dark, frightening places in your soul to Jesus Christ. Ask him to go ahead of you – to be a light along the intimidating places you have to go. His peace, his courage can be yours. Ask for it. God will bless you and keep you close – all because Jesus went first to open heaven’s door for us.

I close with the same words to you that Paul wrote to his church in Thessalonica: “Therefore encourage each other with these words.” Amen and thanks be to God.