History shows that people are invariably looking for Messiahs or Christs. There is that special person who is to come among them and, in a sense, do for them what they cannot do for themselves. Even for years after our Lord arose from the dead and ascended — yes, and still at this moment — people are looking.
Our Jewish friends, in particular, have this long historical record of watching and waiting. There were, and are, many disappointments in all of this yearning. Indeed, before and after Christ there were those who claimed to be the anointed one of God. Again and again dreams and hopes were followed by disasters.
There seems to be something amiss in most everyone, until he or she has settled on the promised extra special one in their lives. Thinkers, pundits, and even theologians write of the apparently unending search for a great figure. It can be agonizing for some and supremely fulfilling for others.
Don't we wish we had full autobiographies from our friends and relatives telling the stories of their quests? Unquestionably, it would be revealing and some might even make the bestseller lists! Pause to ponder the life of a grandfather or grandmother and wonder about their search.
There are those seeking a clearly defined Messiah. We have a job description. Some said loudly in our Lord's time, "You don't fit what we had in mind!" Isn't such a response modern and don't we hear it every day or so? He or she is supposed to look like this. The perimeters are drawn. Anything outside of them will call into question his or her messiahship. What is expected is more or less set in cement. Deviation, even the lightest, will raise the thought that the one in question is merely posing and is not really the person sent by God.
When we move into political and economic philosophies, we experience much the same thing at work as that which occurs in religion. Quickly, communism and socialism appear on our radar screens. Yes, and there is the admission democracy and capitalism can be counted in much the same category. In America, we labor to keep things straight and not make our Lord an advocate of democracy and/or capitalism! It isn't always easy, is it? Sometimes we ask if he actually gave his approval to a specific political or economic philosophy. Furthermore, we are sometimes made uneasy by thoughts that the American way is not necessarily his way.
Some of the Jews were in suspense and obviously could not figure out whether he was the Messiah or not. He did not give them the answers they wanted. Often lurking in the background of such folks was the expectation that he would set out to defeat the despised Romans and restore their sovereignty. Charismatic military might was at the core of what they had formulated not only in their minds but in their hearts, as well. You and I are called upon to be compassionate and patient. There were genuinely good and certainly sincere people involved. It was not a situation nearly as clean-cut as some would have us believe!
On a more human level we discover, at least, some likeness among pastors and parishioners. That pastor is not at all what we expected and solid support will be very hard to come by! We might want to reverse the perspective and hear a pastor lament what is found in the parish! Laity and clergy alike, who are committed to Christ and his church, know the answer. If we never had those difficult moments in the lives of pastors and parishes, how can we expect to be stretched for greater good? It is frequently not an easy pill to swallow. You mean we are to accept and support this pastor, even though he/she doesn't measure up? Only spiritual maturity, especially sincerity and humility, can save the day.
There are those who have missed the signs of messiahship. It was the Feast of the Dedication — Hanukkah, and Jesus was walking in the temple. To be more specific, he was in the portico of Solomon. There were those who thought it contained some of the remains of Solomon's temple. It is most likely he was being quizzed by an upper echelon of people, who included a generous number of Sadducees. They were prominent politicians. We might best delineate them as those who straddled the fence between their own countrymen and the Roman rulers.
So, the ruling class was pressuring him to make a statement. Would he please call a press conference? Would he level with them and say point-blank that he was the one they sought? The answers and the ways in which he was delivering them were not acceptable. His works are there for all to see. Of course, they probably wanted a private audience with him! Then, the innermost secrets could be shared. After all, they were the ones with the privileged places in the community and deserved to have the truth of God, separate and apart from others! We all know such people, don't we? Don't let the lesser ones know what we have been told and we will support and, above all, guide you.
We are confronted by something of an enigma. Jesus relates to them that they have missed the signs and yet also wants them to know they don't belong to his sheep. He has done works in his Father's name and they do not believe. Apparently, the Lord's understanding of God does not do a thing for them! Can't you imagine someone being that independent with the power brokers? We can only guess at the awful condescension filling the air. Jesus, we know your parents; they were not all that much and here you are trying to be somebody with little or no proof. The most hectic moment must have been at the instant he told them they didn't belong to his sheep!
Let's face it, you and I miss the signs, too. To celebrate and confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a powerfully inspiring statement. To be open to what the Holy Spirit is saying next may find us unsure and even faithless. Is what is coming across the screen a part of his messiahship? We thought we had this down pat and now we are confused by being urged to move out of our comfort zones. We must go back to the drawing boards and check this out! Indeed, we can be a great deal like the Sadducees and their fellow travelers and not notice. Then, in a repentant attitude we are urged to see and accept our Lord in a more expansive way. Is it painful? Probably. Is it growth producing? Most likely.
There are those who hear his voice and know him. The Messiah's people hear his voice and not only that, they also know him. Apparently the Jewish powerful elite heard his voice but didn't know him. That really hits home, doesn't it? It raises questions we all have heard so well. Across this world of ours, and a lot closer to home, his voice is heard. Those of us who have both heard and know him have probably lost track of the many dear people who admitted hearing but not knowing. The invitations were many and the avoidances or rejections come back to our memories with sadness.
To hear and to know is to follow. Oh, there are exceptions but that is beyond our very limited comprehensions. To know is to desire to follow now and for evermore. Yes, the roads can be bumpy, but to know him keeps us going because he is by our side encouraging us. Just think of it and give thanks: We are his sheep! Are we privileged and part of the elect? That's a loaded question but, as far as we can discern, the answer must be in the affirmative. It is never cause for smugness or anything resembling assurance produced by one's goodness. The grace of the living God has descended upon us. Christ belongs to us and we belong to him. Try to think of something more positive!
When we are in love with Jesus, we have heard his voice and know him. To know him is to love him! As we follow him in that love through the Holy Spirit, a sense of walking and talking with him fills our souls. Successes and failures come and go. Joys and sorrows make their appearances. Pain and pleasure greet us and return another day. High points and low points of spiritual experience are an ongoing adventure. Sing at the top of your voices that Christ has come. How do we know? We know because he lives in us! So, it is an old, old story of Jesus and his love. In countless forms, the ages confirm all that we have said. In a priceless and unbroken chain, Christian soldiers march on!
Our hope is summarized in a few words of the text. Gone are the days of rejection. Gone are the days of uncertainty. Gone are the days of cross-purpose. Gone are the days of empty living and fear of dying. You and I know beyond any shadow of doubt that we didn't earn any part of our salvation. It was a gift of the Father, who sent his Son to us as the Messiah. There is no waiting in suspense. He was and is here and that is that! Even in the face of defeat and sadness, there is still cause for jubilation. Why? Because we know that face will change and ultimate victory is ours. Regardless of how dark the clouds are, they are always lifted. The true, noble, and right emerge in all their glory.
There are those to whom eternal life is granted. This is very plain. He gives us eternal life and we will never perish. The promise is even underlined by indicating no one will snatch us out of his hand. Those cynical of our faith are apt to respond in derision and suggest the Messiah's promise is nothing more than wishful thinking. He/she would add that it is unverifiable and, in fact, cause for something resembling hilarity! Nevertheless, Christians can be a tough lot and that means we are ready to rise in righteous anger and illustrate our reasons for believing what we do. The Holy Spirit, that probably no one imbued with cynicism would concede, provides and abides.
Jesus proclaims that he and the Father are one. This was an outright anathema to those with whom he was conversing in our text. To the powers that be, it meant he was either God or equal with God. No wonder they insisted on his crucifixion. No one could be labeled God, especially outside of their power structure! Time and again we get the idea, unless they can name him the Messiah and give him their approval, he would always be deficient and not measure up. We may find a form of solace in their ways and even a form of comfort but let us look into our mirrors and be honest about our affinities.
Who can begin to define or depict eternal life? Well, we have a few indicators. To be on firm ground and on the safe side, all we truly need to do is accept the fact we are going to spend eternity with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To try to fill in blank spaces with our so-called brilliance may only confuse the very people we are attempting to help. What more do we need to know? We are going to be with God forever, living in bliss and perfection. There will be no end to our flawless and perfect existence. Time will have no bearing. The creator of time will be in charge and no one will be able to remove us from the Father's hand. What else can we seriously ask for?
Some of us have believed virtually all our lives that heaven or eternal life is built into the very fabric of our Christian existence. To be a Christian is to acknowledge and profess the reality of life after death with our blessed Lord. It does not make any sense to us to espouse a religion that says heaven is all right but we can take it or leave it. As we go about our witnessing, there is the firm pledge of heaven. As we pastors preach our sermons and celebrate Holy Communion, there is our Savior's Word that we are scheduled for heaven in due time. The evidence builds and certainty becomes second nature. We probe deeply into our souls and there is no disappointment. Heaven is ours!
It is a time of confrontation. The powers that be are pushing for Jesus to announce he is the Messiah. Jesus is even more determined to let them know that they have been missing the point all along. He has told them, mostly by his miraculous works, but that does not seem to register. In saber-like fashion, he sends a bullet to their breasts, which communicates a fact likely infuriating them: They do not belong to his sheep. The insiders are really the outsiders! Their need to be in control and dominate has left them on the outside looking in. Sometimes this predicament rings a bell about the institutional church, doesn't it?
Our Lord deals with them in candor, filled to overflowing with confidence, and causes their comfort zones to be rudely shaken. You and I find ourselves in circumstances not all that different upon occasion. We plant our feet, confess him as Savior and Lord, and prepare, if need be, to do spiritual battle. We deal with people on a daily basis who are not his sheep. Oh, they have heard his voice but have explained it away — sometimes in clever ways. They don't know him and are not interested in him because he is just not their idea of what a Messiah should be. But, praise God, we follow him in spirit and truth all the way to the pearly gates and he beckons to us to come on in.