July 4, 2010 - NESTOR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

July 4, 2010 WHY DID THEY KILL JESUS?

In his sermon “ Your Peace Will Return to You” Peter Willson tells this story;

“One bright summer's morning I was having breakfast with my younger daughter, then about five years old. I was refilling my coffee cup when she looked up from her bowl of cereal and very matter-of-factly asked, ‘Daddy, WHY DID THEY KILL JESUS?’ I was stunned. Here was this blue-skied summer morning and this blue-eyed darling child asking, ‘Why did they kill Jesus?’”

We can understand the question if we look at the pictures of Jesus that we share in our homes and Sunday School rooms. Just take a look at the picture from the stained glass window in our sanctuary.

How can anyone fear Jesus the good shepherd welcoming the children or Jesus the healer and forgiver? No, it was Jesus the

kingdom maker. In the gospel of John Pilate writes the charges against Jesus and nails them to his cross for everyone to see. “Here is the king of the Jews.

Our scripture for the day Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 “The Mission of the Seventy” involves you and I in this disruptive kingdom that Jesus teaches us to share with everyone. Notice as you read Luke that the message is the same for those who welcome the disciples and those who reject them; ‘Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’

The mission of God’s kingdom has always been to “Make disciples for Jesus Christ.” And we are called to become those disciples today and forever.

I closed with this illustration from Bishop William Willimon.

“I was visiting a member of our congregation who was dying of AIDS. When I got to his home, I rang the doorbell a couple of times and, when I got no response, I assumed that perhaps he was resting. As I left my calling card and turned to leave, the door opened and standing there was one of my church members, an older woman who was a long-time member of the congregation.

‘Come on in, Pastor," she said. "I heard the doorbell but I was bathing Tommy and I couldn't get to the door in time. Sorry. Come on in. I'll be finished with his bath in just a few minutes and you can talk with him. I'm sure he would appreciate your visit.’

Wow. There she was, an older woman, not related to Tommy in any way other than they were both members of the body of Christ, bathing him! I wanted to take off my shoes, for I was standing on holy ground.

That day, the reign of God came very near to me. I got to see enacted a world I had only described in many a sermon.”

Holy Lord, use us your church to offer Peace, Hope, Healing, and your Kingdom to all who we meet. And may we do so in Jesus’ name. Amen.