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BEING LIKE JESUS MEANS: LOVING IN THE FACE OF HATE

By Nancy S. Cushman

Palm story: Matthew 21:1-11 Passion story: Matthew 26:47-56, 27:39-46, 50

April 9, 2017 North Scottsdale UMC

SETTING THE CONTEXT

A messiah in Judaism is a human being who has been anointed by God for a specific task. Seven people in the Old Testament are mentioned with the title of Messiah (literally the Anointed One) including some of the kings of Israel like King Saul and King David. These messiahs were human and fallible as we see from their stories in the Old Testament, but they were ordained by God for a specific mission or purpose. Jewish people have and do yearn for the return of the messiah who will be the ‘King of the Jews” and who will help God bring the entire world into an age of peace and justice.[i] There are many references in Matthew’s Gospel testifying that he believed as did Jesus’ followers then and now that Jesus is this anticipated messiah, the King of the Jews, the one chosen by God to rescue people and bring in the reign of God. Matthew weaves images from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) to make this claim including the way Jesus entered Jerusalem on this last journey. As I read this passage, think about the contrast between the way Jesus entered the city and the way King Herod or the Roman governor, Pilate would have entered the city.

Read Palm: Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem indicated to us that Jesus was a different kind of ruler than the Roman rulers in power. Rather than coming into the city with a show of force and amid splendor and pomp, Jesus came in humility as a servant-leader. Jesus had been showing that servant leadership his entire ministry. Last week, we reflected on the story of the man born blind who Jesus healed. We noted rather than celebrating the man’s healing some of the religious leaders interrogated the man not believing he’s been blind. As we read the story, we could hear the aggression in the exchange. They were determined to see Jesus as a sinner. Rather than praising God for Jesus’ power to heal, they condemned him and demonized him. Why were they so threatened? How does doing good cause such hate?

While some people were celebrating who Jesus was and all that he had done as he entered the city, others were plotting to kill him. Jesus knew this was happening and knew where he was heading. When Jesus was a boy, in response to a Jewish revolt the Romans crucified two thousand Galileans not far from his village.[ii] The truth is that being a good and godly person does not shield us from hate. So how does one love in the face of hate? Jesus shows us the way.

Read Passion: Matthew 26:47-56, 27:39-46, 50

THE SERMON

Why are people so cruel to each other? Why do people hate people? I can understand being appalled by people who do horrible or evil things, like a serial murderer or a brutal dictator. Why hate someone who is only trying to make a better world or who is just trying to live their lives the best way they can? I’m not sure there is one answer to those questions, but I am convinced that power is a part of the mix. The thing is that humanity really hasn’t changed that much in 2,000 years. Oh, there have been some advances, but people still betray each other. They still grab for power at the expense of others. They still ridicule and torment people, they don’t agree with. They are cruel even murderous to those they either don’t understand or they feel threatened by. We turn to Jesus to figure out, how do we love in the face of hate?

Since the first of the year, we have been talking about how to be like Jesus. You see, being a disciple of Jesus Christ involves not only learning from him; it means being like him. It means walking with God the way he walked with God. It means living in ways that reflect his character and values. We started the year talking about the 7 secrets to leading a life of love. Those characteristics are kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity and honesty. Over the season of Lent, we have been digging deeper into what being like Jesus means. Being like Jesus means facing temptation, committing to changing our thinking and behavior, proclaiming his message, being compassionate, and serving others. Today we’re getting into the advanced lessons; how does one love in the face of hate?

I think it involves some of the other lessons we’ve been learning. It involves being other-centered rather than self-centered. It involves seeing every person, even those who persecute you, as beloved children of God, even if they are wayward beloved children of God. It involves compassion. It involves a tenacity and trust that can only come from a deep relationship with God. Jesus would not have been human if he hadn’t been scared and agonized over the betrayals of his friends and the cruelty of his enemies. Even in fear, he refused to become like his tormentors. He refused to meet violence with violence. He chose not to return hate for hate, but chose to love in the face of hate. Who could do this other than Jesus? How can any of us “normal” people bear hatred or even its lesser forms of hostility, dislike, or distaste, like he did?

When our girls were young, I picked up a book at a school fair about Ruby Bridges. Does anyone remember Ruby Bridges? When you see this Norman Rockwell picture, it may ring a bell. (See the print at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Problem_We_All_Live_With )

Ruby was six years old in 1960 when a judge ordered her to be the first black child to integrate the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Ruby’s mother wanted her to get the best education and she wanted all black children to have better opportunities, so she convinced her husband to take the risk with their young daughter. Federal marshals had to enforce the order and escort the child to school. This child of six walked a gauntlet of hatred every day for almost a year. Multiple people yelled daily at Ruby that they were going to kill her. They were going to poison her; she was so afraid that for a while she would only eat packaged food. The whole family suffered hardship. Ruby’s mother walked the gauntlet of hatred with Ruby the first couple of days, but then she had to go back to work. Ruby had to walk that gauntlet with the marshal escort. On that morning Ruby said her mother told her, “Ruby Nell, remember if you get afraid, say your prayers. You can pray to God anytime, anywhere. He will always hear you.” Raised in the church by faithful parents, this was something Ruby had heard her whole life. She says, “That was how I started praying on the way to school. The things people yelled at me didn't seem to touch me. Prayer was my protection.” There were people who offered their compassion and love, too. Ruby said, “My family couldn’t have made it without our friends’ and neighbors’ help.” One morning when Ruby got to her classroom, Mrs. Henry said she'd been surprised to see Ruby talk to the mob. "I saw your lips moving," she said, "but I couldn't make out what you were saying to those people." Ruby responded, “I wasn't talking to them, I was praying for them. Usually I pray in the car on the way to school, but today I'd forgotten until I was in the crowd. ‘Please be with me, I'd asked God, and be with those people too. Forgive them because they don't know what they're doing.’”[iii] She used the same words Jesus spoke from the cross. Being like Jesus means loving in the face of hate. Jesus showed us the way and this little girl of six followed him.

We are also called to follow him. Sometimes we’re the ones facing the hate or hostility and being called to love. More often, at least for me, we can be the supportive friends and family, who stand with and give strength to those going through it. I have been moved recently to put this into practice in my own life. In the midst of so much discussion about Muslims, I realized I know very little about the faith and had only one friend, an acquaintance really, who is Muslim. I decided I needed to get to know our Muslim neighbors better and to learn for myself if they are facing the kind of hatred I see in the media. I accepted an invitation to go to the local mosque to eat together and learn about Islam. I learned that we have ancient connections with each other. Abraham is considered the father of all three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam and I sat at a table and communed with people from all three faiths. I learned that Muslims see Noah, Moses, and Jesus as prophets. In listening to stories, I am also learning that they do face hatred especially the women who are easily identified by their headscarves. I understand that there are Muslim extremists who hate us and who want to do us harm. I also understand that that the vast majority just want to live good lives and be good citizens. Protecting ourselves from those who want to harm us is different than demonizing everyone. I feel the call to get to know our Muslim neighbors better, to see them as people not caricatures and to offer my support where appropriate when they face cruelty and condemnation. This is one way I can live out Jesus’ calling to love in the face of hate. How are you being called to love in the face of hate?

Let us pray.

God in pain, Jesus on trial, you watched and you suffered and so you know our pains and sufferings: Open our hearts to understand the depths of your love for humanity- all humanity that we may draw closer to you and love you all the more. We ask this through the power of the Holy Spirit that binds us to you.[iv] Amen.

[i] Rabbi David Zaslow. Roots & Branches: A Sourcebook for Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity, Replacement Theology, and Anti-Semitism. (Ashland, Oregan: The Wisdom Exchange, 2011), p. 190-193.

[ii] Dr James Tabor. “The Jewish Roman World of Jesus.” Josephus’ References, Antiquities 13: Chapter 14. Professor of Christian Origins and Ancient Judaism at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. https://clas-pages.uncc.edu/james-tabor/archaeology-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls/josephus-references-to-crucifixion/

[iii] The complete story of Ruby Bridges in her own words can be found on “The Education of Ruby Nell Bridges” by Ruby Bridges Hall, New Orleans, LA. There is also the children’s book by Robert Coles. The Story of Ruby Bridges (Scholasatic, 1995) Hear it read at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4F3sr5f-EQ. Disney made a movie about Ruby as well: Ruby Bridges: A Real American Hero.

[iv] Robin Knowles Wallace. Just in Time! Palm Sunday and Holy Week Services. (Nashville: Abingdon, 2006), p.11.