Sermon (March 10/Lent) “Crosses of Jesus: St. Andrew’s Cross” by Rev. Robert McDowell

March 10, 2024 (Lent)

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Rev. Robert McDowell

     During the Season of Lent, these six Sundays leading up to Easter, we are focusing on the different crosses of Jesus and how each one of these crosses offers a unique perspective on the meaning of our faith.  Let’s briefly review the first three crosses that we have already covered.

    We began this series by looking at the significance of the Latin cross.  This particular cross helped us to see the simplicity of the cross.  This is the cross shape that the Romans most likely used to crucify Jesus.  It’s just a horizontal piece of wood with another vertical piece of wood near the top, about two thirds high.  

     And I think this particular cross has a way of helping us to remember the basic truth of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  To know that Jesus died for the world and on the third day rose again.  It doesn’t get any more basic than this simple but profound message.

     The following Sunday, we focused on the particular meaning of the Jerusalem Cross which consists of a large cross in the middle with four small crosses in each corner.  And the whole point of the Jerusalem Cross is to remind us that the good news of the cross of Jesus Christ didn’t just stay in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified and rose again but has also been extended throughout the whole world.

     Last Sunday, we learned more about the Tau cross which is a symbol of how God offers us physical, emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual healing. God cares about our mind, body, and soul.

     And this brings us to today and our focus on the St. Andrew’s cross.  This cross is shaped in a unique way to help us appreciate the importance of humility in our walk with Christ.  And here’s the reason why it reminds us of humility.

     Church tradition tells us that Andrew, who was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, ended up being put to death for his faith. And by the way, this was true with all twelve of the disciples with the exception of just two, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, and the disciple, John, who as far as we know, lived into his 90s and died of natural causes. 

     Here’s the brief story about the disciple, Andrew, the person connected with our cross for today.  His name appears only fourteen times in the New Testament with only one of those references being outside of the four Gospels and that is in the Book of Acts. 

     And of those fourteen references where Andrew’s name appears, three of them are simply where he’s included in a listing with the other twelve disciples.

     But whenever Andrew’s name appears outside of those lists, there’s a common thread – he’s always bringing people to meet Jesus.  If you remember, it’s Andrew who brought his brother, Simon Peter to Jesus for the first time.

     And it’s Andrew who brings a little boy to Jesus who happens to have five loaves and two fish.  And with those five loaves and two fish, Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people with that little bit of food.

     It’s Andrew, who with the help of the disciple, Phillip, tells Jesus about some people outside of the Jewish faith who wanted to meet Jesus.

     And so, every time Andrew’s name is mentioned, he is about bringing people to Jesus and that’s why he is primarily known for evangelism.  But the particular type of cross that bears his name is not primarily about his evangelism, but about his humility.

     You will notice that the St. Andrew’s cross is really an “X” shape which is very different from any of the other crosses.  Church tradition tells us that following the time of the New Testament period, Andrew was crucified for his faith.  

     And because of his tremendous humility, he chose not to be crucified in the same way as Jesus.  Instead, he was crucified upside down and that’s why we have this particular shaped cross.

     Incidentally, Andrew’s brother, Simon Peter, also chose to be crucified in a similar way, but the shape of St. Peter’s cross is an upside down Latin cross. Both the cross of St. Peter and the cross of St. Andrew are symbols of their example of humility as followers of Jesus Christ.

     And if you’re into history, you might be interested in this.  Several centuries after Andrew died for his faith, tradition tells us that his relics were brought to Scotland by a missionary which is why Andrew is known as the Patron Saint of Scotland.

     Even today people continue to make pilgrimages to this location in Scotland that is named after this saint. These modern day religious pilgrims are also known as golfers. Of course, I’m referring to the world-famous St. Andrew’s golf course in Scotland. Come to think of it, golf is a great way to keep a person humble.

     One of my favorite scriptures comes from James 4:10.  “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”  Humble yourselves.

     St. Augustine, one of the most well known of all the Christian saints who lived in the 4^th century once said, “Should you ask me: What is the first thing in religion? I should reply: the first, second, and third thing therein is humility.”

     Maybe you heard of the famous conductor who was once asked which instrument he considered the most difficult to play.  He thought for a moment and then he said, “Second fiddle.”

     Being humble isn’t an easy thing.  

     But I think the St. Andrew’s Cross might offer us an important way for us to be a humble person.  The reason that church tradition tells us that Andrew chose not to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord, was because his focus was totally on his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

     It’s by keeping our focus on Christ that allows us to be humble people whose main priority is to be the most faithful disciples of Jesus Christ that God is calling us to be.

     James says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

     Mark Feldmeier, who has written the book, “Stirred, Not Shaken,” tells of a time when he was visiting Washington D.C. and he was sitting on a bench in front of the White house.  And while he was sitting there and eating a hot dog, he was thinking about all of the monuments that were around him, monuments of famous people who have done great things. 

     And he began to wonder why at age 35, he still hadn’t done anything all that great in his life.

     As he thought about this, a stranger came up to him and asked if he could have a drink of his coke.  Mark said that this man had fire in his eyes with the sour smell of the city all over him.

     Here, Mark had been daydreaming about doing something great in his life that would make an impact on the world. And perhaps even something so great that a limestone monument would be erected in his memory someday.  

     And now, all that God seemed to want from him was to give this guy some of his coke drink.  He watched him raise the bottle to his cracked lips, tip his head back, and take a hard long swallow.  When he finally came up for air, the man tried to give the bottle back to him, but Mark insisted that the man just keep it and drink the rest of it.

      While it’s not a bad thing to want to do something great and awesome for the world and maybe even have a monument named after us, the cross of St. Andrew reminds us that it’s really serving others in the little ways that matter the most to God.  The small humble ways like giving a stranger something to drink on a hot day.

     I remember a while back reading a heartwarming story from the Chicken Soup for the Soul website about a very humble thing that a grandfather did for his granddaughter’s 16^th birthday.

     This grandfather gave his granddaughter three notebooks that chronicled every moment they had spent together when she was between the ages of 2 and 5. The notes include times like when they went to the zoo, spent time shopping together, and their visits to pumpkin patches. 

     He knew that this would be something she would appreciate later in her life, and he thought that her 16^th birthday would be the best time to give this gift to her.

     His granddaughter, Lauren was so moved by this humble gesture on the part of her grandfather. She commented, “He’s actually really shy until you get to know him. He’s always been a considerate person for me especially.”

     Ok, I don’t admit this very often. I read this article this past week, and when I read the granddaughter’s response I got really choked up because it reminded me that it’s often the little humble things that we do that make the biggest difference in people’s lives.

     Sometimes, we are so focused on doing something great and noteworthy that we take our eyes off Jesus, and we miss those moment-to-moment opportunities to serve others in the name of Christ.  

     And those moments are right there in front of us.  All we need to do is see others through the eyes of Christ.

     In just two weeks, we will be celebrating Palm Sunday when Jesus’ came into Jerusalem riding a donkey while a large crowd of people waved palm branches as he went by.

     You know, I wonder if that donkey who carried Jesus that day, ever thought to himself that they were waving those branches for him instead of for the one who was riding on his back.  

     The cross that is in the shape of an “X” reminds us that those palm branches were meant for Jesus, the one who would die on a cross for the sins of the world, the one who gave everything to rescue us from sin and death.

     To him be all honor, glory, and power now and forevermore. 

Sunday (March 10/Lent) Pastoral Prayer

Sunday, March 10, 2024 

Pastoral Prayer

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Lord, it’s hard to be humble. Even when we want to do great things for you, we sometimes make it more about us than about you. We talk more than we listen. We stand more than we kneel. We argue more than we seek peace. We react more than we reflect. We indulge more than we serve. 

 

And so, we join our prayer hymn in praying, “Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry.” Hear our humble cry as we continue to explore the meaning of your cross and how you emptied yourself for the sake of the world. May we empty ourselves, die to ourselves, and humble ourselves so that we may become more like You; loving, gracious, forgiving, kind, peace-making, good, and holy. 

 

As we seek to be your humble servants, we lift up to you people who are also praying today, “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” We pray for those who are grieving and have heavy hearts, for those who are in pain and in need of healing, for those who are feeling alone, discouraged, and without hope, for those who are in parts of the world where there are wars, famine, and extreme poverty. 

 

Lord, there are so many people offering their humble cries to you this day. Help us to hear their cries and to not overlook the needs that are all around us. And even if it’s sometimes as simple as giving somebody a cold drink on a hot day or gradually putting together a family album to eventually give to a loved one, may every good deed, whether great or small be to your honor and glory. 

 

Even in these next few quiet moments of silence, we offer to you other humble cries that are on our hearts and minds this morning. 

 

In humility, we join now to pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray together…

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sermon (March 3/Lent) “Crosses of Jesus: The Tau Cross” by Rev. Robert McDowell

March 3/Lent, 2024 Sermon

Rev. Robert McDowell

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     I was standing in the elevator of a hospital when a woman, noticing that I was wearing a suit and tie with an ID badge clipped to my suit jacket asked me, “What kind of doctor are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

     Now, I just can’t let these kinds of questions go by without having a little fun. I’m sorry, but you gotta have fun in life once in a while.  Like the time when I was in a home improvement store and I was wearing khaki pants and a blue oxford shirt, the exact same thing that the employees of the store were wearing.  

     A customer came up to me and asked me where the power tools were.  And of course, I couldn’t resist, so I said, “That would be aisle 23, across from the light bulbs.”  I had no clue.

     As this person started to walk away, I said, “Actually, the man over there will be able to help you.”  

     So anyway, I’m on this hospital elevator and this woman asks me what kind of doctor I am.  And I said, “I’m a spiritual surgeon and I operate on sinners.”  She actually thought that was kind of funny.  

     But truth be told, I think pastors are kind of like doctors, because in a way we’re both in the health profession, and we both care about the well-being of the people we see.

     Think of all of the people that Jesus healed during his ministry.  It seems like he was constantly laying hands on people who had infirmities and diseases so that they would be healed.  You can imagine how the crowds were drawn to Jesus because of his ability to bring healing.

     Today, as part of our sermon series on the crosses of Jesus, we focus on the Tau cross.  Tau, spelled, “T-A-U.”  And the particular meaning of this cross is that it is commonly associated with God’s gift of healing based on our scripture readings this morning. 

     In our Old Testament reading from the Book of Numbers we have this strange story, at least I think it’s kind of strange. Moses is leading the people of Israel through the wilderness toward the Promised Land, but along the way, they complain, and they begin to stop trusting in God and Moses, their leader. 

     And it’s to a point where there is a real possibility that the people who God had rescued from Egypt will turn back. As it becomes apparent to God that the people might totally give up on following Moses through the wilderness, God sends poisonous snakes which end up killing some of the Israelites.  

     But God also provides Moses with a remedy for these poisonous snake bites by having Moses make a bronze serpent, which he then wraps around a pole, and he tells the people to look up at the serpent so they can be healed.

     Now, if you’re like me, that might sound like a really strange way for someone to be healed from a snake bite, but this is the image that various medical organizations use even today as their symbol.  It’s the symbol of serpents wrapped around a pole.

     But it wasn’t the bronze serpent itself that brought healing to the people.  The point of this story is that it was the power of God through the symbol of the bronze serpent wrapped around the pole that brought healing.  This just goes to show the power of symbols.  Just by looking at this serpent on the pole, the people were healed.

     During the time of the bible, it was believed that the type of pole that Moses used to bring healing to the people was in the shape of the Greek letter, “tau.” This is why it’s called the “tau” cross because the shape of it resembles this Greek letter. 

     Just like the medical profession has picked up on this symbol to represent healing, the Tau cross also reminds us that God wants to offer each one of us physical, emotional, mental and spiritual healing.

     The Tau cross also reminds us of how Jesus healed people during his ministry.  In the Book of James, we are told that we are to anoint those who are sick so that they can be healed.  The anointing of oil has a long and rich history of being a means of grace by which God offers us healing.

     Also, worth noting about this particular kind of cross, is that the Tau cross is often associated with St. Francis of Assisi who lived during the Middle Ages. St. Francis was known for ministering to those who were sick and especially to those who suffered from the skin disease of leprosy.

     St. Francis chose the Tau cross as his emblem because it represented life-time fidelity in being a servant of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.  It was a reminder of his pledge to offer God’s healing to the outcasts of his day. 

     St. Francis even had a special habit or robe made so that every time he would stretch out his arms, his body would take the shape of the tau cross. It served to remind him that he was called to be the hands and feet of Christ for everyone around him.

     A little later in our worship service, an invitation will be extended to come forward to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  

     In addition to the two people who will be holding the bread and the cup of grape juice, I will be available off next to them for anyone who would like to receive the anointing of oil. I’ll simply put a small amount of anointing oil in the sign of the cross on the back of your hand as a symbol of God’s healing presence in your life.

     There is also a direct connect between our Old and New Testament readings this morning. Nicodemus, a religious leader came to Jesus to ask him some questions and Jesus ended up talking to Nicodemus about our need for spiritual healing. 

     Jesus said to Nicodemus, “No one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.”

     And Nicodemus is confused by all of this, thinking that it’s impossible to go through a second birth when you’ve already been born. To help Nicodemus understand what he is saying, he refers to the story about the poisonous snakes and the bronze serpent being put on a pole to bring healing to the people. 

     Jesus says, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”  

      Jesus is referring to the time when he will be lifted on a pole.  More specifically, he will be lifted on a cross to save us from our sins. 

     And right after Jesus uses this analogy of comparing his death on the cross with the serpent on the pole story, we get this wonderful verse that many of us know by heart.

     “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

     This is the good news of our faith that we can be born again just by looking at the cross, turning from our sins, and trusting in Christ. All we need to do is look at the cross and we can be born again. 

     As C.S. Lewis, the great Christian thinker of the last century once said, “It can happen today, if you’d like.”

     The story is told of three men in France who were walking through the countryside together.  And the one man kept going on and on how the problems of the country could be blamed on the church and the Christian faith.

     Every time they would see a church, this man would point to it and say, “That’s the problem with our world today.  Religion.”

     As they were walking by a cathedral, the man started complaining about the Christian faith again as he pointed toward the building in disgust.

     One of the men said, “Well, if you feel that way, why don’t you just go into that cathedral and tell the priest what you’ve been telling us?”  And the man said, “Alright, I will.”  

     So he went inside the cathedral, found the priest and told him what he had been telling his friends all day long, that the Christian faith was just a bunch of superstitions and that the church was the reason the country was in such bad shape.

     The priest listened patiently as the man went on and on with his complaints.  When the man was finally done, the priest said, “Before you leave here today, I want to offer a challenge to you.  I challenge you to go into the sanctuary and look up at the large crucifix with Jesus hanging on the cross, and I want you to say these words, ‘Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and it doesn’t mean a thing to me.’”

     And the man said, “Sure, I’ll take up that challenge.”  And so he went into the sanctuary as the priest instructed him to do, and he went up the full length of the aisle until he made it to the large crucifix.  And after he stared at it for a few moments he said, “Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and it doesn’t mean a thing to me.”

     He went back to the priest and told him that he did exactly what he had told him to do.  As he was about to leave the cathedral, this wise priest said, “I dare you to do it again.”  And the man shrugged his shoulders and said, “Sure, why not?”

     Like the first time, this man slowly walked up the long middle aisle and when he finally made it to the foot of the crucifix, he stared into the face of the crucified Jesus again.  

     And as his eyes were fixed on the face of Jesus with the crown of thorns and his pierced body, he began to say those same words, “Jesus Christ died on the cross for me.”  

     He stopped for a moment and then he started over.  “Jesus Christ died on the cross…for me.  And, and it doesn’t…” He couldn’t continue. He stood there motionless and then he slowly knelt down there in that huge cathedral, and he began to cry. 

     By looking at the cross of Jesus, he was able to see just how much God loved him. 

     As the old hymn says, “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”

     We are all invited to look at the cross of Jesus and receive God’s healing and saving love anew. 

Sunday (March 3/Lent) Pastoral Prayer

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Pastoral Prayer

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Thank you, O God, that there is a balm in Gilead that can make the wounded whole and that can bring healing to our sin-sick soul. When we look at the cross of Jesus, we can see what you have done for us when you allowed yourself to be wounded for our sake. Open our hearts and minds this day to receive your saving grace and your healing presence in our lives. 

 

Today, we pray for those who are in need of healing, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual. Thank you that you are a God who cares about all of who we are, including our mind, bodies, and souls. You love us so much that you gave your only Son, that whosever believes in him may not perish but have everlasting life. 

 

On this day that we focus on the Tau shaped cross which reminds us that you are a God of healing, we also lift up to you doctors, nurses, caregivers, medical technicians, mental health counselors, and EMT responders. Bless and guide them in their work as they serve as instruments of your healing. 

 

As we prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion this morning, we come to you with our brokenness. Thank you for your cross which has made this holy meal possible for us to receive, a meal in which we can actually taste your goodness and your healing love.

 

May your healing presence surround each one of us this day as we pray these words that Jesus taught us to pray together…

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sermon (Feb. 25/Lent) “Crosses of Jesus: The Jerusalem Cross” by Rev. Robert McDowell

    

February 25/Lent, 2024

Rev. Robert McDowell

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     Of all the different symbolic crosses of Jesus, perhaps the Jerusalem cross is the most important one for the church.

     

     Of course, all of the variety of crosses that we are looking at each Sunday during this sermon series, have a common thread – that Jesus Christ died on a cross for the sins of the world.  That, in and of itself is wonderful news!  It’s why we refer to our faith as “good news,” to know that the God of all creation has sent Jesus Christ to be our redeemer, our deliverer, and our Savior.

     

     But the particular cross that we are looking at today, the Jerusalem Cross, is in my estimation, the most significant one of all even as important as they all are.  The reason for this is because the Jerusalem cross that reminds us that the good news of our faith is not meant to be kept to ourselves but is meant to be shared and celebrated with the entire world.

     

     You will notice that the Jerusalem cross consists of a large cross in the middle with four smaller crosses surrounding it.  In this particular style of cross, the large middle cross symbolizes the presence of Jesus Christ, while the four smaller crosses symbolize the task of the church to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the four corners of the world.

     And this is why this particular type of cross is called the Jerusalem cross.  The Christian faith began in Jerusalem since that is where Jesus was crucified on a cross and was resurrected to new life.  But then Christianity gradually extended to the whole world through the faithful witness of the early church.

     

     This cross is also called the Jerusalem Cross because it was used on the flags of the Crusaders during the Middle Ages when they left Europe to try and recapture Jerusalem and the Holy Land and put it under Christian control again.

 

     The Jerusalem cross is important for us to think about during the Season of Lent, because it reminds us that our faith in Jesus Christ is too wonderful to be kept to ourselves.

     

     Have you ever had something to say that was so wonderful that you couldn’t keep it to yourself?  Have you ever wanted to shout at perfect strangers some great news?

 

     A friend told me about a time when he stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things.  As he was heading toward the aisle where soups are sold, he noticed a man going up to strangers and talking to them.  He thought to himself, “Oh, I hope he doesn’t say anything to me.”  

 

     But, sure enough, he started heading right toward him!

 

     He thought to himself, “What would cause this man, who looked to be somewhere in his mid to late 20s, to be OK with going up to complete strangers, and telling them about something without knowing what their reaction might be?  What was his urgent message that he just had to share with everyone shopping at the grocery store that morning?”

 

     Well, it turned out that he was representing a new business that had just opened in town.  And this young man told him how this new business could really be helpful to him, and that if he would go to that business later in the day, he would get a free pizza!!  He then handed him a piece of paper with the name of the business the address of the business, and the free pizza coupon.

 

     My friend said that he didn’t take him up on his offer of the free pizza, but the important thing about that day for him wasn’t that he chose not to visit that new pizza business in town. The important thing for him was that this guy was willing to share something that was so important to him with complete strangers.

     

      I see lots of people like that. How about the guy who is willing to dress up like the statue of liberty and stand outside in bone chilling wind to get you to come in and get your taxes done there? That’s dedication!

 

       Or sometimes I see a person standing near a busy intersection, wearing a costume like a banana suit, or a big chili pepper, trying to get my attention to come and check out the store they’re representing.

     

     Someone told me that near where he lives, one of these costume-wearing-guys stands near a road waving to the cars going by, dressed up as a large drink cup with a huge straw coming out of his head!

     

     Now, I know, they’re not doing this for free.  But you couldn’t pay me enough to do what they’re doing.

     

     You have to respect someone who is willing to wave his arms around while wearing a hamburger suit.  I mean, that takes some courage and boldness.

 

     And all of this reminds me of what people must have thought of those early Christians when they first started going around the city of Jerusalem telling people about a Messiah who was crucified, dead, and then raised from the dead. 

 

     In my mind, there’s no comparison between a person wearing a hamburger suit, and the early Christian on the streets of Jerusalem telling people about a crucified and risen Messiah.  

 

     The disciples of Jesus had it a lot harder in my opinion. I mean, we’ve all seen a hamburger, and most of us eat them from time to time. But not many people in the history of this world have even seen someone who was dead and is now alive again.

 

     But this is the news that those early Christians wanted to tell everyone they could, and this is what the early church did.  They boldly shared the good news to all who would listen that the God of all creation had defeated sin and death at a particular time in history by sending Jesus who died on a cross, rose to new life, and ascended to heaven to rule as King over all of creation.

 

     And of course, just like cars speeding by people wearing costumes, or shoppers who walk past people trying to get you to try a new perfume at the mall, not everyone responded to the good news that those early Christians were sharing.  

 

     Some people totally ignored them and dismissed them.   Other people laughed them off. Some even reacted with insults, and in some cases, physical violence.  

 

     But some – -- some responded and believed.

 

     Why would people respond favorably to news like this?  Our Gospel reading this morning tells us why.  This passage is one of the few New Testament passages where we are told that there was an actual, audible voice from heaven.  And this voice says, “I have glorified it, (meaning God’s name) and I will glorify it again.”

     

     And the way that Jesus would glorify God’s name would be through his death on the cross.  Knowing that he was about to give his life in order to glorify God’s name, the Gospel writer John tells us that Jesus’ soul was troubled, which shows us Jesus’ humanity as he anticipated what was about to happen to him.

     

     This passage of scripture helps us have a deeper glimpse of who God is.  Here we see a God who is willing to go to great lengths, indeed, the greatest length, even sending his own Son to experience death on a cross, for the sake of the world.

 

     And because Jesus was determined to do whatever it took to glorify God’s name, even if that would mean a painful death on the cross, Jesus says in our scripture reading, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.”  

 

     Jesus’ death on the cross would mean that the powers which had usurped the world and laid it to waste --- those evil forces that have trampled on the poor, and have exalted themselves as kings, lords and even as gods – all of them would be judged, condemned, and driven out.  

 

     Not because Jesus would pick up a sword and use violent means against them, but through Christ’s sacrificial death and victory over death on the cross, they would be defeated!

     

     This is why Jesus says in our Gospel reading for today, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

  

     If that’s not worth sharing with the people around us, I don’t know what is. If that’s not worth telling complete strangers, I don’t know what is. If that’s not worth going to the four corners of the world to proclaim, I don’t know what is.

     

     It’s through the cross, that people are drawn to Christ.  It’s through the good news of the cross, that death and sin have been defeated.  The cross is the good news of our faith.  And it’s meant to be shared.

     

     One of the many reasons why I am proud to be a part of the United Methodist Church is that our denomination is presently sharing the good news of the cross of Jesus Christ in more than 125 countries around the world through our General Board of Global Ministries.  

 

     Thanks to your generous support each year throughout our denominational apportionment giving, we support missionaries all over the world, including many right here in the United States.  These missionaries are sharing the good news of the cross of Jesus Christ, and thanks to your generous support, people are being drawn to Him.

     

     As we journey through this Season of Lent and think about what Jesus Christ did not only for us, but for the whole world by dying on a cross, think of some ways that God might be calling us to share this good news with others. 

 

     One of those ways is very simple but also so meaningful. It’s by sharing with others those times in our lives when we have experienced God’s presence in a very real way. Where have you send God at work? Share those moments with the people around you.

 

     As William Temple, archbishop of the Church of England once said, “The church exists for the people who are not already in it.”

 

     This is why we have the Jerusalem cross.  So that we will never forget that the message of the cross is not meant to be kept to ourselves, but to be shared with the whole world - all four corners of the world:  North, South, East, and West.

 

     Thankfully, this cross that has four crosses around it, won’t let us forget.

Sunday (Feb. 25/Lent) Pastoral Prayer

Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Gracious God, just as the cross of Jesus has been our morning star shedding beams around us, lead us to share that same love and mercy with the people we encounter. 

 

May the same self-giving love of Jesus lead us to be witnesses of your good news stretching out to the four corners of the world, the four corners of our nation, the four corners of our local community, and the four corners of our homes. Wherever we go, remind us to share the love of Jesus with others, through our words, and even more importantly, through our actions. 

 

Today, we are especially grateful for those who have shared the good news of Jesus’ love with us; Sunday School teachers, pastors, parents, grandparents, and friends. Thank you for your cross which always reminds us that your love is too wonderful to keep to ourselves. It’s meant to be shared. 

 

As we think about spreading your love throughout the world, we are even more mindful of United Methodist missionaries who are serving in more than 125 countries. May they know of our love and prayers for them as they share the good news of Jesus in a variety of cultures, languages, and nationalities. 

 

We also lift up to you those who are in need of your love this day; the people on our church’s prayer list, those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, friends and family members who have health concerns, and so many other people who are on our hearts and minds this day. 

 

In this season of Lent, keep us near your cross for it truly is a precious fountain free to all, a healing stream flowing from Calvary’s mountain. We pray this in the name of Jesus who died on the cross for the sake of the world and who invites us to pray together…

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sermon (Feb. 18/Lent) “Crosses of Jesus: The Latin Cross” by Rev. Robert McDowell

February 18/Lent, 2024 Sermon

Rev. Robert McDowell

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     At seventy-eight years of age, a well-known woman goes on one of the greatest journeys of all time.  Her destination?  The Holy Land.  Her mission? To find the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified.  

     After many setbacks and disappointments along the way, she at last arrives at a spot where legend has it, she discovers three crosses upon which two thieves and Jesus himself were believed to have been crucified approximately three hundred years earlier.  She is aided in her search by pagan shrines which had been erected on top of Christian holy sites back in the 2^nd century.

     As the story goes, she was able to figure out which of those three crosses was Jesus’ cross in a most interesting and unusual way.  She had all three crosses placed on a girl who had recently died and was on her way to be buried.  Once the cross of the Lord touched her, she was raised from the dead.  According to this story from Christian tradition, this woman who had journeyed a great distance, had discovered the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

     On September 14, the year 326, the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, built where Jesus had been crucified and where what was believed to be the true cross of Jesus was discovered, was officially dedicated thanks to this woman’s brave pilgrimage.  To this day, on the Christian calendar, September 14 is known as Holy Cross Day.

     Unlike Good Friday which is a day to reflect on Jesus’ suffering and death on that horrible instrument of execution, Holy Cross Day on September 14 is a day for Christians to see the cross as a symbol of triumph, as a sign of Christ’s victory over sin and death, and a reminder of his promise, “And when I am lifted up, I will draw all people unto me.”

     That seventy-eight-year-old woman who made the long and dangerous pilgrimage to find Jesus’ cross was Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine who was the first Roman Emperor to confess the Christian faith.

     During these next several weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, like Helena back in the 4^th century, we too are invited to take a long journey during this Season of Lent to explore the meaning and symbolism of the cross of Jesus Christ.

     And to do that, I have put together a sermon series that focuses on six different looking crosses of Jesus which have been widely used over the course of Christian history.  My goal in this sermon series is deepen our understanding of what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross and then rose again. 

     This morning, I’m wearing what is probably the most common looking cross of Jesus – the Latin cross. It’s also the type of cross that is often used on church altars and necklaces.

     Next Sunday, we’ll focus on the Jerusalem Cross.  And for the remaining four Sundays in the Season of Lent, we’ll turn our attention to the Tau Cross, the Celtic Cross, St. Andrew’s Cross, and on Palm/Passion Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, we’ll conclude our series by reflecting on the meaning of the Crucifix.

     So, let’s get started by thinking about the cross I’m wearing today – the Latin cross.  I have a hunch that many of us own a Latin cross and some of you are wearing one of these crosses even as we worship this morning. This is probably the most common of all the crosses we will be focusing on during these six weeks. 

     It’s known as the Latin cross, but it’s also referred to as the Roman cross.  And it’s very appropriate that this is the most popular cross today since it was also the most popular shape of cross during the first three centuries of Christianity.  

     We know this because this particular type of cross has been found on ancient coins, medals, and ornaments and there are descriptions of this type of cross in Christian writings dating all the way back to the 2^nd century.

     If you look closely at this cross, there are a couple of other things that probably stand out.  We notice that the two side arms are of equal length while the lower arm is twice as long as the other three.

     Most scholars believe that it was on a cross that looked just like this Latin cross as far as its proportional dimensions go, that helps us to get a mental picture in our minds of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

     The Romans would force their prisoners who were to be executed to carry the cross-beam part of the cross to the place of their crucifixion, while the vertical pole would be ahead of them waiting for the prisoner to arrive after that long and difficult walk.

     And most likely, it was on a cross like this that Jesus was crucified on the day that we now call Good Friday.

     The Romans used this cruel crucifixion method of having a criminal die a slow death on a cross as a way of deterring people from upsetting the status-quo of the Roman Empire.  It was savage.  It was brutal.  And it was long and painful.  

     As we picture the shape of this Latin cross which we believe to be the shape of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, it might also be helpful for us to picture a sign that was put on the cross above Jesus’ head by the Roman soldiers.  

     And the whole point of that sign was to state the reason for the crucifixion.  In Jesus’ case, the sign that was placed above him read, “Jesus, the Nazarene, King of the Jews.”  This inscription was written in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.

     If we fast forward about a thousand years after Jesus’ crucifixion, we find that the primary language of the church was Latin, and because people were very familiar with the Latin part of the phrase, “Jesus, the Nazarene, King of the Jews” it became customary for artists to abbreviate that rather lengthy Latin phrase to simply include the letters, INRI.  

     So, when you see those letters on the cross, that’s the shortened version of “Jesus, the Nazarene, King of the Jews.”

     Because the Latin cross is the most proportional shape of the cross on which Jesus was crucified, there are many churches which have sanctuaries built in the shape of the Latin cross.  

     I remember officiating at a wedding in a church located in Indiana which was built in the shape of the Latin cross.  And it was very moving for me to think of how that congregation is shaped by Jesus’ cross every time they gather for worship.

     As we continue to think about the powerful symbolism of the Latin cross and how the shape of it is the closest resemblance of the actual cross of Jesus, I want to say a brief word about the meaning behind why many Christians find it helpful to make the sign of the cross.

     It’s been my experience that a lot of Protestant churches, including our own United Methodist denomination, have kind of distanced themselves from this ancient and very meaningful practice, which is very common among Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, as well as other Christian faith traditions.

     But even if we might not use this practice on a regular basis or even at all, the symbolism behind it is very meaningful.  If you might not be accustomed to this practice, I invite you to try it with me right there in your seat.  

     Open your right hand, and with your right hand open, have your thumb, and your next two fingers touch together at their tips. And after you have those three fingertips come together, simply have your last two fingers, fold down onto your palm.

     The three fingers that come together at their fingertips remind us of the doctrine of the trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  And the last two fingers that get folded down onto your palm represent the two natures of Christ – his divine nature and his human nature because we believe Jesus was both fully divine and fully human.

     And to make the sign of the cross, you put your right hand in that position which I just mentioned.  First three fingers together at their fingertips and the last two fingers folded down on your palm.  

     And from there, you simply take your right hand and touch your forehead and you think to yourself, “in the name of the Father,” and then you touch your sternum in the middle of your chest, and you think to yourself, “in the name of the Son.”  

     And then you touch your left shoulder and say, “in the name of the Holy Spirit.”  And then you touch your right shoulder and say, “Amen.”

     So you get something like this…(DEMONSTRATE)

     Now, you might have learned how to sign the cross a little differently and that’s OK since there’s variations to this, but it basically has the same meaning. You’re making the sign of the cross and it can help you remember that Jesus died on the cross for you.

     Now if you’re a little uncomfortable with making the sign of the cross because it wasn’t how you were raised or whatever, it might be helpful to remember that we use the sign of the cross more often than we might think.

     For example, at our Ash Wednesday service which we held this past week, when people come forward to receive the imposition of ashes on their foreheads, its in the sign of the cross as a reminder of our mortality but also as a reminder that through the cross of Jesus Christ and what Jesus has done for us, God offers us forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.

     Another time that we might receive the sign of the cross on our foreheads is when we have a renewal of our baptismal vows.  In our theology of baptism which we share with several denominations of the Christian faith, we believe that baptism is primarily about God’s faithfulness toward us.  And since God never breaks his promise of being faithful, we believe that it’s not necessary to be rebaptized.

     Instead, we offer opportunities to renew our baptismal vows.  And sometimes, pastors will invite people in a worship service to come forward to a bowl of water and the sign of the cross is marked on our foreheads and we hear the words, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.”  

     The anointing of oil for those who are ill will also often include the sign of the cross on the person’s skin, helping us to remember that the healing presence of Jesus Christ is with us during our times of need.

     So, that’s some information about the first two meanings of the Latin cross – that is, it’s the most popular shape of all the crosses and it’s the closest resemblance to the cross on which Jesus died.

     But I just want to point out that this Latin cross, as you notice, is empty.  Jesus isn’t on the cross.  If we know the ending of the Gospels, we know that Jesus died on the cross, but that wasn’t the end of the story.  We believe that after he died, he was placed in a tomb and on the third day, he was resurrected, and was given a new body that would never experience death again.

     The Latin cross reminds us that we worship a risen Lord, but it also reminds us that it came with a price – the price was Jesus’ own death to take away our sins so that we might receive God’s salvation and be made whole.

     In I Corinthians chapter 1, the Apostle Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”  And the reason that the cross can make a difference in our lives is because Jesus was raised three days later on that first Easter Sunday.

     Several years ago, a man is getting ready to head off for work.  He is anxious about many things and on top of that, he’s late for work.  

     And as he stands in front of the mirror in his bedroom and puts on his necktie, he can’t help but notice, as he looks over at his closet, that his little three-year-old daughter has taken the shoestrings out from several of his shoes. 

     All he can think about is how this will make him even more late for work.  As he continues to put on his tie, he feels a tug on his pant leg.  Annoyed and still in a hurry, he says, “Sweetie, daddy doesn’t have time for this.  We’re going to be late getting you to day-care.”

     She tugs again at his pant leg and again he says, “Please, not now, honey.”  She taps him on the leg yet again, and this time, she points toward the middle of the bedroom floor and with her eyes beaming, she says, “Daddy, look!  I made Jesus’ cross!”  

     And sure enough, there in the middle of the floor were two of the shoestrings she had taken out of a pair of his shoes.  She had one over top of the other, forming the shape of Jesus’ cross.

     Thanks to a little girl who reminded her daddy of the importance of Jesus’ cross, somehow, all of those many distractions and worries didn’t seem as important anymore.  In that unexpected holy moment, that shoestring cross reminded him that Jesus Christ was his Lord and Savior.

     And you know what?  That day ended up being one of the best days of my life.