Sermon Preached By Rev. Patti M. Smith - 10/22/2000

Job 38:1-7, 34-41; Psalm 104:1-9; Mark 10:35-45

We were driving through Ohio, my daughter, Julie, and I, as we made our way back home from Canada. It was this past August and we had been on the road almost two weeks. For a second consecutive late afternoon we had driven through heavy rain. Each rainstorm had produced a spectacular rainbow. On the first day’s storm, when we were still in Tennessee, Julie was driving while I was frantically taking pictures out the windows. I was really working hard to get the whole rainbow clearly in my viewfinder because I always get accused of cutting off important parts of that which I mean to have in the picture. We were awed by the beauty of the sight in front of us. It was even a double rainbow. After several miles, we passed under the sight. The memory of the most beautiful rainbow we had ever seen was etched into our minds.

Both of us were sure we could never again see such a spectacular and perfect creation. We were right until the next afternoon. The rain was heavy, the storm intense. Then, abruptly, there in the sky just in front of us was an absolutely perfect rainbow. It was arched high in the sky with both ends clearly visible. We have a picture to prove it. Julie took it. There were no clouds to obscure the view. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet were all vibrant and distinct from one another. There was no merging of colors. It seemed to us that this was quite enough perfection for one rainbow to produce. Not so. I jokingly said to Julie, "Let’s look for the end and the pot of gold!" Then about two miles later, just out the window on the right side no farther than from here to the back of the sanctuary, coming down over the trees and touching the ground, was the end of the rainbow. "There it is! Do you see the pot of gold?"

"Mom, it’s us!! It is our little yellow car. We are the pot of gold!"

After our excitement subsided a theological truth fully hit me. WE ARE THE POT OF GOLD. God’s treasure. Earthen vessels. Precious gifts of God.

For weeks now in our lectionary readings we have followed the saga of Job. Job suffered crisis after crisis, disaster after disaster. Never have we found him blaming God for his trouble and sorrow. Never did we see him lose his faith. But we did see him reach his limit. Hear again a portion of the 23^rd chapter which was read last Sunday. (Job 23:1-10) Then Job answered:

Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I know where I might find him. That I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.

He was so sure he was right. If he could just bring his case before God, he knew God would be fair. He was not only counting on his rightness and God’s fairness, but on his own wisdom to justify his ease. But Job just could not find God! He looked in all directions. He could see evidence of God’s work, but his God was missing. We can surely identify with Job’s feeling, for there are times when most of us feel that God has left us. When God finally spoke to Job, it was not exactly what he had in mind. Instead of vindicating and restoring him to his former position, God revealed a glimpse of majesty and power.

Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words? Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it. Who decided how large it would be? Who stretched the measuring line over it? Do you know all the answers? What holds up the pillars that support the world? Who laid the cornerstone of the world? In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings shouted for joy.

These beautiful, poetic words from the 38^th chapter reflect the ancient world view, but that it was God who created the splendor of the universe is definitely not in doubt.

But Job didn’t get it.

He was sure he was right and expected God to judge in his favor. The "I’M RIGHT" attitude and the refusal to listen further is unhealthy, unhelpful and destructive. If you doubt that reality just look at the Middle East today.

Our scene changes now: Jesus and his disciples are on the road to Jerusalem. The winds of change are blowing. According to the Gospel of Mark, "His disciples were filled with alarm and the people who followed were afraid." Jesus took the twelve aside to tell them once again what the upcoming events were to be. He spoke in detail of what was to happen to him. He rehearsed the events, including his death and resurrection.

They just didn’t get it!

James and John, sons of Zebedee, thinking that Jesus was about to come into his kingdom, took the opportunity to put their names in nomination for high positions. At the first chance they saw, they asked Jesus if he would do something for them. A favor, they said. After all, they had been with him since the beginning and surely they were deserving. "Master, we want to be in your cabinet. Make us your Secretary of State and Attorney General."

Jesus’ answer must have come as a big surprise. It was something like this:

"A. You have NO clue what you are asking and

B. What you ask is not in my power to give."

It is not hard to figure out what was coming next. The other ten found out about James and John’s request for the power positions and they were not pleased!

They didn’t get it either!

Jesus had to sit down once again with the twelve.

You know that the men who are rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, he must be the servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.

Our God is a God of majesty and power. Our God is a God of love and compassion.

What then is God’s treasure?

We are the treasure when we become servant people. It is as we serve God and God’s people that we finally get it.

We are the treasure when we become servant people. It is as we serve God and God’s people that we finally get it! Amen.