Domes - Our Monthly Newsletter
Dunbar UCC
January 20, 2008
Psalm 40:1-11
John 1:35-39
Come and See
- Monday we’re honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., with a holiday. I remember when leaders in our government thought he was the enemy. J. Edgar Hoover hated him and had a special file filled with material that he hoped he’d be able to use to blackmail King or at least ruin his reputation. But King wouldn’t shut up. He led marches for black people to have equality with white people, he spoke about his dreams of people living in harmony with each other. In his last few years, he spoke against the Vietnam War. That angered people more than his fight for civil rights.
- Many said that a Christian minister shouldn’t interfere with the government, but should preach about following Jesus and let the politicians run the U.S. . Well -- he did preach about following Jesus. And he followed him. He followed Jesus into the streets of Birmingham, Alabama. He followed Jesus into the jails he was thrown into and the crowds that threw bottles and rocks at him. Once someone stabbed and almost killed him. He followed Jesus to the White House where presidents asked him to stop making trouble. King knew that Jesus was leading him through a mine field and it was just a matter of time before he’d step on a bomb. He followed Jesus to an early death.
- Last Thursday night I asked the confirmation class what they were passionate about. They said sports, friends, appearance and nice clothes. Some were so passionate about their looks, they spent more time in front of the mirror than they did studying. I asked if any were passionate about Jesus. They said no. I said, “You know someone who was passionate about Jesus? Martin Luther King, Jr.” Then I asked them who their heroes were -- who would they want to grow up and be like? Some named celebrities -- a football player, a basketball player, a movie star. I said, “Would any of you like to grow up and be like Martin Luther King, Jr.? And one student said, “No.” I said, “Why not?” She said, “Because he was shot.”
- I said, “But sports can be dangerous -- and yet, many of you still play. Why do you play when you know you could be hurt?” They said, “Because we love it.”
- And that’s what it’s all about. When we love something -- or someone -- then personal comfort or safety don’t matter. Martin Luther King loved Jesus so much, he followed him around the world and through angry mobs and biting dogs and fire hoses and club-swinging policemen -- he followed Jesus all the way to the balcony of the Loraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee where he was shot in the face and killed. Maybe we will love Jesus that much. John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus, “Where are you staying?” Jesus said, “Come and see.” Many of the early disciples came and saw, like Martin Luther King, and they also died young. So I’ll warn you -- following Jesus can be hazardous to your life. And like other things that can hurt you, it’s addictive. You follow Jesus a little bit, you might not be able to stop.