Dunbar UCC

November 22, 2009

Psalm 132:3-5

John 18:33-37

Music From Another Kingdom

I.        Jesus had just been betrayed by one of his disciples, and the Romans arrested him.  The governor Pontius Pilate interrogated him but Jesus wouldn’t give a straight answer.  Pilate asked questions, and Jesus answered with questions.  Finally Jesus said:  “... I came into the world to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  Pilate said:  “What is truth?”

II.       Everyone has their own truth.  Once the truth was that the world was flat, and the sun and planets revolved around the earth.  And still people ask:  What is truth?

          Is Health Care Reform a good thing?  Or is it really a conspiracy to kill off all our elderly?  

          Was the earth created in 6 days, or did all of this take billions of years?

          And what about global warming -- is Al Gore lying to us?  Who’s telling the truth?

III.      And what abouit Christmas? If we are Christian, do we need to say to say “Merry Christmas.” Do we betray Jesus if we say happy holidays?  Should we boycott stores that don’t say “Merry Christmas?”  (Do you think Jesus cares which stores we buy our play stations and wide-screen tv’s from?)   What’s the truth?

IV.     And how about the wars we fight?  Does God want us in Iraq and Afghanistan, is that the devil’s work?  Are our politicians telling the truth?

V.      Jesus said if we belong to the truth, we listen to his voice.  But how do we know his voice?  There are so many impostors of Jesus -- so many false prophets.  

          Listen to this: (play part of “The Thrill Is Gone”)

          Do you know who’s voice that is?  How do you know?

VI.     Pilate said “What is truth?” but there are as many  truths as there are voices.  If we want Jesus’ version of truth, we need to listen to his words and actions.  Don’t take my word for it, or any one else’s.  If we follow him, we have to know him like we know our closest friend, or our spouse, or child.  

          He said “love” is what his truth is about and our work is to love God and friend and enemy alike.  If we’re not getting that message -- then we’re not listening to the Jesus we find in the Gospels.