Where Is God Found?
Commentary
Where is God to be found? Not in shrines made by human hands. God is in our midst. God is found in our suffering. God is found in the love we share. In the passage from Acts the Apostle Paul helps non-believers who have a totally different worldview see that they’ve already found God in the shrine to an unknown God, and in their own poets who, in effect, saw through a glass darkly. In First Peter, we are reminded that God is not found in human hierarchies, but in our common humanity in which the image of God is inscribed. It might even be seen in those in spiritual prisons, to whom the sacrificed Jesus preached following his crucifixion. And finally, in the gospel passage we are reminded that we are not alone. God is found standing at our side, supporting us, encouraging us, and speaking for us, as the parakletos, or advocate.
Acts 17:22-31
Around fifteen years ago, when I was one of a number of chaplains who served in a team jail ministry, I was asked by some prisoners who were part of my weekly Bible study for some scriptures to prove to some non-Christians in jail that the gospel is true. “I can’t give you any scriptures,” I said, “because if they don’t believe in the Bible a quote from the Bible won’t convince them. The best scriptures we can offer are our lives. In the same way, when Paul addresses the Athenians, he cannot quote scripture to prove scripture. These Athenian philosophers may well know something of the Hebrew scriptures, but they do not accept them as divinely inspired. Instead, he compliments the Athenians for their spirituality, extending even to honoring an unknown God. Paul points to that inscription as part of their “scriptures” in order to introduce Jesus and the resurrection. He then quotes from two poets, Epimenides and Aratus, whose wisdom they recognize, “For in him we live and move and have our being,” and “For we, too, are his offspring.” He uses these two “scriptures” to lead into his central point that God is not a statue or an image, but a living being who has the power of judgement over them all, and that knowing this, it is time for them to choose. The assurance, or proof, is something they can all attest to, because of the witness in their day of some who had seen the resurrected Jesus — the followers who testified to the truth.
1 Peter 3:13-22
The Roman world was a status conscious society, with many people holding tyrannical power over others. So-called nobility over other human beings, masters over slaves, husbands over wives. Unlike our day, when we can actively work in our society against the unjust use of power by individuals over another, Christians found themselves powerless in many cases to protect themselves, and with no recourse for justice. Peter calls upon us to do good for others, not unlike Jesus who told us to love our enemies. While we would like to believe, with the apostles, “Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?” since we know there are those who repay good with evil, he also reminded us that our undeserved suffering made us one with Christ. Christ is found in our suffering, especially our undeserved suffering. Peter also notes that Jesus, after being put to death “made a proclamation to the spirits in prison….” What this might mean is debated. Did Jesus preach — and save — those who had been unable to receive the Good News because they were born before the birth of Jesus? Is something else indicated? What is clear is that his suffering is where he is powerful. We do not seek suffering, but when it comes to us, especially undeserved, we are freed to reach out to those imprisoned in their pain, in their injustice, and to work for their freedom from these.
John 14:15-21
Where will Jesus be found? In us, because the Spirit, Jesus assures us, the Advocate, will be with us. The advocate, God’s Spirit, stands with us, and for us, strengthens us, and inspires us. The Greek word parakletos, refers literally to one who accompanies us to court, who has standing in what is a frightening situation that can leave us feeling powerless, and who can testify on our behalf. Many of us have been trained, instructed, and mentored in a craft, whether it's our business, our job, our hobby, or our passion. It’s difficult to go solo the first time we’re left on our own to carry on in something dear to our hearts. We gain confidence when we have a person we trust with us. Jesus promises us that this advocate will continue to stand with us. Now other people may not realize the Spirit is with us. How will they know we are empowered by Christ? Because we keep his commandments. In John 13:31-35, Jesus specifically shared a new commandment, by which people would know we are his disciples — that we love one another. We are called to love enemies, to love those in power despite their abuses, to love strangers — but sometimes the church of Jesus Christ fails when it comes to the simple test of loving those who share the pews with us. That is the challenge implicit in this passage. We know we are not alone. We know we are strengthened and supported by the advocate. But does the world know this? Is it obvious that we love one another?
Acts 17:22-31
Around fifteen years ago, when I was one of a number of chaplains who served in a team jail ministry, I was asked by some prisoners who were part of my weekly Bible study for some scriptures to prove to some non-Christians in jail that the gospel is true. “I can’t give you any scriptures,” I said, “because if they don’t believe in the Bible a quote from the Bible won’t convince them. The best scriptures we can offer are our lives. In the same way, when Paul addresses the Athenians, he cannot quote scripture to prove scripture. These Athenian philosophers may well know something of the Hebrew scriptures, but they do not accept them as divinely inspired. Instead, he compliments the Athenians for their spirituality, extending even to honoring an unknown God. Paul points to that inscription as part of their “scriptures” in order to introduce Jesus and the resurrection. He then quotes from two poets, Epimenides and Aratus, whose wisdom they recognize, “For in him we live and move and have our being,” and “For we, too, are his offspring.” He uses these two “scriptures” to lead into his central point that God is not a statue or an image, but a living being who has the power of judgement over them all, and that knowing this, it is time for them to choose. The assurance, or proof, is something they can all attest to, because of the witness in their day of some who had seen the resurrected Jesus — the followers who testified to the truth.
1 Peter 3:13-22
The Roman world was a status conscious society, with many people holding tyrannical power over others. So-called nobility over other human beings, masters over slaves, husbands over wives. Unlike our day, when we can actively work in our society against the unjust use of power by individuals over another, Christians found themselves powerless in many cases to protect themselves, and with no recourse for justice. Peter calls upon us to do good for others, not unlike Jesus who told us to love our enemies. While we would like to believe, with the apostles, “Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?” since we know there are those who repay good with evil, he also reminded us that our undeserved suffering made us one with Christ. Christ is found in our suffering, especially our undeserved suffering. Peter also notes that Jesus, after being put to death “made a proclamation to the spirits in prison….” What this might mean is debated. Did Jesus preach — and save — those who had been unable to receive the Good News because they were born before the birth of Jesus? Is something else indicated? What is clear is that his suffering is where he is powerful. We do not seek suffering, but when it comes to us, especially undeserved, we are freed to reach out to those imprisoned in their pain, in their injustice, and to work for their freedom from these.
John 14:15-21
Where will Jesus be found? In us, because the Spirit, Jesus assures us, the Advocate, will be with us. The advocate, God’s Spirit, stands with us, and for us, strengthens us, and inspires us. The Greek word parakletos, refers literally to one who accompanies us to court, who has standing in what is a frightening situation that can leave us feeling powerless, and who can testify on our behalf. Many of us have been trained, instructed, and mentored in a craft, whether it's our business, our job, our hobby, or our passion. It’s difficult to go solo the first time we’re left on our own to carry on in something dear to our hearts. We gain confidence when we have a person we trust with us. Jesus promises us that this advocate will continue to stand with us. Now other people may not realize the Spirit is with us. How will they know we are empowered by Christ? Because we keep his commandments. In John 13:31-35, Jesus specifically shared a new commandment, by which people would know we are his disciples — that we love one another. We are called to love enemies, to love those in power despite their abuses, to love strangers — but sometimes the church of Jesus Christ fails when it comes to the simple test of loving those who share the pews with us. That is the challenge implicit in this passage. We know we are not alone. We know we are strengthened and supported by the advocate. But does the world know this? Is it obvious that we love one another?
