The Radiance of God's Glory

Job 1:1; 2:1-10; Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16

Our Old Testament lesson for today from the book of Job starts out with a story about how Satan went to God with a plan to test a man by the name of Job. For most of his life, Job had been a moral and upright man. In fact, God had been proud of him. So, when Satan came to God with the challenge that not even Job could withstand the devil's torment, God told Satan to go ahead and try. God had faith in Job and truly believed that Job would not sin in the face of suffering, for God had come to know and trust Job as a man of great integrity. And he knew that Job would not fail him in this test.

Of course, today, we look at that story with a bit of mystery. We may wonder that God would allow such a test at the hands of the devil at the expense of an innocent person. But, still, this story reminds us of the importance of integrity and that the things that go on in this world may be influenced by things going on in the spiritual world more than we can possibly know.

Of course, the story of Job is a story about a man with great integrity. It is the story of a man who was faithful to God in spite of suffering and pain.	And it is a story that may cause us to ask where such faithfulness comes from.

Many persons put their faith in God, hoping to get something in return. Many people come to God for salvation from sickness, believing that God may heal them of their suffering. And certainly that sometimes happens. Or they come to God for salvation from poverty, believing that God may bless them with wealth and success. And that happens, sometimes, as well. Or, many people come to God or salvation from depression, or loneliness, or boredom, or meaninglessness, believing that God will constantly enliven their lives or keep them company or keep them entertained. And, to be sure, these things often do take place in people's lives.

But sometimes, these things don't always happen – and we don't know why. For there are persons who are in great poverty who still have great faith. And there are persons who have suffered many illness and physical problems, but still love and serve God. And there are those who go through depression and loneliness and boredom who still worship God and love God. And you have to wonder why. These persons don't put their faith in God with an eye on some kind of reward. Rather, they put their faith in God because they have integrity. They know that it is simply the right thing, the good thing, the holy thing to do.

So, indeed, it is good to have integrity. It is good to choose to do the right things in life, not just for the sake of one's own prosperity, but to the glory of God. And, there was no one with more integrity than Jesus Christ, himself, who, as our lesson from the book of Hebrews pointed out was just a little bit lower than the angels. Jesus was like Job in that he was blameless. Yet, Jesus came to earth and suffered in much the same way that Job did. Like Job, Jesus remained faithful to God even in the midst of all the suffering. And because he had such faith and integrity, the cosmic contest between God and the powers and principalities of evil was finally won. Jesus, "who was made a little lower than the angels, is now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." And in the process of doing this Christ revealed his true nature; that Christ is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of God's being, sustaining all things by his word.

Our Gospel lesson for this morning continues the theme of integrity. For in Mark 10 the Pharisees came to Jesus to test his integrity. They brought an example to Jesus – an example of brokenness that was prevalent in their community – the problem of divorce – and they wanted to see what he would say.

In Jesus day there were two competing philosophies about divorce. The Jews believed that if a man wanted to be divorced from his wife, all he had to say was, "I divorce you!" three times. And out she'd go onto the streets or back to her parents, if they would take her. The Romans, on the other hand, believed that divorce shouldn't be quite that easy; that if there was a divorce there should at least be an equal division of the household between the man and the woman.

So, the Pharisees came to Jesus to see what he would say about it, hoping that maybe he would side with the Romans so they could discredit him as a rabbi. Instead, what did Jesus do? He pointed out that marriage was supposed to be until death do us part. But he conceded that many marriages fail because of the brokenness that is in the world. The only reason the Jews and the Romans had laws allowing a man to divorce his wife was to protect and establish some kind of order for society. Jesus pointed out that it was up to them to choose whose law they wanted to follow when brokenness came into their lives. But, how much better it would be to overcome the brokenness in the world? And, certainly, that's what Jesus came to do.

Such an answer to the Pharisees was one example of Christ's integrity. He didn't bow to one side or the other, but kept his eyes and his message and his teachings focused on his mission – and that was to bring wholeness to creation, to heal the chasm between heaven and earth, and God and humanity.

Today we will join together in partaking of the Lord's Supper. Certainly, if there is anything that symbolizes the healing of that chasm between heaven and earth, between God and humanity, it is Holy Communion. If there is anything that points more to Christ's efforts to bring about wholeness to creation it is the Lord's Supper.

As we come forward to receive the elements of bread and wine we do so remember that Christ is the radiance of God's glory. And it is our aim to our Lord faithfully – not thinking of the reward in it for us – but mindful only of God's great faithfulness and love for us.

Amen.