The Power of Hidden Things (Free Version)
Third Sunday After Pentecost (Year B)- 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,14-17, Mark 4:26-34
Our texts this Sunday challenge us to the ways that we often assume we know how God works in our lives in the world, but we often miss it altogether.
In 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, the prophet Samuel has just told King Saul that he will no longer be Israel’s king. Why? Because, while he outwardly appeared to trust God, Saul was calculating, looking out for himself rather than the will of God.
It says that God was sorry that he made Saul the king. This is a picture of a God who is dynamic, who grieves, who walks with his people in the midst of their pain and even their sin. God feels the consequences along with us.
While Samuel is still grieving, the Lord sends him to the house of Jesse, saying that he had chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be king.
One by one, Jesse’s sons pass by Samuel. God tells Samuel not to consider his appearance or his height and, one by one, God rejects all of them. So, Samuel asks Jesse, “You got anymore sons?” Sure enough, there is one. Jesse hadn’t even thought to invite his youngest. After all, he was tasked with watching the sheep. When the little guy shows up, it turns out that he is the ONE.
God works in weakness, not what we perceive to be strength. The one who is perceived to be weak is promoted. For the Christian, of course, this rumors the Crucified One who is raised in power.
In 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,14-17, Paul says that we live “by faith, not by sight.” We have faith because we cannot see. Really, we have no "evidence" for the faith we profess. There are many Christians who crave a kind of certainty; but, if you have certainty, you don’t need faith! Faith is a leap, a choice to trust, to risk it all, to cash in all our chips.
Paul says the love of Christ is what compels him. And because of Christ’s resurrection, the world is a different place. In fact, everything has changed.
Paul’s perspective has changed as part of this new world. When he looks at other people, other Christians, himself, anyone, he sees them in a fresh new way. When he looks at the Messiah, he sees Him in a new way from how he did before.
Verse 17 summarizes: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” The “new creation” refers to the person, but also the world they enter.
We have a couple different parables in Mark 4:26-34, both emphasizing that the Kingdom of God is often what we least expect. It grows secretly, subtly and surprises us! God is the one who grows the kingdom. We are simply like the farmer who sows the seed and rises each day. We can trust that God is working, even when we don’t see the fruit that we expect from our labor.
The second parable emphasizes that, though the seed starts small, the fulfillment of the kingdom is that it will eventually offer shade, not only to those “insiders” to the kingdom, but to the whole world.
Perhaps it is time to check our vision. Are we looking at the outward appearance and ignoring small, seemingly weak beginnings? Are we willing to live by faith, compelled by love?
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