Topic:Jesus was emptied of divinity and experienced the breadth of humanity.We too must find ways to be emptied, be human, and follow Christ.
Today begins Holy Week when we follow the path of Jesus to the cross. I encourage you, to get the full effect of this Holy Week and the Easter celebration, to attend our Good Friday service.This will be a quiet service of reflection and music.The focus will be the seven last words of Jesus as spoken from the cross and several church members and myself will be offering meditations.
As today begins Holy Week, in early Christianity this day was originally called the Sunday of the Passion which began with a procession of palm branches to remember Jesus’ entering Jerusalem.However, traditionally the real focus was on reading of the passion story, which would then be re-read on Good Friday.Over the years the palms and the passion became separated and historically today we find ourselves, as one writer said, ‘seduced by the palms’ and primarily focusing on Jesus’ happy occasion of entering the city.Maybe it is that we know that Good Friday is right around the corner so we hold off as long as possible before confronting the unpleasant memories of Holy Week.
The focus of our scripture today leans towards the passion, leading up to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.He is anointed by the unknown woman, Jesus participates in the last supper, he makes the night trip to the Garden of Gethsemene where Jesus is betrayed by Judas and taken into custody.We all know what follows as Jesus endures a gruesome round of questioning torture and crucifixion.
There are all kinds of emotions bound up together on this one Sunday.The exuberance of the Palms and the wretchedness of the Passion.And, on this Palm/Passion Sunday we can feel the breadth of human emotions from one end of spectrum to the other.One moment Jesus is entering the city at the height of his ministry with people waving palm branches singing hosanna, being anointed with extremely expensive perfume and the next Jesus is alone in the Garden praying the prayer of anguish while his friends cannot stay awake.
But this is why we love Jesus so much.Jesus participates with us in our range of human experiences of pain and joy, love and disappointment.As we have been exploring this Savior of ours, Jesus, during the Lenten season, it seems the more we learn about this Holy One, often the more questions we have.Who was this Jesus - human, divine, both?
In the Philippians scripture we are told that Jesus emptied himself of divinity.This passage has been one of the most important to me theologically in understanding just the depths to which Jesus went to relate to us.
I have come to agree with the view that Jesus fully experienced humanity.Jesus wasn’t an imposter.He didn’t dress up in a costume of human attire, walk around hiding his divinity and play-act human.Instead, I believe that Jesus’ divine tendencies were retracted or latent for a time until his work was done on this earth.
Jesus experienced the same joys, the same loves, the same pains, the same disappointments, and temptations that we do.He had best friends, he probably had a favorite color, favorite foods.Maybe he disliked brussels sprouts like I do.I don’t know, did they even have brussels sprouts in Palestine?
Jesus attended birthday parties and wedding feasts.He studied scripture and pondered theology.Jesus laughed out loud, Jesus got angry, Jesus cried for a dead loved one, Jesus got frustrated with his family and Jesus experienced one of the greatest pains of humanity – betrayal by a friend.
This is what it means to be human.The ups and downs of life can happen so quickly.One moment we are happy and all is going well and in an instant a tragedy or disaster can turn it all around.
This is why Jesus speaks to our souls.His humanity was stretched to the greatest lengths – further than we ever expect to have to go.This is a savior we can trust, a God who understands us to our very depths.A savior who willingly emptied of divinity to share in our humanity.
II.Jesus seemed to major in the empties.Being empty was a good thing for Jesus
because in the possibility of being empty Jesus could relate to humanity.Likewise, Jesus seemed to always be encountering people who were empty.
1.Take, for example, Jesus’ first miracle:Empty stone pots at a wedding feast. Jesus’ mother had coming requesting his help for more wine.He didn’t seem thrilled with the request.Nevertheless, what Jesus saw was possibility.Jesus saw these large, 20-30 gallon containers sitting there empty, and filling them up with water he changed the water to wine.Filling empty pots for a host who would be embarrassed for running out.Filling empty containers to fulfill the request of his mother.Jesus came to experience humanity and he cared about the human things of life, about empty pots at a wedding feast.
2.Jesus encountered empty stomachs in the multitudes on a hill-side after a long, hot day of teaching and healing.From Jesus’ view they looked like a herd of sheep, walking through hillside and valley, like sheep without a shepherd.Jesus, after filling them spiritually, now at end of the day realized that their stomachs were also empty.“Fill them up,” Jesus told his disciples, “they are hungry.Give them something to eat.”Jesus cared the human things of life, about empty stomachs.
3.Jesus was drawn to an empty bucket.As Jesus stopped at the well of Jacob to rest, he encountered a Samaritan woman with an empty water jar.She had come in the heat of the day to fill her empty bucket and Jesus, thirsty himself, asked for a drink of water and then confronted her about her empty relationships.She’s the one who had five husbands and was living with someone to whom she was not married.Jesus experienced humanity.He cared about the human things of life and for a woman with an empty bucket and empty relationships.
4.Jesus was drawn to an empty purse.As he sat and watched people at the Temple giving their offerings, a widow contributed two small copper coins, worth about a penny.Jesus saw people giving and giving, many of them rich and putting in large sums.However, it was the woman with the empty purse who Jesus noticed, the one who gave all she had to live on.Jesus told the disciples that she had given the most of anyone.Jesus cared about the human things of life and noticed someone with an empty purse.(Mark 12:41)
5.Jesus was drawn to empty nets.Simon Peter and his companions had been fishing all night long.They crouched on the shore line, bent over, tired washing their nets, having given up on making any money that day.Jesus convinced them to row out to deep water and try it one more time, and this time their nets were so full they began to break.Jesus cared about the human things of life and was drawn to empty nets. (Luke 5:1-11)
6.In today’s gospel reading we have a woman with an empty alabaster jar.Jesus encounters her in Simon the leper’s home.Jesus had already received the welcome of the palms into Jerusalem and now this unnamed woman anoints him with very costly ointment.
You know what?I think Jesus enjoyed it!
Have you ever had one of those spa treatments, where they really pamper you?Jesus had spent these last several months ministering with no place to lay his head, walking many miles, hanging out with a bunch of smelly guys.When this woman pours ointment on his head and anoints his body, it appears that Jesus was thoroughly enjoying the aroma and the caressing care that she took for him.
Jesus came to experience all of humanity.
Yet, it seems that much of life we are trying so hard not to be human.We deny ourselves our humanity and pleasures.We are often told that our humanity is bad.We don’t let people give us too much attention.We shouldn’t waste money on ourselves or let others do so.But here, we see Jesus accepting his humanity and living into it.
What is interesting is that this woman’s alabaster jar was not empty when the story begins.It is full, it is expensive, it is tightly sealed.But something about Jesus calls her forth to break it open and empty all of its contents.
This same Jesus reminds us too that he will meet us in our emptiness.
Emptiness is not something we are generally comfortable with.We try to hard to keep our selves filled up.We stuff our lives with what we think will make us happy.We fill our bank accounts with extra cash.We tell ourselves to pray more, to read more, to do more, when sometimes all Jesus asks for is to let him experience our humanity with us, even when our humanity is emptiness.
Some of you have been concerned about your church.Empty, you have told me.Empty of former members.Empty of Spirit.Empty of direction.Empty of finances.Empty is not such a bad thing if it is temporary.When we are empty, then we can be filled up with something even better.
Like the wedding hosts with their empty wine bottles.Jesus filled them up, and the wine was better than the first.They said, “Why did the guest save the best wine til last?”
Like the multitudes with their empty stomachs.Jesus filled them to capacity, not only physically but spiritually.
Like the woman with an empty purse.Jesus blessed her for all eternity as a model of generosity.
Like the woman at the well with her empty bucket.Jesus filled her with living water.
Like the fishermen with their empty nets.Jesus called them forth and said from now on you will fish instead for people.
And this church, this church is going to be filled up greater than ever were before.I claim that this morning.I believe that is possible.
And you, personally, as a follower of Jesus Christ, if you are feeling empty this morning then know that you are going to be filled with the love of Christ until you are overflowing with blessings.I believe that is possible.
Being filled up is possible if…if we are willing to acknowledge our emptiness, even be comfortable with your emptiness.Then we can open ourselves up to the Spirit of God.
As we enter holy week, maybe Jesus is asking us to do the same as the woman who anointed him.Maybe we are being called to take our alabaster jars, whatever they may be, and empty them. To pour them out.To rid ourselves of all that is not important, both as a church and as individuals.To give our all to Christ.
Jesus was willing to do that for us…to empty himself in order to walk by our sides, to experience what we experience.Yes, Jesus came to experience humanity and sometimes the humanity that Jesus wants to experience is our very own. May we share our emptiness with Christ and may we accept this Jesus who promises to fill us up.Amen.
