The following is an English translation of the outline for Rev. Musubi Tabuchi's message to Ashiya Christian Church (and, by remote, the congregation of Unfinished Community) on Sunday, November 24, 2024, drawing from John 18:33-37.
I often find that trying to communicate with people about the Gospel of John is challenging. It is often the case that the people in the Gospel of John who are talking with Jesus speak the same language as each other, use the same words, but don’t understand each other at all. IN today’s passage, Jesus is questioned by Pilate, the Roman governor, just before his crucifixion. Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?
The conversation about kingship isn’t very clear at all, and our translation (either in the Japanese or the English) is ambiguous as well. But Jesus reiterates here that this kingdom does not belong to this world. When we use words like “king” or “kingdom,” we tend to think of the ruler of a country which actually exists on earth, but when Jesus uses these words he is really talking about the reality, our way of life, even, even our hearts, and how those things determine our steps, our path forward in this life and beyond. Earthly kings can destroy our bodies, but they have no control over our souls, and when Jesus is speaking of kings and rulers, this is what he’s talking about; those who can affect our very souls. This is why Jesus could speak without fear of Pilate, or the Roman Emperor who stood behind him.
Today is the last Sunday in the church calendar year, and next week marks the beginning of the new year with Advent. I know that we are all walking through our lives, every day, in search of better ways of being, but is that betterment we search for of the body, or of the soul? And even with everything that is going on, do we still welcome the present moment with a sense of peace and tranquility, or anxiety? When I feel anxious or unsettled about the things of this world, I reflect on the ways in which I have not yet sought peace for my soul. When we have that peace, it becomes impossible to be truly anxious or restless about anything else. So, as we savor the words of Jesus once again, let us continue to look back at the unchangeable fact that we are in God’s control.
Let us pray, God, thank you that we have been able to live this past year to this day in your protection. And even if we don’t communicate perfectly in prayer, even if we are unsure or unclear, help us keep our eyes fixed only on Your peace. We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
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