Who is Jesus?

He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"

Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are."

Who is Jesus?
Jesus asks a simple question that has a profound answer. Who am I? Who is Jesus? A wise man, a teacher, a prophet? Peter responds -- Son of God. What the heck, where does this come from? What does it mean? What makes Peter say this?

I wrestle with this question. Who is Jesus? Who is God? What does it mean for God to have a son and how can they be one? Without the bible or years of Christian tradition and theology, would I ever conceive to think of Christ as the son of God. This revelation of Peter's is so profound and Jesus responds by validating that there is no earthly way he could have come up with it.

Jesus continues by saying -- now you know who I am, let me tell you who you are -- I am struck by this. The idea that Peter's, and our, identity is somehow defined by who Jesus is makes me wonder -- How does Jesus as the son of God shape who I am?

I don't have an answer, but it is a curious question.

Taize

Taize is an ecumenical monastery in France that was started with a vision to unite the all branches of the church and promote interdenominational healing. The community uses singing of the psalms, silence and prayer to meditate on God's grace.

Emily, one of our band members spends many of her summers visiting Taize and has recently come back to share with all of us. We sat in a circle on the floor with an alter made of red and white candles. The children processed in with the cross, laying it on the floor at the center of the alter. We sang many songs including Nada te turbe, a Spanish tune which says that nothing can trouble us if we belong to God.

Get out of the boat!

This week we sat with Peter, out in a little boat on a stormy sea in the middle of the night. Through the waves, he sees a ghostly figure walking on water. Jesus yells -- Hey guys, don't worry, it's me! Peter, in usual manner, blurts out -- "if its you tell me to come out of the boat" (careful what you ask for) Jesus says - come. Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking on the water. Then he realizes what's happening (Willie Coyote moment) and starts to sink.

Our discussion about this verse centered on... What does it mean for us to get out of the boat? Here's some of the major points:

• Being identified as a Christian or living your faith in the "secular" parts of your life - work, school, etc.
  
• Not knowing what to do at a major decision in life and having peace that God is working
• Having faith when you don't "feel" like you do
• Doing something you know God wants you to do even if you are afraid that you will fail at it
• Doing something or opening yourself to something that you don't have control over
• Helping strangers in the middle of the night or in other "risky" situations

What does it mean for you to get out of the boat?

Crossings Drama Troupe

Since Lent and maybe longer, I have felt a gap at Crossings. We bring so much creative energy to the music of our worship but not to the retelling of the Gospel, the heart of faith. There are so many rich stories and deeply human experiences revealed in scripture and yet we read them in a monotone voice to an disengaged but polite congregation.

It bothers me almost as much as reading psalms of praise that speak of dancing or playing of tambourines. Come on people.... God didn't create us to live without expression.

I want to bring the stories and questions of faith to life with something we can grasp. Something that can get in our bones and keep us thinking. I want to connect with the essence of what scriptures reveal.

Sharing this with people around has birthed the idea of performing drama at Crossings. I'm not sure where this adventure will take us but am excited to imagine new ways to interact with powerful and ancient stories.

What is the kingdom of heaven?

Throughout the Gospel's Jesus refers to the illusive concept of the "Kingdom of Heaven." Last Crossings service we struggled with what this means. Is the kingdom a physical place? a political unit or group? a relationship with God?

In the service we looked at 6 parables about the kingdom of heaven...

The kingdom of heaven is like

• a treasure buried in a field discovered by a trespasser
  
• a valuable pea rl sought after by a merchant
• yeast that makes bread rise
• a mustard seed that grows into a huge bush
• a net that catches fish, good and bad
• "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it."

Our conversation placed the kingdom of heaven as faith and how these parables describe different ways that it can come to people. What do you think?

We then made a "kingdom of heaven" board where we cut out pictures from magazines that provided images that we could use as analogies to explain the kingdom of heaven. What would you post?