November 21, 2010
Multiple Images
- Colossians 1:11-20
- Dr. Teri Thomas
When I was in the 7th grade our family took a summer vacation and drove from Toledo, Ohio to California and back. As you can imagine, we saw some amazing things- Mt. Rushmore, the Mitchell Corn Palace, the Pacific Ocean, Navaho reservations, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, Knottsberry Farm- and so much more. One reason I remember the trip so well is that I had my little Kodak instamatic with drop-in film cartridges and I took photos. Now I knew, in those days, that it cost money to develop film so I was careful about what I photos I took, usually.
When we returned home from the trip and picked the developed photos up from the drugstore I was severely reprimanded for having about 15 shots of Old Faithful Geyser erupting in Yellowstone National Park. I had never seen a geyser. Here is hot water shooting out of the ground. I took a shot. It went higher- another shot and higher- another shot and higher- another shot- well, you get the picture. I had different angles, different view, different perspectives, but the same geyser.
Now, with the arrival of digital photography and the ability to delete images the temptation is even worse. When we were on safari last June I ended up with almost 80 shots of one elephant.
But I started when he was across the river,
then he was drinking,
then he was crossing the river,
then he was spraying water on his back, t
hen he was eating grass,
then he was ripping up a shrub,
then he was walking toward us,
then I had a close-up of his broken tusk,
then he was stomping his feet,
then he was waving his ears,
then he was charging our vehicle,
then he was in a cloud of dust in the distance.
So each image was different.
Each image showed a different side of his complex personality.
Each image showed him behaving differently.
Multiple images, but the same elephant.
In our Church calendar
today is designated as Christ the King Sunday.
Few if any of us know much about kings.
In fact this country was born by the rejection of the monarchs.
Think about your image of King.
You have a digital camera
so you can take as many pictures of as many images as you want.
What does a KING look like to you?
For some of us, the image of a king has negative implications;
we do not want to be ruled or made subservient to someone.
For others among us,
a kingship implies inequity of rights and privilege for some.
Kingship may also imply authority from a distance;
there is no personal relationship.
Benevolent dictator.
One to be obeyed and maybe even worshipped.
Multiple images- same king.
What is one to make of Christ as "King" in a postmodern democracy?
The apostle Paul provides us with language
that may help us to re-think what it means.
He talks of us being "transferred into the kingdom of (God's) beloved Son..." (v.13)
first born of creation
holds all things together
creates all things
head of the body
first born of the dead
dwelling place of God
So with the same digital camera- put on a spiritual lens
And tell me- what image of Jesus do you see?
What is your favorite image?
What is the most difficult image for you?
Multiple images but the same Jesus.
Three voice reflection...
One: Jesus.
Two: The Christ.
Three: Savior.
One: Word.
Two: Of God.
Three: Born in human flesh.
One: Healer.
Two: Redeemer.
Three: Drunkard.
One: Drunkard?
Two: Drunkard?
Three: Oh yes, Jesus had a reputation. Matthew tells us: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners."
One: Rabbi.
Two: Monarch.
Three: Refugee.
One: Refugee?
Two: Refugee?
Three: Indeed, for Jesus' family fled to Egypt when he was born.
One: Seated at the right hand of God.
Two: Maker of heaven and earth.
Three: Yet he was homeless, a wanderer.
One: Homeless?
Two: A wanderer?
Three: Yes. Jesus said that the Son of Man had nowhere to rest his head. Even foxes and birds were better off than him.
One: Good shepherd.
Two: Sovereign of all the world.
Three: Crucified.
One: Crucified?
Two: Dead?
Three: Alive!
One: Alive?
Two: Alive?
Three: Within and among us even now.
One: In you?
Two: And me?
Three: In all of us.
One: Jesus.
Two: Christ.
Three: Savior.
All: Alive forever. Amen.