Mar 3, 2002

Pastor Ole Amund Gillebo

John 4:5-42 Breaking barriers, crossing boundaries.

This is a very long text. That demands a short sermon.

One of the more specific sayings in this text is "They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman." v27.

At that time the relation between the two sexes were strongly regulated. This was the case within and without the marriage and for the every day living. The Jews were very specific at that. The Jews and the Samaritans did have very little of relationship and communication. The astonishment of the disciples was quite normal.

Jesus used to break many conventions. He did not stay away from stepping on somebody’s toes for the purpose of helping a needy one. In this case he met with a person that went out in the middle of the day in order to meet no one. She actually met a man that fully changed her life. The entire city was changed.

Samaria was a city with many barriers and many borders between people both between sexes, different races and religious traditions.

These three areas still challenge us. If we look at ourselves and Phillips neighborhood and even the entire Twin Cities we are right in the middle of a community with many barriers and boundaries. Do you think all of them are somewhat from the creation? No, I do not think so. Are we challenged to do something? Yes, we ought to.

Today we are challenged by the text and by Jesus. Our call is to break down some barriers and to cross some of the borders, do some work of bridging, promote reconciliation and to build new fellowships. This is related to the issue of sexes in this community, to the case of the multiracial and ethnical situation and it is about church life and religion.

After September 11, we all feel need to strengthen the unity and the safety. We have to find out what we have in common. We ought to and we are able to cooperate more with others also with Muslims and Jews. In particular in the area of human dignity and family values. At the same time we have to be aware of the problem of syncretism. To create one single religion is not possible and not wanted. This is not possible without damaging our Christian faith. But there is a great need of dialog and more knowledge, understanding and respect.

I do not believe in war and bombs, but I do believe in dialog and peace talks. What could happen if the American President and the UN Secretary General really invited the evil ones to sit down and talk for a while? Was it not good when President Reagan invited the archenemy Gorbechov from the Soviet Union for peace talks and President Nixon went to China for talks with chairman Mao? This created a new situation and initiated a new development.

We are not asked to eliminate borders but to cross some of them. In some cases it would be good to make the differences even more visible then it would be even more appropriate to cross the borders with identity and integrity.

Let me briefly comment on one issue from the text, the Christianity and religions.

The woman said to Jesus: "Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know, we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Do we worship the same God in Christianity, Jewish religion and in Islam? I suppose not. Is it possible that Allah is the Father of Jesus Christ? It is hardly the case.

One important point in our Christian faith differs: God is one and at the same time he is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament begins like this: In the beginning God created heavens and earth.

The Gospel of John begins: In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. The word became a human being and lived here with us.

All the denominations such as the Greek Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant churches confess their faith in God, the Trinity.

We are not always aware of the importance of this doctrine. But it is in our Apostolic Creed. We were baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, The Apostolic greeting says: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The woman said to Jesus: I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us. Jesus said to her, I am he, the one who is speaking to you.

The Gospel proclaims that Jesus Christ unites the peoples and all the religions have their proper response to him.

"At that time you did not know about Christ.- But Christ offered his life’s blood as a sacrifice and brought you near God. Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall that separated us." Eph 2:12-22.

By this faith we are free to cross many boundaries and to create many new fellowships.

Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716