October 3, 2004
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Mindekirken, Oct 3, 2004 By the charcoal fire John 21.4- 14 We celebrate today’s worship service with a Danish flavor. That’s nothing new to Norwegians. For 400 years Norway was under the rule of Denmark. Sermons were delivered in the Danish language in Norwegian churches. Until 1814 pastors and other officials were sent to Norway from Copenhagen. Many have judged the Danish time negatively, but the picture is not unambiguous. We received a rich spiritual and cultural heritage from our brother people in the south. For instance, it’s hard to imagine Norwegian church- and Christian life without the hymns of Kingo, Brorson and Grundtvig, just to mention a few. They are all represented on today’s hymn list. Let’s stop for a moment by Thomas Kingo whose hymn we just sang. How really was this giant writer of hymns who made such an impact also in Norway? Ask one of his enemies, of whom there are not few, and you’ll get to hear that he was a calculating flatterer of the king, an unpredictable hothead, and a skinflint. His friends, however, portrayed him as a humble Christian, a powerful preacher, and a brilliant hymn writer. The words on Alexander Kielland’s grave stone fit for Kingo: Those who knew him, loved him. Those who didn’t love him, didn’t know him. Kingo himself was painfully aware of his shortcoming. It’s clearly expressed in the hymn we just sang: I’m never free from failure, never though, without God’s grace, I have always sigh and woe, God me always Jesus show. Kingo admits his own failures and sins, but at the same time he experiences himself enveloped by God’s incomprehensible grace. The picture the NT draws of the apostle Peter has some of the same doubleness. Peter’s failures are obvious, but he’s saved by his faith, not in himself, but in the Lord and Master who had called him.
During the Leiv Eriksson International Festival, we have Fred Cogelow’s wooden statue of Peter on display here at the church. Many of you might have seen more than 30 of his sculptures of rural Minnesotans at the American Swedish Institute this spring. The wood artist of Willmar uses humor and warmth to recreate the descendants of Scandinavian immigrants to the Midwest. But I have to admit that the statue of Peter has scared some of the children who have been at the church in recent weeks. Fear and terror shine out of Peter's face. His arms are lifted for protection and rejection. The title of this piece of art is Peter accused. This was the situation: Jesus was captive in the garden of Getsemane. Peter had followed him, all the way into the courtyard of the high priest. Peter was, confused, scared and angry. It was dark and chilly. In the courtyard they had kindled a fire, a charcoal fire. Peter went to the fire to warm himself. And there, in the light of the fire, one of the servant-girls recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ disciples. You were also with this Jesus of Nazareth! Three times Peter was pointed out. Scared to death, Peter denied that he had any knowledge of Jesus. Here we see Peter cursing, saying he doesn’t know Jesus. At that moment, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him: Before the cock crows today, you will have denied me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly. What do you think the look of Jesus communicated to Peter when he denied? Hadn’t Jesus appointed Peter the rock on which he would build his church? Hadn’t Jesus even given the keys to heaven to this man? Peters had experienced many highlights when he followed Jesus. Even so, his self-contradiction and defeats are easier to see. Peter failed to walk on the water. He failed when he warned Jesus to walk the way towards suffering. At that he conveyed a temptation from Satan. He fell asleep in the garden of Gethsemane, not only once, but twice. He cut the ear off of the servant of the high priest, even though Jesus wanted him not to use the sword. By proud and arrogance he claimed his loyalty towards Jesus until death. But a poor servant-girl toppled the rock by her pointing finger: You also are one of his disciples… Had Peter lived today, he might have sung the blues with Jerry Jeff Walker: You were always so disappointed in me, Guess I could never do nothing right, in your eyes…guess I could never do nothing right. Like Peter, we may come into situations where it may cost to confess the faith. Are we willing to withstand mockery and loss of prestige for the sake of Jesus? Are we willing to confess the name of Jesus even if it should cost us our job or in the worst case, our life? I think that Jesus looked at Peter with a sympathy which only God can have. Jesus saw the human weakness of Peter. He heard the curse. Even so, he forgave him. Jesus was willing to be bound in order to make Peter free. After the resurrection one of the disciples got a special greeting from Jesus. That was Peter. But I believe the greeting was also meant for us. Only twice in the NT is the word charcoal fire used. This very special word for a fire is used to link the two episodes. Peter denied Jesus by a charcoal fire. And a charcoal fire burnt on the shore when Jesus met the disciples after the resurrection. That was after Jesus had given the Peter and the other disciples another adventurous catch of fish. Jesus gave them fish and bread in the daybreak. The meal symbolized the reestablished fellowship. By the charcoal fire Peter three times got to answer Jesus’ question: Do you love me? As many times as he had denied, he got to express his love for the lord and Master who had forgiven his sin. Peter got a new start. He became the fisher of men more than anyone else. He became the rock on which Jesus built his church. It was a limitless demonstration, not of human kindness, but of divine forgiveness. When we celebrate Holy Communion today, we’ll literally pass by the statue which tells about Peter’s denial. We also have betrayed, we have sinned. But we pass the statue, and walk all the way forward to the meal where Jesus gives us forgiveness and a new start. And we may sing with Kingo: Jesus, I pray with tears, let the joy of faith be stronger than my sin and sorrows. Glory be to God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and for ever. Amen |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |