First Presbyterian Church August 17, 2008

Watertown, New York

Rev. Dr. Jerry Benjamin

“All That I Have Commanded You”

Paul wrote that after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter and then to the twelve. This is that appearance to the twelve.

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus directed them. When

they saw him they worshipped him although some

doubted. And Jesus approached and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given

to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the gentiles, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them all that I

have commanded you. And remember, I am with

you always, to the end of time.

Most translations have Jesus saying ‘Go to all nations,’ but ‘Go to all gentiles’ is a better translation, since that’s how that word is used throughout Matthew. In this saying, the Jewish readers of Matthews Gospel are set free to go among the non-jews of the world, the gentiles, without the usual hindrances of law and custom.

Because of Jesus’ teaching to his disciples and to all of us, we are called to be instruments of Jesus’ teaching, Jesus own hands and feet and voices interpreting his teaching for our world as Jesus interpreted the Torah for his world.

It’s a big job, because it requires, not just doing or avoiding certain things, but rather a dedication of one’s whole life to the work. The ministry of welcoming, helping, healing, forgiving, loving and living in community is not a series of tasks, but rather a way of life. For the Christian, it is everything.

The fine Dutch writer and spiritual teacher, Henri Nouewen, wrote that forgiveness is love practiced by imperfect people. Love and forgiveness are linked together. Welcoming and helping and healing and giving are all linked together because the life of faith is all one piece. We are all imperfect people trying to do God’s own work. So forgive one another.

The gift of life and hope in Jesus Christ is the greatest gift from God, but some of our other gifts are wonderful, too. Give them anyway. If you’re not wealthy, give what you have. If you have the gift of physical healing, give that. If you don’t, drive someone to the doctor or the hospital. Pray for them. Comfort them. Help according to your ability.

Remember, it is God’s work you are doing, not when you criticize or start rumors, but when you encourage and assist and love. Most people don’t need you to straighten them out. Life is already hard for most of us. Don’t make it harder. God’s own work is healing and saving and helping; helping each of us to do well, to serve well, to love.

Talking to an elder latterly about the work of the church, I remember the story of Marjo Gortner, the famous child evangelist. Marjo was a fake. Later in his life he told how his parents had trained him in their particular style of screaming evangelistic preaching. This was done strictly to rake in the money. Later when Marjo the adult was telling an interviewer about the horrible time in his life, his wife interrupted his tale of fakery and confession. “But Marjo,” she said, “some people did get well.”

“Some people did get well.” You see God can heal even when the instrument of healing in unworthy. God does God’s own work through us although we are not perfect. The Catholic Church has a specific canon law about this: “Even an unworthy priest can deliver the body and blood of Christ.”

Our work of faith does not depend on us alone, but on the mighty God of Jesus Christ. Just as our salvation does not depend on us, so God can use to bring our gifts to others.

What Jesus commands are not restrictive laws, but rather freeing promises to support us in welcoming, helping, healing, forgiving and loving. The community that God began in Jesus is with us today, and it is the church. It is visible, active, effective and imperfect in its service to the world. When someone tells me that the church is full of hypocrites, I have to bite back the nasty response, “And you’re welcome along with the rest of us.” We’re not pure. We’re not perfect. Sometimes we’re not even nice, but we’re the church and God uses we hypocrites and sinners, and shouters to do good work in the world.

We go to Malawi or North Watertown or Mexico or St. Lawrence County in ignorance and in self-interest, and we come back changed. God takes that and heals us and does great works with us. Jesus has saved us and removed all restrictions from us. He sent Jews among the Gentiles, whites among the blacks, poor among the rich, healthy among the sick and vice versa. He sent us among anyone, anywhere.

As I leave Watertown to carry on my journey, I want to say, “God bless you on your mission, near or far, as I am confident that God blesses my journey and mission, wherever it takes me next. Go in peace. Amen.