MaryBeth LaMont

The Old Testament has many references to a promised Messiah and a better age. Really, it is not a major thing in the Old Testament and Jewish writings. It would be held out and emphasized as promise mostly when things were getting tough for Israel and Israelites. Exile in Babylon, Roman occupation to name a few difficult instances.

Today Reform Jews are looking less for a Messiah and more for a Messianic Age. Many Christians are as well. Some fundamentalists think if Israel takes over the entire Holy Land and rules as they once did, Jesus will return. Therefore these folks support just about any and all forms of aggression by Israel while simultaneously having any genuine concern for Israel and Israelis.

Along came Jesus. Born in a barn, followed and rejected by many, eventually crucified, dying the death of a criminal. On the third day he was raised. Yet in both the life of Jesus and in the resurrection period after crucifixion, the job description of Jesus was not that of the Messiah long promised by prophets.

Israel thought the Messiah would be a king…a politician with armies to fight the Romans and surrounding neighbors like the Samaritans. The Messiah would politically and militarily make Israel a dominant force in the region once more. No more persecution, no more second class citizenship, no more paying token homage to Roman gods and emperor. God was to restore Israel. To use a phrase from today, “God was going to make Israel great again.”

In Jesus God did not make Israel or the church great or great again. Certainly not in the ways the world sees as great, that is, not in terms of strength, power, and might, stomping out all enemies and restoring Israel’s power.

God actually has a different definition of great. We see it in Jesus. The world may see Jesus as weak. The disciples and followers of Jesus, the church, view Jesus differently.
Jesus was strong…not mighty with armies and worldly power, but with God’s way, loving, caring, exercising compassion, and, above all serving. Jesus’ power and might was in the ability to change lives, not dominate them.

The church is not great when it dominates. The church is not great when it excludes those seen as lesser and those understood to be different or weak. The church is great when it sees value in the least, the last, and the lost.

The church finds greatness in Jesus. That is, the church and followers of Jesus are to find greatness in lowering oneself and serving. Often we provide welcome to members and students who do not find such welcome in other churches. We provide welcome to those unfamiliar with the story of Jesus but find themselves intrigued and have questions…lots of questions. The strength and power is not found in us and our excellent or clear faith and works. God is not out to make you and I great again. That would result in failure. We weren’t great in the first place and cannot do what we need to do in regard to God without God and without Jesus.

Neither pray nor hope to be made great again. Not for us, the church, or any gathering of Christians. Pray and work to be made servants again…..and again….and again.