Nikos Kazantzakis wrote the historical
novel, The Last Temptation of Christ,
in 1955. It nearly won the Pulitzer
Prize for literature the year it was published.
From its beginnings it was a controversial book with the author’s own
church, the Greek Orthodox Church, wanting the book banned. In 1988, Martin Scorsese made it into a movie. It, too, was controversial with many
Christian groups boycotting for it to be banned from the movie theaters.
Needless to say, The Last Temptation of Christ, was quite a lightning rod when it
came to certain factions of the Christian faith. Which, in the end, probably
brought more attention to the book and movie than anything else. I know that when the movie came out, it caught
my attention . . . so, I read the book and then went to see the movie. I wanted to know what all the controversy was
about.
What it came down to be was an author’s
exploration of “what if”. Fully realizing
that Jesus is both divine and human, the author wanted to know how Jesus would
handle a “last temptation” at the very end of the story. Based on the tail end of the temptation story
in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke chapter 4, verse 13, it is written: “When
the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” In Kazantzakis’ mind, what more opportune
time to tempt Jesus than when he is on the cross . . . and, what better
temptation than to tempt Jesus’ human side.
The temptation? Simply showing
Jesus what his life would be like if he would let go of God’s desire and just
live life like everyone else . . . to get married, have kids, to grow old and
have grandchildren.
That was it. That was the whole premise behind the book
and the movie . . . what if? Like any good author, the book ends with
Jesus on the cross . . . the temptation presented . . . and the reader
waiting. Waiting to find out what Jesus
does. No answer comes. The author leaves that up to the reader to decide
for him or herself. Does Jesus follow
the call of God, or does Jesus cave into the temptation? Inquiring minds want to know.
Isn’t that the dilemma all people of
faith fall into at times in their lives . . . God’s will or something
else? To do what God wants or to do what
we want . . . or society wants . . . or any group? Don’t we all get caught up in that temptation
. . . that trap?
Our scripture reading this morning
throws us down the road from Easter morning.
At this point in the story the disciples—now called apostles, have
embraced the good news of Easter, and they are out and about sharing the
gospel. In particular, they are
preaching it in the temple and synagogues.
Now, remember, at this point there is no “church” . . . there is no
“Christianity” as we know it. This is
the start. And, so, this morning we are
stepping into the story and it begins to get exciting.
In the story the apostles have been
arrested, detained, and interrogated by the Sanhedrin. Not the first time, mind you . . . but, for a
second time. They had been warned
against preaching and teaching about Jesus . . . explicitly warned. The first time they were eventually released
with a “cease and desist” order. This
time the stakes are a little higher.
Now, as we hear this story, we need to
remember that the apostles in the story are the same guys who ran off and hid
when stuff hit the fan with Jesus. These
are the ones we heard about on Easter morning who wouldn’t believe the women
when they told them that Jesus was alive.
And, now, look at them. They are
standing before the Sanhedrin being questioned about why they are doing what
they were told not to do. Why are they
breaking the orders that they had been given . . . why do they insist on doing
what they have been told not to do?
They replied that they were doing what
they were doing because they were “witnesses” . . . “witnesses of these things, and
so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” And, when it came down to push and
shove as to whose orders they were going to obey, they were going to obey
God’s. The apostles said: “We
must obey God rather than human beings . . . we are witnesses of these things .
. .” As witnesses, they have
chosen to do God’s will . . . they have chosen to share the Good News . . . to
share the story.
It is funny how time changes
things. From fearful, scared followers
who ran off and hid, they are now fearless and devoted followers who stand up
and tell the story. That which they were
fearful of in the past . . . persecution, imprisonment, and even death—which
continued to be a threat to them, could not deter them from sharing the
story. They knew what the repercussions
to their actions could bring. They had
even experienced them already when they were arrested and detained the first
time. And, yet, even that did not and
would not stop them. In the end, we know
most of them died because of their sharing the story and faith.
So, do you see the conundrum? God’s will versus any other will or
choice? The disciples had faced this
problem . . . were they going to do God’s will—which would be going out and
telling the story, or would they take the smarter, safer way which would be to
ignore the question and live life to a ripe old age? They had to make a choice . . . would it be
God’s way or another way?
Because they had been there . . .
because they had seen it all . . . because they were witnesses, they chose
God’s way. God’s way which was not
humanity’s way. They chose it despite
the consequences—even death.
As the followers of Jesus, I think we
have all been thrust into those situations in which we had to decide whether or
not we were going to choose God’s ways over other ways. Probably more times than we like to admit . .
. maybe even daily. Isn’t that why some
of us wear those bracelets or necklaces with the reminder—WWJD . . . what would Jesus do? Aren’t there those moments when we have to
make a decision on whether or not we are truly going to follow Jesus and God’s
will?
For example, think of all the “isms”
there are . . . classism, racism, ageism, sexism . . . on and on the list
goes. Are these things that God wants .
. . separation of the family into different rooms and only certain ones
allowed? Think about the issues of war
and justice . . . does God want war . . . doesn’t God want peace . . .
justice? Think about all the oppression
we see and experience in our lives and in the world . . . didn’t Jesus come to
free the people. Isn’t there much in the
world we live in that rub God the wrong way?
That makes God sad? And, if so .
. . that God is against this, shouldn’t we be?
Shouldn’t we be the witnesses that speak up for God’s love and grace as
demonstrated by Jesus in his words and life?
Shouldn’t we stand up for God?
Of course . . . to not be a witness to
the love and grace of God is to silence the voice and presence of God.
Jesus has touched our lives . . . he has
changed our lives. We have witnessed his
power of love and grace as it has transformed us into full acceptance of our
place in God’s family. There is no
denying God’s touch in our lives through Jesus.
Because of this we have been touched and blessed to be witnesses. As witnesses we are called upon to tell our
stories . . . to tell our stories wherever we may go to whoever we may
encounter. Though it seems as if we have
a choice, as a witness of God’s love and grace, we really have no choice. We are to obey God.
We must obey God for we have been
witnesses to these things . . . if not our voice . . . our stance, how will the
story ever be told or shared? No one
said it would be easy, and it might take some time before we get there . . .
remember, it did not happen overnight for the apostles. We are witnesses, thus we are the sharers of
God’s love and grace as we have seen and experienced it through Jesus. Amen.
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