“The Scandals of Christianity”

John 13:1-17, 31-35 and Exodus 12:1-13
Delivered on Maundy Thursday, April 18, 2014 at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
New York, NY

MANUSCRIPT

AUDIO

On this horrific night in history, I want to talk about the Scandals of Christianity, by talking about the four scandals in John’s Footwashing story:

The Scandal of Love.

The Scandal of Imitation.

The Scandal of Betrayal.

The Scandal of Acceptance.

The Scandals of Love, Imitation, Betrayal, and Acceptance.

John starts, “Jesus knew his hour had come” (John 13:1), because he wants us to know 2 very important things.  First, Jesus is not surprised by his death. He knows all that will happen, because Jesus is not a helpless, naïve, patsy.  Jesus is not just a victim, he is a volunteer.

            But Jesus is not just any volunteer.  In Chapter 13, Jesus predicts the future at least 8 times.  Then Jesus says, in verse 19, “I am telling you all these things before they occur, so that you will know that I AM!”  I AM!  Jesus is saying, “the Father has put all things in my hands, and has put all knowledge in my mind, because I AM.  I AM ADONIA, THE GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Moses, the God of the Passover.”  Jesus is not a helpless victim, he is an all-powerful, all-knowing volunteer, volunteering to love his own scandalously.

TO READ THE REST OF “THE SCANDALS OF CHRISTIANITY” CHECK OUT THE MANUSCRIPT.