Creation II (sermon 5-11-08)

Summer’s almost here! Really! Don’t believe it? Check the marquee at your local movie theater. The summer blockbusters are already showing up there. Iron Man, Speed Racer, The Incredible Hulk. Each one hoping to break the box office—to become the next Star Wars. Each one dreading becoming the next Ishtar.

Sequels are always among the big summer blockbusters. They’re hit or miss as to quality and success. For instance, Superman 2 was far better than Superman 1. But Rocky (what is it?) 15 or something, may have been better off left in the can!

There are several big sequels scheduled for release this summer. The fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series. The second part of The Chronicles of Narnia. Harold and Kumar’s second adventure. But no summer blockbuster sequel could ever have the effect that God’s sequel has had. God’s sequel? Surely you’ve heard of it. It’s called Creation 2: The Spirit Returns. Otherwise known as Pentecost.

Well. Perhaps, for you, that’s making about as much sense as the end of Lost in Translation. (Go rent the movie. Then you’ll get it.) Well f so, just hang in there—I’m going to explain what I mean. First of all, why am I calling Pentecost a second creation event? Creation took millions of years to accomplish, or at the very least six days. Pentecost is only one day. How could it be the new creation? Easy. I don’t mean it literally, I don’t mean it metaphorically either. I mean it theologically. Theologically speaking, Pentecost is the moment of new creation. Why do I think that? What scripture do I have to offer in support of this claim?

“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light. And there was light.’” (Genesis 1:1-2) The wind of God blows across the vast, dark, chaotic nothingness of pre-creation and is present as God’s word brings light. This “wind of God” has been identified by scholars as the Spirit. So, the Spirit is present at the moment of transition from chaos to creation, from darkness to light, the moment of creation.

Cut to a house in first century Jerusalem. The disciples are cooped up there—partly in fear of the authorities, partly due to the paralyzing effects of not knowing what to do next. Jesus had been raised, but then had ascended into heaven—leaving them confused, afraid, and alone. All was chaos.

But then something happens. Even though the windows are shuttered and the door closed and locked, the sound of wind is heard—faintly at first, then louder and louder—until it fills the whole house with its rushing noise. The Spirit of God is sweeping over a chaotic humanity in preparation for a new creation!

Now consider the Genesis 2 creation account. It says that, “the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) Ruah, the Hebrew word for wind, can also be translated breath. So the figure of speech “breath of God” can also be taken to imply the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Now the gospel of John has no Pentecost account per se. But it does have the passage we read this morning, which is definitely analogous to the story in Acts 1. In both, the disciples are all in one place. In both, Jesus is no longer with them (in Acts he has ascended, in John he’s presumed dead - this is a resurrection appearance) In both, the Spirit is imparted to the disciples. So, while John 20:19-23 isn’t the story of Pentecost, it is a story of the gift of the Spirit at the end of Jesus’ earthly mission. The same as Acts 2.

And a highlight of our John passage is that Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit by breathing on the disciples. Which is close enough in my book to the Genesis 2:7 verse we heard just moments ago. Now, for those of you who are detail oriented (picky) and who remind me that the LORD God breathed life into Adam, not Spirit, I would say to you—first off, “Chill out.” And then I’d let you know that the Greek word pneuma, which is translated and used for the word Spirit, also translates as “life force, or that which animates.” So there! As God created humanity with a breath, so too, Jesus re-creates the disciples by breathing on them.

This notion of mine isn’t without further support. Indeed the motif of the new creation winds its way first though all the gospels, and then shows up in Paul’s writings, as well as the Revelation to John. Not all scholars would place the moment of re-creation at Pentecost, most I’d say would mark that transition from chaos to order with the Paschal event. But when pushed to say if it’s the one or the other, I’d vote for both—which isn’t a cop out—but rather an acknowledgement that what we’re talking here is theology, not history. We’re not looking to establish when God re-creates the world. We’re just saying that through Christ and the Spirit, God re-creates the world! That’s what God is saying to us through the various scriptures hauled out to support either option.

In other words, think of these various biblical passages as Tootsie Roll Lollipops. Now, you can see that each one has a different color and flavor. But whether you lick it or bite it—when it comes right down to it, it’s still the same chocolaty goodness at the center. Theology is the chewy center of scripture – it’s what we can confidently say about God after sampling all scripture has to offer.

And, like I said several pages ago, what Pentecost boils down to is this: it is God’s re-creation of the world, through Christ and the Spirit. Not just Happy Birthday Church. Not just a miracle of communication. Definitely not a margarita party that got out of hand. The disciples weren’t drunk. They were infused with the power of the Holy Spirit, which swept over the dark waters before time began, which, at God’s behest, filled the lungs and then blood and then cells and then organs and then limbs of human beings and gave them life. That same power of the Spirit now re-created and re-animated their bodies, minds and spirits—opening the door and blowing them out to a world also made new by the presence of the Spirit in its midst. It’s a second chance at paradise. A recapitulation of all things. A do-over. The cross made it possible. The resurrection prefigured it. And the Spirit arrived to usher it in. “Creation II: The Spirit Returns! Now playing in a life situation near you.” [said in that movie trailer guy voice]

Now playing in a life situation near you. That was a joke, but not really. And I don’t mean because it bombed. I mean, it was meant to be humorous, but it reflects reality. The Spirit is now playing in a life situation near you. That’s a big part of what Pentecost is all about. It’s part of why we wear red and decorate the sanctuary and use the symbols of flame, wind, and dove. We’re celebrating the presence of the Holy Spirit in our world and in our lives. And why is that so important?

Because, sometimes—despite the forgiveness that was won for us on Jesus’ cross, and despite the future promised us by his resurrection—despite all that, we can still feel lost and abandoned by God in the face of horrendous life events beyond our control.

Events such as we’ve seen this past week in Burma—with thousands upon thousands of people dead, and thousands more homeless, without medical aide, food or safe water—all of which have all been blocked by the repressionist government there. It’s difficult to feel the love of God in this life situation.

Or in an event like the unspeakable evil of a father keeping his daughter captive in the basement for years, along with the children he conceived with her by force. Where’s God in that?

And where’s God in a diagnosis of cancer? Or the foreclosure of a home? Or the descent into addictive behavior or depression? Where’s God in the ravaged refugee camps in northern Africa. Or for that matter, in the poverty riddled neighborhoods of the United States of America—the wealthiest country in the world – in which children still die from lack of medical care every day?

Where is God in all of these situations and more? Where is God in the darkness, the violence, and the emptiness of our lives—the chaos that creeps in and digs its claws into us, debilitating us, even though we share in the power of the cross and the resurrection? Where? I think the great theologian Bob Dylan perhaps said it best. “The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.”

The Spirit of God sweeps across the abyss of our brokenness, making itself known in ways that are reflective rather than direct—just like the wind is “seen” in the swaying of the trees, or the dance of fall leaves. The Spirit “moves” people. Look around and you’ll see them. The Spirit is there signaling the transition from darkness to light, from chaos to order, from evil to goodness. Calling people to Jesus, gathering them up in the church, enlightening them with gifts, and sending them out in the word to be Christ’s body in the world.

In the case of Myanmar, the rush of spirit-filled wind could be heard in the world’s growing anxiety over the condition of the survivors, and in their lament of the tremendous loss of life. But the Spirit also brings with it a new creation. A new creation of concern for the people in this country, previously ignored, who suffer now, and who have suffered for many years prior under the military thumb of an isolationist government. Myanmar calls out for God’s justice. What will be our answer? Do you hear it in the wind?

And do you hear the wind of God sweeping over the chaos in your life? Listen for it, for it signals a new beginning for you. A fresh slate with God.

And listen. Do you hear the sound of Spirit wind all around you, catching you up in its power, bidding you to do God’s will. Can you see those around you—brothers and sisters in Christ—who are in need of your involved friendship and concern—who need to be gathered back into the bosom of the church, to be nurtured and made new there? The Spirit moves you to help re-create the love and security these ones once felt within these walls. Do you hear it?

And, listen—do you hear the Spirit’s restless voice filling every nook and cranny of this sanctuary today? And Jesus breathing on you, granting you the Spirit and empowering you each with gifts. Gifts given to be shared with the world. Do you know what gifts the Spirit’s given you? Do you know how best to use them? Are you using them?

Pentecost. A new creation. Listen. Can you hear it?

[sound of rushing wind fills the sanctuary.]