John 12:20-33
April 2, 2000
Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco.
One of the most colorful politicians in our day is the governor of Minnesota: Jesse Ventura. He’s been called “Jesse the Body” when he was a body slamming professional wrestler. Then he was “Jesse the Mouth” when he was an outrageous outspoken TV commentator and radio talk show host. Now he wants to be known as “Jesse the Mind” in his new found position of national politics.
But before he became governor, he played in an action-horror movie called Predator, where his best- remembered line was “Ain’t got time to bleed.” As a death-defying super-hero, he doesn’t have time to get hurt.
In today’s Gospel Scripture lesson, we see a transition from Jesus’ public ministry where he performed signs of healing miracles to teach his disciples about God’s kingdom to preparing the disciples for his purpose in the world.
To be the Savior of the world, Jesus took time to bleed.
Have you heard of the phrase, “Well, I wouldn’t go to the cross for it”—meaning, “It just isn’t all that important to me.” Realizing that there are many degrees of devotion to issues and ideas, Bob Wendel, a Presbyterian leader, has come up with a “Cross Scale of commitment,” running from the most serious commitment to the least:
10. Go to the cross and rise in three days.
9. Go to the cross and rise in two days.
8. Go to the cross and rise in one day.
7. Watch someone else go to the cross.
6.Visit Calvary on vacation.
5. Wear a cross at work.
4. Wear a cross to church.
3. Buy a cross for a friend.
2. Look at crosses in Christian bookstore catalog.
1. Write with a Cross Pen.
A savior has to be somewhere near Number 10 on the Cross Scale of Commitment, somewhere that requires a little time to bleed. A hand on a slick and shiny Cross Pen is a sorry substitute for a hand nailed to a rough and rugged Roman cross.
So what is the point of all this bloody talk?
Bleeding on the Cross
Instead of fleeing from his fate on the cross, Jesus proclaims that “it is for this reason that I have come this hour” (12:27)—it is toward crucifixion that his whole life and ministry has been heading. Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (12:31-32).
Unlike politicians of our day, Jesus turns public appearances upside down when he goes to the cross and spills his blood. No politicians today would take that kind of risk. Jesus completely crisscrosses expectations when he introduces a new faith based on the cross.
Jesus said, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus is not interested in his own survival as an isolated individual, as a single grain of wheat; instead, he sees his death as the key to new life for the entire world. He knows that there will be no good fruit among all the people in the world, unless he first takes a seed-like plunge into the earth and dies.
In the WWF we all know that it is more showmanship than sports. Usually at a professional wrestling match, there’s a predestined loser—a fall guy. Jesse Ventura admits that on his days in the ring: “It was usually my job to lose. But even though I’d lose the match, I still won, because I drew people.”
This is what happened to Jesus. Jesus knew that he’s got to take the fall before anyone else can rise to new life. A loser becomes a winner when he draws people in. A seed becomes successful when it dies and bears much fruit. The Son of Man becomes a Savior when he walks willingly to a cross, snatches victory from what looks like defeat, and draws all the world’s people to himself.
We are very fortunate that Jesus did have time to bleed.
Do You have Time to Bleed?
We may be very thankful for God that Jesus had time on the cross to bleed and died for our salvation, but that’s not all. There’s a question pointed at us as those who have decided to follow Christ. Do WE have time to bleed? While it might be reassuring to think that Christ has gone and generously done all of our bleeding for us, his teachings tell us a different story.
Jesus said, “Those who love their life will lose it, and those who hate (or deny) their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor” (12:25-26).
Our challenge is to go after Number 10 on the Cross Scale of Commitment. To take time to bleed, so that others will not have to. To walk the way of Christian action, so that our brothers and sisters will not have to suffer needlessly. To show our love by giving of our lives, even to people beyond our normal circles of family members and friends—to reach the “Greeks” of our world, as Jesus did in his.
The question is: Do we have time? Time to bleed.
Youth—
Time to stop picking on this student in your school because he’s just a little different and become his friend.
Time to volunteer after-school tutoring those who are falling behind.
Time to give up on thinking that you really need to buy this new product (clothes, shoes, CDs, computer game, etc.) and say that someone can really use this money for a worthy cause.
Time to say to God that you are ready to follow Christ as your Lord and no other gods will stand before him.
Adults—
Time to open our hearts to the struggles of poor and powerless people around us.
Time to open our datebooks and Palm IIIs and make room for tutoring and mentoring children and youth in our church and community.
Time to truly love our neighbors here in Chinatown as well as in the communities where we live as much as we love ourselves.
Time to love and respect people who may hold beliefs so radically different from our own believing in God that in God’s own holy time, when Jesus is lifted up from the earth, he will draw all people to himself.
Do we have time to bleed for others as followers of Jesus Christ our Lord?
Cross Pen Faith
When I was ordained into the Christian ministry 25 years ago, my cousin Melvin gave me this Cross pen and pencil set. He typically took time to engrave my name on it, “Rev. Donald Ng.” I have been carrying this pen with me throughout all these years. It has gone through countless refills. And it remains a slick, shiny pen in my pocket.
I know that my faith can’t be stuck on the Cross Scale of Commitment on Number 1 of just “Write with a Cross Pen.” It has to move up the scale to my willingness to have time to bleed—to go to the cross.
When you and I are ready to set aside our own fears and self-interest in order to follow Christ, we come to believe that:
*Jesus’ bloody death does not destroy him, rather it glorifies him.
*Crucifixion does not condemn the Christ but instead judges the world and becomes an invitation for all to come to know God.
*Satan and all the evil in the world are not victorious when Jesus dies, but are driven out.
*And Jesus, when lifted high on the cross, bleeding for the world, does not repel and repulse people away. Instead, Jesus draws them to himself.
Jesus draws us today to himself when he took time to bleed. And when we are ready to bleed in the name of Jesus Christ for others, God the Father will honor us.
Band Aid
When we take the Communion offering this morning, there are Band Aids in the plates for you to take one. Taking time to bleed for Christ may mean that you might need this. I hope that you will keep it in your wallet, purse or backpack as a regular reminder that following Jesus Christ means taking time to bleed for the world.
Let us pray.
O Gracious and merciful God, we pray that our lives are given completely to your will and for the sake of the world. Bless us as we dedicate ourselves to the Lord knowing that it is when we lose our life for Christ’s sake is when we keep it for eternal life. Amen.