THE KIRK OF KILDAIRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CARY, NC

www.kirkofkildaire.org

A sermon preached by Joseph Welker, Jr.

What Wonrous Love is This

Philippians 2:5-11

April 1, 2007

My friend Bob Dunham in Chapel Hill reminded me of a story we both read in the Christian Century.

It was the story from Ted Wardlaw, President of Austin Seminary who went to a museum exhibit featuring the works of Vincent van Gogh. He said it was not a satisfying experience because of a man in their group who had a strange way of taking in the paintings. He would stand about one inch away and then move slowly from one side to another, examining each strand on the canvas, each dollop of paint. The rest of the group could see nothing of the painting except those parts not covered by this man. They groaned and finally someone said, "Sir, you're ruining the experience for the rest of us." The man turned around and began to lecture them-
"This is the proper way to get an appreciation for the inner integrity of a painting. In order to truly experience it, you have to stand up close. If you are trying to understand it from as far away as all of you are, then you're all just lost!" With that he returned to his microscopic scrutiny.

Ted says that this moment yielded a strange metaphor for him. He said, "We spend a great deal of time looking at life as that man looked at art: up close, maybe an inch or so away from its vast landscape, where it is impossible to sense any perspective whatsoever. We lose any sense of the essential patterns and themes that may be right under our nose. "He said, "There is a danger in the microscopic approach. Living life without the sweep of a larger perspective can invite a certain moral numbness; some things cannot be absorbed up close." [1]

This can happen to us in holy week you know. We can become so focused on individual events that we lose sight of the themes and patterns that tell the larger story. This is why we will be reading a grand sweep of the events of the last week of Jesus' life this morning. To help you gain the larger perspective.

In Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, he quotes a hymn that does the same thing. It is a hymn to Christ that takes a cosmic view of his living and his dying and what it means. "Christ, who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God as something to be grasped… he emptied himself, taking human form…he humbled himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

I think of this hymn as a way to help the first Christians see the whole picture. It gave them a sense of the wonder and awe of Christ who gave up so much for us out of love.

Perhaps it made them think of God in a way they had never thought of God before. The essence of God is not so much power, but love. I like what William Sloan Coffin says, "What is finally important is not that Christ is Godlike, but that God is Christ-like. God is like Christ." [2]

This week, the story you are about to hear is all about the love of God coming among us. It's a testimony to the deep love God has for all of us.

Soren Kierkegaard picked up on this theme when he told a story about a king who fell in love with a peasant maiden. He loved her with all his heart. But the King had a problem. How was he to tell her that he loved her? How could he overcome the chasm of station and position that separated them? Kings and peasants don't mix, you know. His advisors, of course, would tell him to command her to be his queen. He was powerful, feared and respected by other statesmen; foreign powers trembled before him… so his advisors knew she would have no power… no choice to resist. No one can say no to the king. But would she love him? Oh, she would say she loved him? But would she truly? That was not what he wanted. He longed for intimacy of heart and oneness of spirit. He could elevate her and shower her with gifts, robes and have her crowned queen. Still, how would he know if she loved him for himself or for all that he gave her? Also, how could she know that he loved her and would love her even still if she had remained only a humble peasant? How could she know he loved her for herself? He kept thinking of alternatives and they all came to nothing. He could think of only one way. So one day, the king rose, left his throne, removed his crown, and laid aside his royal robes. He took upon himself the life of a peasant. He dressed in rags, scratched out a living in the dirt, groveled for food, loved in a hut. He did not just take on the outward appearance of a servant, it became his actual life, his nature, his burden. He renounced the throne to win her hand." He became as ragged as the one he loved, so that she could be united to him forever. It was the only way. The King wooed her, won her affection and then and only then, revealed to her who he really was.

Of course, the truth is, in his act of becoming a peasant; he had already revealed who he was.

The story you are about to hear is the story of our God who loves us with an incredible love… a wondrous love. So as we continue our service, look at the big picture, listen to the stories, and know how deeply you are loved by our God. Amen.

[1] Thanks to Bob Dunham for reminding me of this article in the Christian Century, March 20, 2007 p 18
[2] p.12 Credo