Kung Foo Panda is my Jesus

 

Preach on Revelation 5:1-10 & John 1:43-51 to All Age Worship at St Mary's Wistaston, Crewe – January 14th 2018.

 

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When I was having a think about what to talk to you about today, I read the two readings, had a pray, and thought hard about what what do we need to hear today?

·       Where are we in our lives right now? What’s happening? It’s post-Christmas. It’s January. It’s dark, and gloomy, and grim.

·        So I’d like to offer us all some hope, and maybe cheer us up a bit, because really, even though the lights of Christmas have all come down, we are privileged to live in post-Christmas times. Emmanuel has come. And isn’t that marvellous?

·       But, what exactly does that mean? Who was He, this messiah, this Saviour?

·       We had two readings today, both of them written by John. And John’s main point in both is to get across to us who Jesus was.

·       So when I was thinking of how to describe the purpose and essence of Jesus to our young people, I thought of this guy: SLIDE.

·       Who can tell me who this is? (Describe who Po is: He’s a panda. A rather out of shape Panda. But believe it or not, Po isn’t just any panda – he’s a very special, unique Panda, with a special purpose. Po is unexpectedly chosen to be the Dragon Warrior, an amazingly powerful Kung Foo warrior who is going to save everyone.

·       Nobody believes it. He’s unfit. He’s not powerful. He doesn’t even know how to do Kung Foo. But Po has gifts that people can’t see just by looking at him. He has a pure heart. He is brave. He has masses of integrity and kindness. And he has huge strength within. But when people look at him, all they see is a silly fat panda, and they underestimate him.

·       Let’s return for a moment to our readings. John’s gospel we learn about Jesus gathering his followers: This is in the part of the gospel known as a The Book of Signs – so Jesus revealing himself to the world. Jesus goes to Galilee, and he meets a man called Nathanael, who when he hears of Jesus, says, “he’s from Nazareth! Nothing good comes from Nazareth.” A sentiment that anyone who has been born and raised in Crewe will know well.

·       He’s dismissed just because of where he comes from. He’s low-born. He’s without status or power, and so he can’t be anything special.

·       Now let’s look at our second reading – the weird and wonderful piece of theatre, also written by John:

·       We learn of a scroll, with seven seals, that can only be opened by the Lion of Judah.

·       An Angel says “who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in Heaven or on earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

·       And then the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Jesus) steps forward to take the scroll. But, He doesn’t look like a lion. He’s described as a lamb that has been slaughtered. A less powerful image is hard to imagine. And yet, only He can step up and do the thing that no one else can.

·       Back to Po, our unlikely Dragon Warrior. Eventually, Po proves himself worthy to his friends and to everyone else, and then he’s allowed to open the hallowed and sacred Dragon Scroll, which contains the secret of the universe. It’s said if you read the scroll, you’ll suddenly find the answers within.

·       Usually, ONLY the dragon warrior is allowed to open the scroll, but I’ve managed to get my hands on it, just for today. And I’m wondering if someone here is perhaps worthy enough to come up and read it?

·       VOLUNTEER OPENS SCROLL.

·       Everything you need to know is in that scroll. Don’t show anyone!

·       These two readings today, especially our Gospel reading remind me how many times we’re blind to Jesus. When we don’t see Him for he really is, we don’t see him in situations where we should, and crucially we don’t see him in others.

·       We all do it: how many times have we dismissed someone because they don’t conform to who we think they ought to be? Do we see Jesus in those who are different from us? In the stranger? In the homeless person? In the poor? How often do we judge people for not matching up to a standard that we have actually set, rather than God? I know I do.

·       So what I’d like to encourage us all to do in the coming months as we head towards Lent, and then onwards to the cross, is to see Jesus as He really is. To see him in other people, but most importantly of all…to see Him in ourselves. After all, That’s what Christmas and the incarnation was all about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·       Let’s pray: 

·       Lord Jesus today we think of you being born into our world and helping us find our way.

·        So when our prayer says “Jesus, I can’t do it.” You say: “Don’t worry child. I can.”

·       When we pray “Jesus, it hurts” we hear you say “I  know. I feel it too.”

·       When our prayer says “Lord I am afraid” your reply is “My child, be comforted, for I am here.”

·       When our prayer says “Jesus, I am overjoyed!” You reply “I am delighted too.”

·       Lord Jesus, we pray for the wisdom to recognise you when we see you, in others and in ourselves, and we ask for the strength to follow you, wherever you might lead us. Amen.