Quote from Forum Archives on June 30, 2002, 4:07 pm

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

GOT GOD?
June 30, 2002

TEXT: John 14:1-14

I almost always got a kick out of the Dairy Association’s “Got Milk?”
ads. My favorite was the one where a group of young tough guys come into
a restaurant and start harassing a group of seniors. The older guys chug
down their glasses of milk, get up out of their booth, knock the tough
guys down and out of the way, go running out of the restaurant, and leap
into their car while the ad asks, “Got Milk?”

In a play on those ads, another series of ads were run by churches. In
one, a bungie jumper chugs down his carton of milk and then makes his
leap over the bridge railing. The camera shows the bungie cord unwinding.
As the audience anticipates what might be coming before the “Got Milk”
question, we suddenly see that the end of the cord is not tied to the
bridge, and we hear this “thunk” sound from the ground. Then we hear the
announcer ask, “Got God?”

Well, sort of weird senses of humor in both ads, but plot twists and
surprise endings do catch the viewer’s attention. As he spoke with his
disciples toward the end of his earthly ministries, Jesus responded to
their questions and told them how they could “get God.” He also gave them
a little “surprise ending” of his own.

By this time, the disciples knew that something big was up. If the
sequence of events laid out in the Gospel of John is correct, then Jesus
and his disciples were celebrating the Passover in the “upper room.”
Certainly, all of Jesus’ talk about leaving them confused and, probably,
frightened his disciples. At that point in their ministry, they were not
the most self-assured lot of followers. But at least they stuck with the
Master, and he responded to their needs and questions.

Jesus began talking about the place where he was going in order to
“prepare a place for you.” He tried to let his disciples know that he
would return for them. But, admittedly, this is confusing. It was for
Thomas: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the
way?” In response, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew
me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and
have seen him.” Now the disciples are quite perplexed. Philip continues
the discussion. “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for
us.”

Jesus’ next answer revealed to his disciples that if they really knew the
Son, then they “Got God.” “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have
been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the
Father.” Even though he did not think it a surprise, this is Jesus’
surprise answer to his disciples. They were not expecting this twist. Of
course, we need not be surprised by the disciples’ confusion, because
they had not experienced the resurrection yet. That would begin to make
things clearer. Until then, though, knowing the Son - really knowing the
Son - meant knowing the Father.

This is the heart of the Christian faith. This is the heart of our
relationship with God. The Father has restored our broken relationship
with Him through His Son. Through the Son, Jesus Christ, we “Got God.”

There is a story of a father and his devoted son who shared a passion for
collecting art. Together, they traveled the world to find the finest
treasures for their collection. Exquisite works by Picasso, Van Gogh,
Monet, and many others adorned the walls of their estate. The widowed
elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an
experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind
caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors
around the world.

Unfortunately, this ideal situation did not last forever. A time came
when their land was plunged into war, and the son was one sent to the
front lines. After only a few short weeks, the father received word of
his son’s death on the battlefield. The young man died while trying to
get an injured friend to the medic. Distraught and lonely, the old man
now faced the upcoming Christmas with anguish and despair. The joy of the
season, a joy he and his son always looked forward to, would visit his
house no longer.

On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed man. As
he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art hanging on his walls
reminded him only that his son was not coming home. Opening the door, he
was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. The soldier
introduced himself, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was
rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something
to show you.” The two began to talk, and during the conversation, the
soldier told of how the man’s son told everyone of his father’s love of
fine art. “I’m an artist myself,” the soldier said at length. “I want to
give you this.” As the man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to
reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider
it a work of genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in
striking detail.

After his guest left, the father went to work right away to hang his new
work of art. The portrait went above his fireplace, pushing aside
thousands of dollars worth of paintings. He sat in his chair and spent
the rest of Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. During the
weeks that followed, he came to discover the magnitude of his son’s
service. He soon learned that his son had rescued several soldiers before
being cut down himself. The stories of his son’s gallantry helped to ease
the burden of grief. The portrait became his most prized possession; he
told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

Before the year passed, the father himself became ill and died. Having no
other heirs, the art collection would be sold at auction. As specified in
the will, that auction would be held on Christmas day. On that day, art
collectors the world around gathered for the much anticipated event.
Dreams would be fulfilled this day as renowned collectors and museums bid
on the prizes from this collection.

The auction began with a painting not on any collector’s list - the
painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid; there
was none. “Who will start at $100?” Still no move to bid. “Who cares
about that painting?” came a voice from the back. “It’s just a picture of
his son. No one wants that. Let’s get on with the good stuff.” Voices
around the room echoed agreement. “No,” replied the auctioneer. “We must
sell this one first.” The room was once more noisy with discontentment
until finally a friend of the deceased man said, “Will you take ten
dollars for it?” “I have ten dollars,” called the auctioneer. “Will
anyone go higher?” No further bids; “going once, going twice. Gone!”
Cheers filled the room as the crowd looked forward to getting to the real
art.

The auctioneer looked at the crowd and announced that the auction was
over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. “What do you mean it’s over? We
didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. There are millions
of dollars of art here! I demand an explanation. What’s going on here?”
The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the
father, whoever takes the son… gets it all.” (adapted from “The Artist,”
TAPS, Winter/Spring 1999, p. 10, author unknown)

Puts it into perspective, doesn’t it? In a similar way, Jesus was telling
his disciples about his Father’s love. In turn, if they love the Father’s
Son, they “get it all.” “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How
can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” A little later, Jesus spoke plainly
to the disciples about the Father’s love: “As the Father has loved me, so
I have loved you. Now remain in my love.” (John 15:9-10)

Such is Jesus’ message to his disciples - to all of his disciples
throughout all of time. Whenever and wherever we gather for worship, we
hear the love of the Father for His Son, and we hear of His Son’s love
for us. In response to the question, “Got God?” we can answer “yes” if we
have received and accepted the love of Jesus. As the auctioneer
explained, “According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son…
gets it all.”

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as
well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN

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