What Are You Willing to Risk?

5 Lent - Year B
March 22, 2015
Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Bay City, TX
John 12:20-33

Jesus’ response to the news that some Greeks were looking for him seems odd. “The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified.” Just before this, Jesus had come into Jerusalem, the crowds cheered, and the Pharisees said, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the whole world has gone after him.” The Greeks’ appearance and searching confirms what was said by the Pharisees – “the whole world has gone after him.” The cat’s out of the bag and there’s no stopping it now.

They were right. Early church had no buildings or organized support. They could not worship in the synagogues, nor in the Roman temples, and yet the church, Jesus’ believers spread like wildfire.. They had to believe in Jesus, trust in him, and risk for their belief in Jesus…and the church thrived.

The Gospel of Jesus and belief in Jesus spread like wildfire.

Contrast with: How many articles, seminars, discussions have I read, attended, and participated in which have to do with growing the church again and reversing the decline of church attendance? People have spoken of church as a business – we need more people in order to keep the lights on. I love our church, our buildings, etc. I recognize the reality that with church attendance decline, the thought of this building not being here in 100 years is a possibility. I don’t operate out of fear of that possibility.

 “Those who want to save their life will lose it.” Ultimately, we’re talking about risk. Greeks risked. Early followers of Jesus risked being kicked out of their synagogues, which they were. Gentiles risked being ostracized. Gospel of Jesus demands risk, and it demands that we invite others to share in the Gospel, not solely for our sake, but for theirs as well, we risk becoming something other than what we are.


Our future is uncertain. Jesus told us it would be. Following Jesus means risking that uncertainty. Our faith is not in ourselves, our buildings, our organization. Our faith is in Jesus, who himself risked everything for the sake of all people. “’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.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.” (John 12:33)

How did Jesus know that he would be raised and lifted up from the earth after he was crucified? My guess is he didn’t know it. He believed it. How did Jesus know that he would draw all people to himself? How did he know that people wouldn’t simply forget, not believe, or ignore his life, message, and resurrection? How did he know the church would spread like wildfire. My guess is he didn’t know it. He believed it.

Jesus believed in God, and because of that belief, he risked everything for the sake of all humanity. He asks us, then to risk as well, for the sake of his Gospel and for the sake of humanity, for the sake of people who may hear, receive, and live Jesus through the risks we take.

After Easter, I’m asking all of us to risk a little bit of time and maybe some tired eyes by reading a book together in small groups called, “Transformed.” Bishop Doyle introduced us to the book and the author, Caesar Kalinowski, at clergy conference. We heard him describe life at his church, life lived in community all together, worshiping as one at their church building, and life also lived in smaller communities of friends and neighbors who have meals together, pray together, study scripture together, and serve others together. Together, these small communities bring people to Jesus, people who would not come to a church building. Lives are transformed through the Gospel.

To be clear, lives are transformed here too, but I wouldn’t say the Gospel is spreading like wildfire. The Gospel spreads when we risk. When we risk living in community together, intentionally as Jesus’ disciples, when we risk serving others and sharing the Gospel with others, then the Gospel spreads because we are showing people Jesus.

What are we willing to risk for the sake of Jesus and his Gospel? What are we willing to risk for the sake of the people whom we can introduce to Jesus, the people whose lives can be transformed by the Gospel? 
Amen.