Sermon preached May 16, 2021- Unity of Believers…. at Carillon Beach Chapel
We’re going to look at several scriptures this morning. The first is Psalm 133. It is short and evokes some strong imagery:
Ps 133– (Summary- Unity among brothers is like an anointing with oil, like dew of Mt. Hermon coming down on mountains of Zion…..)
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, Running down upon the beard,
As on Aaron’s beard, The oil which ran down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For the Lord commanded the blessing there—life forever.
Let’s consider the psalmist’s words for a moment to gain insight into this imagery.
David says that unity is like oil poured out on the head that runs down one’s head and all the way down the hem of one’s clothing. Anointing with oil confers upon one righteousness and identifies one as belonging to God. In this Psalm David calls it “Good!” It is indicative of a covenant blessing. Such a blessing provides protection and comfort and joy.
Then he says unity is like the dew on Mt Hermon. When we think of dew, especially in arid climates like the Middle East that can often be arid we think of something that is pleasant, gentle, refreshing, capable of giving renewed strength and sustaining life of plants and animals. David calls this aspect of unity “pleasant”
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to live together in unity!
Good and pleasant….. Like oil that brings the righteousness and blessing it is good; Like water that refreshes, it is pleasant. The unity among children of God, brothers and sisters, provides both- righteousness that is good, and refreshing of life which is pleasant.
Mount Hermon, its ancient Hebrew name means “sacred mountain” and it is the highest mountain in ancient Israel. It boasts majestic, snowcapped peaks rising just over 9,000 feet above the sea.
The Arabic name by which it is known today means “snowy mountain,” Mount Hermon’s three distinct peaks are covered with snow most of the year. In Bible times, Mount Hermon was also called Sirion by the Sidonians and Senir by the Amorites (Deuteronomy 3:9; Psalm 29:6). These two names mean “breastplate,” and likely are references to the mountain’s rounded, snow-topped crests that gleam in the sunlight. In the NT the breastplate in the Armor of God is emblematic of righteousness and would further points to the ancient view of it as a sacred mountain.
Mount Heron is visible from a great distance. The mountain range that Mount Hermon anchors is nearly 30 miles in length and about 15 miles wide. Mount Hermon is located at the northeastern boundary of Israel, on the border between Syria and Lebanon. Along with melting snow and the abundant rainfall on Mount Hermon, large springs at the base of the mountain form the main headwaters of the Jordan River which flows down through Israel.
Mount Hermon was significant in the Bible for a few reasons. Mount Hermon marked the northern limits of the Promised Land conquered by Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:8; Joshua 11:17; 12:1; 13:5). It also formed the northern boundary of the territory inherited by the half-tribe of Manasseh as well as the northern border of the nation of Israel in general (1 Chronicles 5:23).
Worshipers from the earliest of times were drawn to its isolated heights. Several ruins of ancient sanctuaries have been found on Mount Hermon’s peaks and slopes and at its base. Judges 3:3 calls the mountain Baal Hermon, meaning “Lord of Hermon” (see also 1 Chronicles 5:23). Several psalms praise Mount Hermon for its loftiness and majesty (Psalm 42:6; 89:11–12).
King David compared God’s people living together in unity to the dew of Mount Hermon falling on Mount Zion (Psalm 133:1–3). This illustration is inspired by the fact that the slopes of Mount Hermon, in the north, receive profuse amounts of moisture. Mount Zion, in the south, is much drier. David compared the refreshing dew of Hermon to the blessings of unity flowing in Israel, from north to south. Harmony among God’s people is life-giving, like the water that flows from Mount Hermon through the Jordan River. Mount Hermon is also noted for its wildlife in the Bible (Song of Solomon 4:8). So its water is a vital sustainer of life.
Some scholars believe Mount Hermon was the site of Jesus’ transfiguration, a supernatural event in which Christ appeared in His true glory as the Son of God, revealing His identity as the preincarnate Messiah and fulfilling the law and the prophets (Matthew 17:1–8; see also 2 Peter 1:16–18). At the transfiguration, Peter, James, and John—the members of Jesus’ inner circle—were eyewitnesses to the Lord’s preexistent glory which he had set aside to be present on the earth during his lifetime here on earth. On that mountain, as they trembled in awe and fear at this sight they heard the voice of the Father say, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.” Mark 9:1-8
Both the accounts of Mathew and Mark specify that Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a “high mountain.” The traditional site for the Mount of Transfiguration has been Mount Tabor. However, Matthew’s gospel places events immediately preceding and leading up to the transfiguration in the district of Caesarea Philippi, making Mount Hermon the closer and more likely site. Also, in those days, the summit of Mount Tabor was inhabited and surrounded by a wall, according to the historian Josephus. On the other hand, the wilderness of Mount Hermon provided privacy and seclusion and Mark 9:2 says that Jesus led them up a high mountain “where they were all alone” (Mark 9:2). So both Matthew’s and Mark’s gospels give indicators that Mt. Hermon is the location of Christ’s transfiguration before Peter, James, and John.
1 Jn 1:1-2:2-
1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
There’s that unity message again from the voice of John, who took to heart what he saw and heard and is faithful in repeating.
Johns message says, 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Later in the Gospel of John we read about the time of the Passover supper that Jesus shared with his disciples, Him giving the bread to Judas and Judas leaving, Jesus washing their feet, and talking to them about what is about to happen, then he prays the prayer In which Jesus expresses desire for unity among his disciples and future believers just before he goes to Gethsemane where he is arrested that same evening. I counted a half dozen times in John’s description of this Upper Room discourse and in Jesus’ priestly prayer where Jesus prayed about his desire for his disciples to be one with him as he is one with the father and that they may be one with each other and one with the Father as he himself is…. It is here in this Upper Room discourse, too, that they are also commanded to love one another. The blessing that is derived from obedience to that command of loving one another and living in unity with one another and in unity with Christ is eternal life.
Finally, we consider an event after Jesus Resurrection, when he appeared to his disciples: Jn 20:19-31-
19 Now when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, (which was Resurrection Sunday) and when the doors were shut where the disciples were together due to fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ……….(22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been [f]shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
This encounter with Thomas reminds me of another time when Jesus was in Jerusalem, as a newborn being taken by his parents to the temple there, which was just a short distance from Bethlehem, on the 8th day after his birth, the day of dedication and circumcision of the child….in Luke 2:21-38
21 And when eight days were completed [a]so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also given the name Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for [b]their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then Simeon took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:
32 A light for revelation [f]for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in jyears and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers. 38 And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Here we see 2 events and timeframes- Let’s compare and contrast the two:
8 days after his birth-Jesus in Jerusalem with his parents.
8 days after his Resurrection- Jesus in Jerusalem with his followers in whom a type of rebirth was occurring.
Jesus was touched by Simeon who was given information by the Holy Spirit, who had not yet seen Messiah but longed to and hoped that he would .
Jesus was touched by Thomas who had not seen Messiah and doubted because he had not yet seen and touched the risen Jesus.
One was the ceremonial circumcision of Jesus- which made him officially part of the God’s chosen Jewish people.
In the encounter with Thomas, it was Thomas’ heart that was circumcised and doubt removed, he believed and officially became part of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Jesus’ parents, in obedience to the law, made a sacrifice to God on the day of his dedication.
Jesus Christ, in obedience to God, had given himself as a sacrifice for all humanity’s salvation.
Simeon proclaimed the peace he felt in seeing the Messiah.
Christ himself proclaimed peace to all in in his presence.
His human Name, Jesus, was proclaimed by Simeon who knew he was Divine
His Divine Name, My Lord and My God, was proclaimed by Thomas who had thought he was merely human.
Jesus identity was confirmed to Anna, a prophetess who began telling everyone.
Jesus’ identity was confirmed to his disciples who would soon begin their ministry of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the earth.
Two events, 33 years apart, but with distinctive similarities of time, place, purpose, and principles- Jesus’ entire life was an example to us of God’s desire to be one with humankind through incarnation in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s desire for unity with all humankind through the power of Christ’s Resurrection and the gift of eternal life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Among believing people who are sharing in meaningful intimate fellowship for godly purposes, Christ is known. Knowing and believing in Christ is best accomplished in the context of faithful believing community where
we are united in Christ.
At the end of John’s narrative of the Upper Room discourse he writes, “So then, many other [g]signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the [h]Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name.
The point of John and the other disciples telling about the events of their lives with Jesus is so that people may be united in believing in Christ and the point of believing in Christ is so that all who do so may receive eternal life…..
We celebrate remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice when we participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion.