David Bahn – Reflections

“I know the answer is Jesus,” says the little boy during the children’s message, “but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.” If you’ve heard the joke, you’ll recognize the punchline. If you haven’t heard it, you can read it at the end of this post. As a Christian, I know the answer is Jesus – to every deep question of life and moral conundrum. Honestly, however, I also know that sometimes “Jesus” seems to be a hollow and trite answer. The answer is too quickly applied and too easily offered.

Three witnesses experience the transfiguration of Jesus’ face and clothing. Moses and Elijah are there, speaking with Jesus. Peter offers to provide shelters for these three heroes of the faith. The cloud overshadows them all, and a voice speaks of Jesus. In the end there is only Jesus.

Matthew 17:1-8

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁵He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” ⁸And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Jesus initiates this God moment on the mountain. It’s his idea, his agenda. He leads. The Father makes it clear: Jesus is his beloved Son to whom we are to listen. Not Moses. Not Elijah. Both are great men of God. Both are part of the story of God. But they – as great as they were and are – disappear. Jesus alone remains. He also pleases God – and he alone does so. Finally, Jesus allays the fear of God. The three disciples are terrified. They have seen and heard something so overwhelming that they fall on their faces in terror. But Jesus’ touch and words of assurance point them beyond the terror. We can encounter God and live.

So many things other than Jesus vie for our attention and offer us their brand of hope. Not all are necessarily bad. But no one but Jesus truly fills our hearts, allays our fears, or sustains our faith.

OK, the joke:

A pastor was giving the children’s message during church. For this part of the service, he would gather all the children around him and give a brief lesson before dismissing them for children’s church.

On this particular Sunday, he was using squirrels for an object lesson on industry and preparation. He started out by saying, “I’m going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is.” The children nodded eagerly.

“This thing lives in trees (pause) and eats nuts (pause)…” No hands went up. “And it is gray (pause) and has a long bushy tail (pause)…” The children were looking at each other, but still no hands raised. “And it jumps from branch to branch (pause) and chatters and flips its tail when it’s excited (pause)…”

Finally one little boy tentatively raised his hand. The pastor breathed a sigh of relief and called on him. “Well,” said the boy, “I know the answer must be Jesus … but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!”

Thanks to Clean Joke of the Day.