That’s No Bunk!
 

Scripture Readings for the Week: Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17;
John 10:22-30
 

Too often the arrival of the gospel’s joyful surprise gets redelivered as some kind of grim omen handing out a multiple choice test asking you to choose the right way to belong, to be saved, to be righteous:
a. Be good enough
b. Know enough
c. Believe enough
d. All of the above and endless other “enoughs”
e. None of the above
Enough already! A nontechnical, not particularly theological, but remarkably apt reaction is “that’s bunk,” which is similar to “that’s a bunch of hooey,” which translates to “that’s not right,” which leads back to the un-gospel quiz where the correct answer is “e.”
On a cold winter day a restless crowd gathered around Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. The contentious bunch was on pins and needles; hot tensions steamed the chilly holy city air. “We want a simple, unambiguous, no complications answer! Are you the Messiah?” Test time. What right answer could Jesus offer the testy inquisitors?
He replied: Clearly all that I have said about who I am has not convinced you. So listen, yes, listen, but all the more look and see the way I am revealed by moments of mercy, spectacles of forgiveness, and choices of compassion. Watch my way with the shamed and my scandalous behavior toward the untouchables. Then hear my voice. Dare to be like sheep who, stumbling and limping and tripping and meandering all the way, do take the risk. Hazard to believe that in me there is life to be had, a life that will not come to an end and that no one can take away.
Discovering the Messiah may not always be plain. It can be ambiguous and hard to understand, but always, always it will be gracious and life-giving. That’s the joyful gospel. And that’s no bunk!
 

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