Fourth Sunday in Easter - Revelation Part 3

Not many of us probably use the word salvation on a daily basis.

Perhaps the word save, or saving, savings, or other variations.

Yet, salvation is a big part of the reason humans have religion.

We long for salvation. 

We long to be saved,

from all the mistakes, mess ups, pain, hurt, sorrow

that pervades our world. 

We want salvation, 

but we don't always understand it. 

Both fortunately and unfortunately,

Salvation theology brings lots of great vocabulary with it.

Preservation, protection, deliverance

justification, atonement...

and all this theological vocabulary can be confusing.

At its base, salvation is all about how much we need help,

and how we get it.

Naturally,

because none of us wants to admit that we need help,

in any way,

we find lots of dressed up, finessed, Gothic ways of talking about salvation,

but the end result is that we have to rely on God to save our 

... 

necks.

There are many reasons John of Patmos talks about salvation in his Revelation.

No discussion of the end of time, 

the end of humans and history and Earth,

can be legitimate without discussing how any of it is going to be saved.

(It is funny to me that we hold onto the idea that any of it will be saved.)

Throughout the scriptures, 

there is a thread of discussion about how God is going to save people for eternity.

There is even some discussion about how God is going to save creation, not just humans,

but the trees, rivers, pollen, bees, flowers, badgers, and so on.

In this passage from Revelation, 

John highlights two important ideas concerning salvation:

First, the promise of divine protection during times of tribulation,

God will protect us from harm.

Second, the assurance of ultimate salvation,

God will save us in the end.

Let's face it.

We know,

and as scripture points out,

we have known for a long time,

how broken and messed up and in need of saving 

we human being are.

And if you think that perhaps we have gotten better

in the last six thousand years,

since the beginning of written down scriptures,

think again. 

As a country the United States has been at war for the last 16 years. 

Jails are running out of space, because crime rates cannot seem to be stopped.

Anger issues are becoming more and more felt and known.

Sexual harassment is common place in every type of environment. 

Gun violence has invaded schools, churches, synagogues, stores, homes...

We are destroying our planet at a unprecedented rate.

The City of Franklin's population has declined at a rapid rate.

All of this adds up to an overwhelming feeling of... 

ah! help!

Even in our community, more than a hundred families a month need help with groceries, utilities, necessities

in order to live.

People find themselves out on the streets with no where to go and not knowing who to turn to.

Within ourselves, we know the thoughts and deeds

that would make others cringe,

that make us cringe when we think of them.

Knowing we lashed out at others,

knowing we hoard things for ourselves we don't need,

knowing we think terrible thoughts about people without knowing them at all.

We know our brokenness and sinfulness.

We are in desperate need of help.

We don't want to admit it.

Even if what we do in coming to church is showing up every week seeking help,

from God and community,

we aren't going to admit that we actually need it or need to be here.

That would be too much.

Yet, we are longing for someone to save us.

We are waiting for someone to help us.

We want someone else to take care of all the things we cannot carry anymore.

The first century Christians felt the same way.

They were living through persecutions and economic fluctuations.

They wanted someone to solve their problems for them. 

They wanted someone to save them,

from the crazy Emperor, from the soldiers, from their neighbors,

they wanted a Savior.

John of Patmos reminds the first century Christians

and us today,

we have a Savior. 

Jesus has already saved us. 

Jesus is still saving us. 

Jesus will save us. 

Both John, the gospel writer, 

and John, the author of Revelation,

make clear that the Good Shepherd is the Paschal Lamb,

and the Paschal Lamb is the Good Shepherd.

Our Savior, our leader, our guide.

Luckily, John is very clear in his vision. 

All people, from every nation, all tribes, peoples, languages 

God gives salvation to all people 

A very inclusive God we have.

What John sees is a great vision,

no hunger, no thirst, no tears, no famine.

God offers protection and assurance 

God offers ultimate salvation,

saving from all the troubles, trials, tribulations,

and messiness of humanity.

And it is not something we can earn.

It is simply a gift.

A gift we can accept.

We can accept the gift of God's salvation

and stand with the great multitude 

and praise God saying,

"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

We can accept the gift of God's salvation,

pray to God in our hearts and minds and souls,

"help me accept your salvation,

to know your saving grace deep within me,"

and stand with people of all nations, tribes, and languages,

and wave palm branches,

like the followers of Jesus did when he triumphantly entered Jerusalem,

proclaiming, "Hosanna!" 

praising God in the way of Revelation, in a sevenfold celebration.

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might

be to our God forever and ever! Amen!"

God is waiting for us to let go of all our troubles

to accept the gift of salvation and to stand with all those who have gone before us in praise.

So let us stand, and wave our palm branches and praise God.

(palm branches on front pew)

Hosanna! Alleluia!

Blessing be God!

Alleluia! Hosanna!

Salvation has come! 

Hosanna!

Alleluia! 

Amen!

Amen!

Amen!