Today’s Scripture Reading (October
13, 2014): John 13
On May 25,
1961, President John F. Kennedy gave the speech that has come to be known historically
as the “Man on the Moon” speech. The President was embroiled in what came to be
known as the Cold War. The Vietnam War, which came to be seen as a struggle between the democratic United States
and Communist China – and would not end until after the 1960’s had turned into
the 1970’s and had advanced half way through that decade, was already proving
to be a stalemate for the American Military. And the Soviet Union had already
begun to make strides toward securing space. As a result, the pride and
identity of the United States was beginning to sag. And Kennedy new that the
people needed something to chase after. So in 1961, the President spoke these
words:
I believe that this nation should commit itself
to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon
and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period
will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range
exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish…
But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the Moon--if we make
this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must
work to put him there.
The nation
once more had a focus and a goal that the people could be committed to chase.
It is
commonly understood that sacrifice follows vision. The idea is that if we want
people to sacrifice in order to attain a goal, then we had better be able to paint
a picture of what it is that we want to accomplish. And this was really the
purpose of the “Man on the Moon speech. It outlined the precisely the reason
why the people should sacrifice to attain the goal of putting a man on the moon
and what it was that could be attained if they all could work together. The
vision had been painted, and now the chase began (and the goal was actually achieved
on July 21, 1969 when Neil Armstrong first, and then Buzz Aldrin stepped out on
the lunar surface.)
As the final meal with Jesus and the disciple’s progresses, Peter
thinks that he understands the vision of the Master. And his response is that
he is willing to go wherever it is that Jesus is going. If there is anyone that
is committed to the vision and willing to sacrifice to attain it, he is the
guy. In fact, he is so sold out to the vision of Jesus that he is willing to
give his life so that the goal can be attained.
Too often we think that somehow Peter lied - or at least that
he was writing a check with his mouth that he was unwilling to back up with his
life. But that is unfair. And it is not what Jesus thought. Jesus knew that
Peter’s problem was not a question of his commitment, but rather that he was
still sold out to the wrong vision. In the next few hours, Jesus was going to
paint a picture of the real vision. And in the middle of that painting, Peter
would not be so ready to give his life to the vision that was being revealed,
partially because he would still be in the midst of understanding the real
vision of Jesus.
But in the end, Peter would live up to the commitment he
makes on this day. Once he understood the true vision of Jesus, and had
digested all that it meant, he would find his way to his own cross in support of
the one who died to prove his love for the world. He would really go where
Jesus went, and give up his life in the process.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: John 14
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