He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. – Revelation 22:20

Today’s Scripture Reading (April 5, 2015): Revelation 22

I love the words to David Crowder’s “Come As You Are.” The words are an invitation to all of those who find themselves on the outside of the Christian Church, to just step inside. The church was never meant to be an elitist club, although I admit that sometimes we seem to have forgotten that. There is no special knowledge, no dress code and no action that you have to know – the invitation is to “come as you are.” To be honest, we already have way too many people trying to pretend that they are something that they are not inside of the church – we don’t need any more. And to be equally honest, these pretenders are on the outside of the church of the church, even though they stand on the inside. The invitation is for them as well – come as you are.

Today is Easter Sunday. He has risen! But if we somehow restrict the Easter marriage to the subset of people who magically get it, then we have missed the point. Jesus came publically. He met with the marginalized and the outsider – and his invitation was to come inside. It was that invitation that put him on the cross in the first place, and those of us who are standing on the inside of the church need to make sure that we never forget that. His message was for those outside. On Easter Sunday, the power behind the message simply became even more real.

And as Revelation closes the message hasn’t changed. “Yes, I am coming soon” are not words that are directed at the Christian Church. This is not part of our escapist theology where we somehow believe that we get to destroy this world and then go somewhere else with God. The words are directed specifically at those who find themselves on the outside. You are invited in – and I, the one who defeated death - will be back. I am coming soon.

And the church responds with the words Come Lord Jesus. The words are written here in Greek, but they carry the same meaning as that Aramaic words that Paul uses to close out First Corinthians and which shaped the early church – Maranatha – Come Lord. Your church stands with it arms wide open for you, just as we stand with arms wide open for the stranger in our midst.

The truth of Easter is simply this. We couldn’t deal with sin, so we needed you to deal with it on Good Friday. We couldn’t deal with death, so we needed you to deal with it on Easter Sunday. And we confess that the answers to all of the problems that this life brings to us does not lie within us either – that solution only lies in your return. And the message is still not just for those on inside. The Easter message must be for all of us, no matter what it is that we might believe.

                        There’s hope for the hopeless, And all those who’ve strayed

                        Come sit at the table, Come taste the grace

                        There’s rest for the weary, Rest that endures

                        Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t cure

 

                        So lay down your burdens, Lay down your shame

                        All who are broken, Lift up your face

                        Oh Wanderer come home, you’re not too far

                        Lay down your hurt, Lay down your heart

                        Come as you are! (David Crowder, Come as You Are)

It is Easter Sunday, the invitation is for you. Come as you are and meet with the one who is coming soon. And we respond together - Maranantha!

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 1