Psalm 34:1-10, 22
One of the ambivalent words that we use in church and find in scripture is the word “saint.” In our vernacular conversations we typically use the word saint to mean someone who is perfect. Actually, we use it more often as a questionable characteristic of one who seems to think they are perfect. Let us to the scripture text to seek out a definition that seems true to the scripture references of saints.
In Psalm 34:9 saints are called to fear the Lord. In this Psalm there are several references to God’s rescue of folks who honor, live in fear of God, no because they are terrified of God, but rather those who know how gracious God is and do not want to jeopardize that relationship. Vs. 22 is an affirmation that God redeems his servants (saints if you will). No one is condemned (cast out, abandoned, left alone) who takes refuge in him.
Matthew 5:1-12
In Matthew’s gospel this teaching is situated on a mountain side and called the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke’s gospel the teaching is placed on a level place and called the Sermon on the Plain. Both times the teaching fits in a pattern that is called The Beatitudes because each verse begins with “Blessed are . . .” Each of the verses or teachings focuses on ways that people can know that they are blessed of God. Each is an action or role that one may play in their spiritual journey. It seems that Jesus is concerned that people who have responded to a teaching or a miracle and say they want to follow Jesus might run up against a hard time and fall away. Instead he seeks to give them a hope and promise that there is a great reward for faithfulness in the face of hardship or danger.
How might this teaching define or illustrate the evidence of one fulfilling the role of saint?
I John 3:1-3
The writer of the three epistles and of the book of Revelation and the Gospel of John are the same, John, son of Zebedee and Salome. He was first cousin of Jesus (his mother, Salome, was sister to Mary), a fisherman, a member of Jesus inner circle and “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
In this passage John marvels at the great love of God to call us his children. Compare this love to the Gospel of John 3:16. Obviously, at this time, Christian people were being challenged by others and questioning their authenticity. John says the reason they don’t know us (understand what we are about) is that they do not know God.
Vss 2-3 are a part of the liturgy that we hear at the beginning of the funeral service:
Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restored our lives. Christ will come again in glory. As in baptism Name put on Christ, so in Christ may Name be clothed in glory. Here and now, dear friends, we are God’s children. What we shall be has not yet been revealed, but we know that when he (Christ Jesus) appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Those who have this hope purify themselves as Christ is pure.
What might John say to us about what makes for a saint? If the only definition of saint that a person knows is despairingly, a person who thinks they are perfect, why might they not understand or suspect the witness of a person’s Christian walk?
Revelation 7:9-12
The book of Revelation was written by John, who has been isolated or imprisoned in order to minimize his influence and power in the church. It is at a time when the church (Christians) is under persecution. They are being threatened by ostracization, threat of life, and personal degradation. This book depends on total sensory involvement. To get the most out of it, you must be aware of the pictures that are being offered, the sounds that are described, the smells and tastes that are evoked.
In this particular passage there is a scene of a tremendously large crowd of people, who are made up of every nation, tribe, people and language. Pause for a moment to picture such a crowd. Note the variety of skin types, hair, dress, and the languages being spoken. On this occasion they are all wearing white robes with palm branches in their hands and they are standing before the “Lamb.” Pause What does the picture or word “lamb” evoke for you? John in his gospel connects us back to the story of the Passover that we read about in Exodus that convinced Pharaoh to let Moses and the Hebrew people to leave Egypt. The Passover Lamb also provided the means by which the Hebrews could avoid the plague of the death of the first born, which devastated the people of Egypt. In John 1:29, John the Baptist speaks the words that Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
These people are standing before the throne and the Lamb. What does that look like to you? They cry with one voice, but maybe in all different kinds of languages (similar to Pentecost) Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
In vs. 11 more are named as being present: angels, the elders, the four living creatures. They likewise fall on their faces and worshipped God saying: Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!
Imagine the volume of this sound! Now while this is only a snippet of everything in Revelation, imagine for a moment that you are a Christian in this era of time, who is trying to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus in every way you can and your church gets an installment of John’s story, which is this passage. What impact do you imagine it to have upon you? If a saint is one whose faithfulness to God is paramount in your life because of the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, what hope or motivation do you get from Revelation to keep on going in the face of being misunderstood, ridiculed or persecuted?
Prayer: Holy God, we often use the word saint glibly, but we want to grow in a greater meaning of those who truly serve you as saints. Most especially we want to be counted as a saint no matter what others say of us. Please help us on this journey. Amen.