Hello,
“If I could have a beer with Jesus….”
I was driving back from Pittsburgh in the loaner car that was given to
me while my car was having major
repairs done when I heard this song come from the radio that was playing on one
of the preset stations. “If I
could have a beer with Jesus….”
I am not a regular country western, or even a frequent country western
listener. But as it so
happened, some previous driver of this loaner car must have been and decided
that I should be, thus gracing my ears with a tune that I had never heard
before. I snickered as I heard
it. The image of a sandal shod,
robe clad, ancient Israeli sitting down at a honky tonk bar tickled me.
Although the image may have been a bit too dog-dying, jilted-lover country
western for me, it did get me to thinking. Wouldn’t we all want to “have a beer with Jesus”, and ask
him some of the deepest things on our minds? Maybe ask some of the same things that Thomas Rhett Akins,
the singer of this song, was wanting to ask: “How’d you turn the other cheek to
save a sorry soul like me? Do you
hear the prayers I send? What
happens when life ends? Is mommy
and daddy alright?” Or maybe we
would ask, “Where are you when unthinkable tragedies strike? Are you real? Will I make it through the darkness of my life?”
Well, we in the Lutheran Christian tradition believe that something of
the likes of what Thomas Rhett Akins sings actually happens….happens over and
over again. We believe that
Jesus does invite us to have a drink with (and actually of) him every Sunday
morning. He joins us as we lean on
a communion rail, invited to come with all of our questions, our failures, and
fears and he gives an answer, his answer: “Take and eat. This is my body. Take and drink. This is my blood.”
To some it may seem an odd answer, and maybe even an answer that dodges
the questions that we bring, but when you consider it, what clearer and more
satisfying answer could Jesus give us: an answer that embodies his deep love
for us, a love that does not fall upon us from afar, but unites itself with us
from within. After all answers are
only as trustworthy and secure as the trustworthiness and security of the one
giving the answers. Will any
question, doubt or fear cause Jesus to turn his back on us…..take and eat, take
and drink…..the answer: no. Will
any question, doubt, or fear separate us from God….take and eat, take and
drink…the answer: no.
Let me…no hear Jesus invite you to his table to sit down and have a
drink with him. And when you come,
go ahead and ask him any question that you might bring, and experience the
direct answer that Jesus will give to you.
Have a great week.
God’s grace and peace, (ggap)
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
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