Denver Community Church

March 31 2024: The Wounds Are Still There - Michael Hidalgo (Easter Sunday)

When we first encounter the wounds of Jesus, it is horrific. He is crucified. Nails are hammered through his flesh, tearing fibers as they are forced through his hands and feet. This, of course, to hold him in place as he hangs on the cross spiraling toward death. After he breathes his last, a soldier approaches him and thrusts a spear into his side, from that wound blood and water flow. These wounds are what lead to his death. 

Three days later, Jesus is raised from the dead, still bearing these wounds. But now, somehow, these wounds that lead to his death and the wounds that bring us life. “By his wounds we are healed …” says the prophet, Isaiah. It’s no wonder then that Jesus points to these wounds, inviting Thomas to touch them, and when he does touch them, they lead to his belief. This teaches us that Resurrection does not deny death. It embraces it. It takes it seriously. It does not say, “Everything will be fine.” Resurrection says, “Everything will be transformed.” 

The Cursed and Disgraced - Maggie Knight

Jesus is paraded through the streets to Golgatha. Once there, he is nailed to the execution stake where passersby hurl insults at him and mock him. Crucifixion was not just the most horrific forms of execution ever created, it was designed to be humiliating as well; this is why crucifixions were such public affairs. For those who wanted Jesus dead all along, they now had the chance to watch this man - who seemingly attempted to upset the prevailing order – die. But for some reason that was not enough. So they mocked him, laughing in the midst of his suffering.

But in the midst of it all, the writer is whispering to us that it is precisely because he is king, because he will rebuild the temple, because he refused to save himself that he is saving others – these are the very reasons he stayed on that damned cross. This, proclaims the crucified Christ, is what the love of God looks like.  In this teaching, we will seek to understand at a deepening level why Jesus stayed on that cross.

March 17 2024: The Coronated King - Hannah Thom

Mark tells of the abuse Jesus suffered at the hands of soldiers after being flogged and dragged into the Praetorium. While the scene makes the reader wince at the sheer brutality of it all, there is also something else just below the surface: the way Mark frames the story of what happens to Jesus from the purple robe, to the crown and the homage is a description of what would happen when Caesar was coronated emperor of Rome.

At one level this is subversive commentary: what the soldiers were doing was, in some way, hailing Jesus as the king he is. But he is also asking a question of the reader, “Is this the king you want?” Not one who comes with great pomp and circumstance, but one who comes in brokenness, humility, into the pain and the violence of our world. The question he asks demands a response. So the only question left is, “What will that response be?”

March 10 2024: What is Truth? - Michael Hidalgo

In a cultural moment where all that we had long placed our trust in seems to be eroding, we ask the question Pilate asked, “What is truth?” John details a conversation between Pilate and Jesus amidst the swirling accusations against Jesus. To get away from the crowd Pilate summons Jesus inside the palace and asks him questions in a seeming attempt to understand what is going on. Jesus makes it plain, he has come to “testify to the truth.” To which Pilate responds, “What is truth?”

His question has lingered on the lips of humanity since. Today we talk about “your truth” and “my truth.” Truth, it seems, has become whatever one believes it to be – which puts individuals at the center. But maybe there is a truth that’s bigger than all of us. That which cannot be argued against or wished away because it is the ultimate reality. And what is that reality? That’s the question we will wrestle with.

 

Resources:

John 18.28-40 (NIV)

Trump and a Post-Truth World (Ken Wilber, Shambhala Publications, 2017)

Oxford English Dictionary

March 3, 2024: I Have No Idea What You are Talking About - Michael Hidalgo

So many of us believe we have done something God could never forgive. We’ve gone too far. We’ve done too much. We’ve made too many mistakes. But if it is not true of Jesus it is not true of God. What we learn from the life of Peter is no one is beyond the forgiveness of God.

Jesus tells his disciples they will all fall away, but Peter insists he is wrong! Jesus responds to him with a prediction. “You will deny me three times tonight.” Peter again insists Jesus is wrong. But, as it turns out, Peter is the one who is wrong. Forget about the fact that Peter just turned his back on his friend at the moment of his sentencing. Forget about the fact that Peter was a coward. Those things are true … but Peter, as a disciple was supposed to long to be noticed as disciple of his rabbi. Instead, when noticed, he rejects it.

And what does Jesus do? He looks right at him when it happens (according to Luke). Then he is marched to his death. But the he comes back from the dead and speaks again to Peter. “Do you love me, Peter?” Jesus asks three times. Peter, replies three times, “Of course!!” Why three times? Because that was the number of times Peter previously denied Jesus. But that’s not the end of the story, is it?

February 25, 2024: No Jury Needed - Michael Hidalgo

In Matthew 26, Jesus is tried before the Sanhedrin and before the Temple authorities. This is more than a passing detail; if the racket they were running was to remain, they had to get rid of this rebel named Jesus. This is what Mark tells us the people at the house of Caiaphas wanted to do: he tells the reader that there was nothing in this trial having to do with justice – only ensuring the death of Jesus. 

During this so-called trial, witnesses attempt to discredit Jesus and find a reason to get rid of him. In the end, it seems that Jesus seals his own fate by speaking what the Sanhedrin found to be “blasphemy.” The irony of course is that it was the Sanhedrin that blasphemed by speaking against Jesus – the Son of God.

So often in the Christian Camp, there are many who are “put on trial” for their actions, beliefs, and attitudes. Many will quickly pounce on anyone who says something they disagree with as though they are the ones who are in charge of how God can and will work. 

February 18, 2024: Under Arrest - Hannah Thom

It was night, there were torches, a dispatch of soldiers, swords, groggy disciples and a kiss of betrayal. What a painful moment for Jesus. He knew where this was all going. In the midst of the scene of Jesus being arrested, a disciple grabs a sword and cuts off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Why this? Well, apparently it was a repeat of history: generations before, Antigonus cutting off Hyrcanus’ ears to prevent him from serving in the Temple. It seems the disciple’s action was no accident; it was a retaliation.

In the midst of the commotion Jesus demands a halt to all of this. He is not leading a rebellion, and there is no need for swords and clubs. He knows what he has been called to do, and he is willing to go to the place God has in store for him. He does not blame, condemn or even retaliate. This teaches us something about the heart of Jesus – a heart that is set on the things of God – not on the ideas of human beings.

In this teaching, we will dwell on the heart of Jesus revealed in this story. In the midst of betrayal he calls Judas “friend.” In the midst of violence against his enemies, he announces peace and pardon. For Jesus this is the start of the manner in which he will walk to the cross. One defined by love.

February 11, 2024: You've Got to Let it Go - Michael Hidalgo

Jesus uses the metaphor of the narrow door as the way to life. While this may seem as though it makes things more difficult and demands more of us, it’s possible there is another way of seeing this. If one is to make it through a narrow door, it suggests we cannot carry much through it at all. We will need to lay things down and let other things go if we have any hope of making it through.  Perhaps this is the subtle invitation Jesus offers to those who wish to follow him. God does not need or want our talents, our accomplishments and all the things we have done “for him.” God only wants us. Maybe this is what the nonreligious have insight into in a way religious people don’t: they come as they are without anything. Perhaps that’s why they make it through the door.

February 4, 2024: Growing Everywhere - Mattie Motl

The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds – yet the mustard plant is the wildest of all plants. One cannot control the mustard plant, no matter how hard they try, and once it is planted and has grown the area in which it was planted can never be cleared of the plants as they will grow again and again. Jesus uses an example that defies the logic and the rule of his day. It was clearly stated in Mishnah that one could not plant mustard seeds in a garden (Kelayim 2.8; 3.2). This is because the plant would end up taking over the whole garden – it could not be controlled. Jesus’ point seems to be not a challenge of the rules – but an observation of the kingdom. It starts small – a little yeast or a little seed. When one observes the pattern throughout scripture of who Jesus chooses it is always the last, the lost, the least. They are the ones that Jesus uses. From the acacia tree to build his throne (the ark of the covenant) to the nation of Israel itself. We continually see that God chooses that which is small. The beauty of this is that once it takes root – it becomes out of control.

NOTE: Unfortunately, our building experienced a total power outage for several minutes near the beginning of this message, so you will notice a section missing near 5:42.

January 28, 2024: A Religion of Liberation - Michael Hidalgo

This week, we consider how unhealthy religion adds burdens to people- it can be something that binds people up in an oppressive way rather than liberating them.  The Torah seems clear regarding work on Sabbath. So when Jesus heals a woman who has been oppressed by diseases for 18 years, we should not be surprised the legalistic religious types in the room take umbrage with Jesus’ actions. It is their uncompassionate response that leads Jesus to ask, “Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?” This is a nod to Exodus 23 (and Deuteronomy 5) which insists Sabbath is even for the rest and renewal of animals. Simply put, Sabbath is a gift. Sabbath is also a day of liberation: it is to remind the Israelites of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Thus, for Jesus, this day was about liberation. His words point seem to point toward how something good, like religion, can become something that oppresses rather than liberates.