Omega and Alpha: Jesus, the Center of Christian Faith
All Saints by-the-Sea Episcopal Church
February 16, 2005
Telford Work, Westmont College
Jesus Christ Is the End and the Beginning...
Jesus is the alpha and omega (Revelation 1:8, 22:13) not just chronologically but logically.
Sin attempts to overturn this, setting ourselves rather than God as the center and goal.
Redemption then inverts our inversion: Jesus becomes the end of the old and beginning of the new.
"I died, and behold I live" (Revelation 1:17-18): Jesus is the hinge on whom the ages have turned (1 Corinthians 10:11).
An imperfect analogy for Americans: the Constitution of the United States:
It is the result of royal abuse and confederate failure.
It is more an ending and beginning than a middle.
It
closes all earlier events and births all subsequent ones.
It focuses and defines American history like no other event, even 1776.
It has become the object of ultimate American loyalty.
It embodies who we are as a people.
Similar analogies for other communities include the Exodus/Torah and the Hejira/Qur'an.
Some communities — e.g., pagans — have no one turning point.
The story of Jesus is constitutive of Christian faith, "making all things new" (Revelation 21:5).
Evidence of this awareness permeates the earliest Christian witness.
A Lenten question: What is the fundamental hinge and identifier of your life?
... of God
A false prophet and a blasphemer? no, God-with-us (Colossians 1, John 1)
A stumbling block and foolishness? no, the crucified power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
The beloved heir of the Father (Romans 8), and the loving giver of the Holy Spirit (John 20:19-23, Acts 2) Are you a member of his Triune fellowship?
... of the Cosmos
Subject to the creation's futility, Lord at the Father's right hand (Romans 8)
The redeemer of the old creation (2 Corinthians 5:1-15), and the firstfruits of the new creation (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
The one by whom all things were made, and the one in whom all things come together (John 1, Colossians 1) Are you alert to the signs of his reign?
... of Humanity
The enemy of the old order, and the center of a new and eternal order (Acts 10:34-43)
Rejected by "men" (1 Peter 2:4), yet immortal intercessor forever (Hebrews 7:23-25)
The last Adam, and the man from heaven (1 Corinthians 15)
The taker of sin and death, and the bringer of righteousness and eternal life (Romans 5:1-11) Is he your brother and your hope?
... of Israel
Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52-53 in Romans 10:5-17), and anointed Messiah (Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:16-30)
Eternal son of David in the flesh, and designated risen Son of God in power (Romans 1:3)
The Chosen (and rejected) One of Israel (Luke 9:18-36), and the head of "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:15-16)
The goal of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17-20), and the author of the Good News (Mark 1:15)
Do you share his mission and bear his marks?
... of the Nations
Victim of the nations' oppression, and King of Kings (Psalm 2 in Luke 3:21-22 and Hebrews 5:1-5)
Destroyer of their idolatry (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10, Revelation 17-18), and destination of their treasure (Revelation 21:22-27)
Disarmer of the principalities and powers (Colossians 2:8-15), and new human being of cultural inclusion (Ephesians 2:11-22)
Object of their rulers' scorn (1 Peter 2:11-17), and object of their eternal worship (Revelation 7:9-10)
Do you bow down to him, or only to the god of your own tribe?
... of a Life
Obedient servant, with the name above all names (Philippians 2:5-11)
Baptized (ended) by John, and baptizer (giver of life) with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11-12)
Foreknown and predestined, and the first of many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:28-30)
The subject of judgment (Matthew 25), and the object of worship (Matthew 28:16-20)
The ultimate threat to our own righteousness, yet its only real security (Acts 9)
Good shepherd (John 10:1-18), and sharer of his throne (Revelation 3:20-22)
Pioneer of our own deaths and resurrections (Romans 6:1-11, Colossians 2:20-3:17)
Is your life baptismal, dead and risen, Christ-shaped?
