Superman doesn’t need an aeroplane - Boast only in Jesus

There are not many of us who like people who boast – but whether you are in Church or work or taking part in sport or anything else, you will inevitably find people who do ! One who had a bit of a reputation for this was the boxer Mohammed Ali, and the theologian Ravi Zacharias tells a story about him going on a plane. 

Passengers on the plane were instructed to fasten their seatbelts immediately. Everyone complied but Ali. Noticing this, the flight attendant approached him and requested that he observe the captain’s order, only to hear Ali respond, “Superman doesn’t need no seatbelt.” The flight attendant did not miss a beat and replied, “Superman doesn’t need an aeroplane either.”

The reality is that those who boast very often will, at some point, meet their match – and probably end up being put down a bit…. Today’s New Testament readings offer us some challenges about boasting – in Paul’s letter to the Galatians (6:7-16) he tells us not to boast in anything except the cross of Jesus, and then in the gospel reading from Luke (10:1-11,16-20), we have the account of Jesus commissioning 70 of his followers to go out and preach for him.

It would be very easy I think for those 70 to have thought that being commissioned by Jesus himself gave them a licence to feel important, even to be a bit boastful – “Jesus chose me !!!” They could easily have thought of themselves as being a bit special.... And when we recognise that, just as in the same way Jesus sent out those 70, he personally chose us to go out and do the same thing, maybe we too, could end up a little too full of pride.

But if we do then we are missing the heart of the gospel, and in fact, even the essential reality of our purpose in life… We live in the world for all kinds of reasons – these include sharing relationships, making ourselves the best people we can, enjoying fullness of life..., but we live also to worship God and to enjoy fellowship with him…

And it is when we recognise that, that we begin to recognise his influence on us and on everything we do, and it is then that we realise that commissioned to do his work or not – we do it only with his power and his help.

When Paul tells us to boast in nothing except the cross of Jesus, he is asking us to acknowledge that all we have, and all that we are and can be, is down to the sacrifice of Jesus, and his wonderful resurrection… And it is with that knowledge that we are called, commissioned and encouraged to go out and tell others about this power and this love…

There are many people who don’t give Christianity a very good name at the moment – people who seem to want to use the bible to get their own opinion across, people who seem a bit pushy, people who seem to have black and white answers on everything and condemn those who do not quite agree, people who seem overly forceful with their views and ideas...

And there is a need to be careful in how we share the gospel message, it is after all supposed to be good news for everyone, but we also need to be aware that the message we are called to share is an urgent and important message. 

The example of the early Church is an example of perseverance but also of urgency – there was a need to share the gospel – to invite others to be part of something special, something wonderful, something life changing…

And perhaps this call not to boast offers us an encouragement in our discipleship – many of us are afraid to tell friends and family members too much about God and the Church because we’re a little bit afraid that we’re not worthy to do so. Many of us hang back when we should speak up… many of us are a little afraid of looking a bit silly !

But that is where we are reminded that it is not our work to do but God’s work – it is not our words that we rely on but God’s words and God’s actions… Then we’re reminded that if we don’t boast about our faith then we don’t need to be afraid of anything either… if we surrender to God’s will then we will act as his mouthpiece – and we will allow ourselves to be used for his service – and that is an incredibly powerful witness…

Many times I’ve thought about the saying, ‘There are 5 gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John and ourselves – and most people will never read the first 4’. That is the commission we receive – it may be to work in the ordained ministry, it may be a calling to some other ministry in a Church setting, or it may be that we are called to work just exactly where we are, with the people we know and see… The 70 that Jesus sent out were sent to various towns, which was essential as the gospel message spread… but whilst today many will be called to go to other places to work, many will work where they are…

The growth of the Church, and more importantly, the growth of the Christian faith is dependant on us ! And we grow, not by preserving the past but by expanding outward. We grow, not by building fences, but by building bridges. We grow, not by creating museums but by creating new relationships.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting the Holy Land a number of times as I know some of you have, and one of the saddest parts of the Holy Land is Bethlehem – it is surrounded by a huge concrete wall with people effectively living in a prison, and there many believe they have no hope and no future… 

The plan behind the building of the wall is that it will preserve peace for those outside it, but the reality is that those who built the wall are slowly killing the life inside….

It is a stark warning for Churches who build walls around them, preserving what they have rather than seeking to grow – walls kill the life inside them and close off the life outside them, but bridges build relationships and encourage growth and life… When Jesus came to live in our world he knew no walls, he knew no barriers – he built bridges and he stretched out his arms – literally to anyone who would come to him….

We must never boast in ourselves but we can boast in the saving love and power of Jesus – someone once told the story of a little boy who was asked to define Christians. He said : "Christians are mild, weak, quiet, people who never fight or talk back." Then he added, "Daddy is a Christian but Mum isn't."

It is an image people sometimes have of Christians but we must never be mild, weak or quiet as we share the gospel, Jesus certainly wasn’t, and we must always fight in our own different and special ways, to ensure that the message of Jesus is heard by all… AMEN