The most interesting sermon I ever heard
Preachers may be inspirational or boring, challenging or soothing; pastors, scholars, poets. Even a few stand-up comedians. I’m married to the son of a preacher man (and woman, since from its inception in 1865 The Salvation Army has ordained women in their own right, and requires both partners in a married couple to be ministers). My parents-in-law have served in The Salvation Army together for more than fifty years, including four living in Mexico City in charge of all The Salvation Army’s operations throughout Central America. Both are inspirational, challenging, awesome preachers. My father-in-law gave perhaps the most memorable sermon in my experience, a few weeks ago at the Portland Tabernacle corps on Sandy Boulevard. I remember very little of the content of the message (sorry, Dad). It was exceptional because a very drunk man heckled throughout the meeting, and being The Salvation Army he was assisted to stay instead of being escorted out. My father-in-law didn’t miss a beat with any of the interruptions.
But the most interesting and thought-provoking message from the pulpit I ever heard, was by Major Jeff Martin, several years ago. Most people in the United States know the fundamental doctrines of Christian faith, as academic information if not personal belief.
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
On the third day He rose again from the dead.”
But Good Friday was the day before yesterday, not three nights ago. So, as the Portland City Council members are fond of saying, how do we count to three?
Major Martin’s answer: All Saturdays are sabbaths in Judaism, but not all sabbaths are Saturdays. Weeks with other holidays may have a second, “Special Sabbath”. Passover week when Jesus died may have been one such week, with two sabbaths. Some scholars believe the Last Supper was on Wednesday, the crucifixion Thursday, Special Sabbath for Passover on Friday, regular Sabbath Saturday, resurrection early Sunday. Others start the sequence with the Last Supper on the Tuesday, with Easter Sunday before dawn (at sundown on Saturday, the end of the weekly sabbath). For those interested, this is the most complete web site with Biblical citations I’ve found. Some dispute all or part of the historical evidence, such as this discussion of whether the Last Supper’s bread was kosher or not. There are many web sites arguing the case for the current tradition of Good Friday being Day 1.
Bill Sizemore (yes, that Bill Sizemore) wrote up his version in 2005, copyrighting it without reference to anyone else having had the idea. Major Martin’s version was more persuasive to me, probably from experience with his consistent scholarly research, selfless pastoring, and absence of commercials or political agenda.