Sermon - John 2: 13-22

<p>It is again that time of year when our conversations are focusing on the <strong>Big Ten</strong>!  I know many of you have a certain, intent interest in at least one group represented in the Big Ten. So, today, I would like to begin by talking about the <strong>Big Ten</strong>. However, the <strong>Big Ten</strong> I am going to refer to were given to Israel by Moses at Mt. Sinai, just after the Israelites had left Egyptian slavery.  They are of course the Ten Commandments which are rules that were established to <strong>maintain</strong> the Israelites’ freedom <strong>from</strong> Egypt.</p> <p>Many people probably see <strong>these</strong> Big Ten as a list of do’s and don’ts.  However, when we look at today’s reading from Exodus, it is very important to note the Ten Commandments <strong>begin</strong>, <strong>not</strong> with a word about rules and do’s or don’ts, but with a word about a <strong>very gracious</strong> <strong>God</strong>.  They begin with a word about <strong>God’s</strong> identification as the One who has graciously <strong>freed</strong> Israel from bondage in Egypt.  Note, the first line of our reading from Exodus, “<strong>I am</strong> the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt…”  From the very beginning, <strong>this</strong> listing of the <strong>Big Ten</strong> begins by naming our gracious, emancipatory, liberating God:</p> <p>I am the Lord your God.</p> <p>I am the Lord of the Exodus.</p> <p>I am the God who liberated you and gave you freedom.</p> <p>I am the Lord of new promises.</p> <p>Demonstrating enormous contrast to the <strong>bondage</strong> and <strong>injustice</strong> of life under Pharaoh, <strong>these</strong> Big Ten that God gives to the people are <strong>gift</strong>.  These Big Ten are centered in God’s <strong>liberating love</strong>!  They are strategies for living in a society ordered around <strong>freedom</strong> and <strong>justice</strong> and living <strong>in right relationship</strong> <strong>to God and to each other</s