Credo 2026 | Sola Christus with Rev. Natalie Owens-Pike

1:29 solus Christus. You'll see both in the presentation today. This image who do we see in this image up here? who? Mary and Jesus, thank you. We see Mary and Jesus. I've begun our time together with this image, which was painted by the wonderful Laura James, who's some of her pieces we have here in our art collection at Fifth Avenue. And I am beginning us here, grounding us here, as we think about only Christ, Christ alone, to think about on this Mother's Day, those who have mothered us in the way that Mary mothered Christ, whether they're the mothers of our biology or the mothers of our chosen family or other women and figures in our lives who have been mothering forces to us, to anchor us in the fact that Christ too was mothered and in need of mothering.

2:32 Friends, as Jamie Staley said, this is our fifth and final sola lecture. This is just a little review for you of all of the solas, which I actually won't be quizzing you on, because today we are going to talk about solus Christus, how Jesus the Christ serves alone as the mediator between us and our salvation, between us and God, and how Jesus guides us, who Jesus is, guides us in our lives to a life that's modeled on the life and ministry of Christ. Love, hope, and redemption as the roots of those things. But I am, I'm not going to quiz you, but I am going to invite your thoughts and participation throughout this time together. So just as I did with our beginning art piece of Mary the Madonna and with Jesus, I'm going to invite your thinking about some art pieces throughout our presentation.

3:34 So, Christ alone mediates our salvation. What makes us right with God? What is the purpose of coming closer to God and God's design for us? We are not God, but how do we draw closer to how God sees us to be nearer to our salvation. Some of you know that I am a newer Christian. I became a Christian in my 20s, and so sometimes this language of salvation can be kind of challenging for me to think about, you know, when I think about a God who loves us, a God who formed us in love and formed us for joy and delight in the world, sometimes it's hard for me to accept the message of anything other than what Pastor Werner says from the font, you are loved and you are enough. But we say that at the time of confession to acknowledge that we as human beings participate in systems and participate in interactions where we fall short of how God sees us. We fall short of the world that God desires for us.

4:47 So when I think about salvation, I think not just about eternal life, not just about whether we're going to be in heaven in the future, but I think about our lives now. What are the torments on earth? What are the systems of our own making that divide or oppress us that we need to be liberated from? And indeed, we do need God's help and Christ's help in solving problems that are bigger than each of us as individuals. We need Jesus to be a model for us of how to form loving community that does not divide or oppress. So Christ is the interpreter here of salvation with us. We're not just interpreting from our own limited imaginations of what it means to be saved, but instead leaning on Christ to expand our human definitions and expand our human imaginations of what salvation can be and mean for us now and in our communities.

5:56 So we're thinking about salvation through the lens of Christ as apart from the works that we do, apart from the faith that we have, apart from the scripture that we're reading, that this is how we are collectively. And this icon here of all the saints was made in the 15th century around the same time as they were grappling, as our reformers were grappling within these issues within the larger Christian church that some of the solas came out of as correctives. So, sola Christus is answering this question, who will intercede for the people? Luther especially came out to say, absolution does not come from priests. Sacraments don't require priests, and absolution is not mediated by human beings, but instead by the person's faith and by the presence of Christ.

7:00 so not from priestly power but from the redeem redeeming God in Christ and this is where we get the belief of priesthood of all believers in this church when we ordain our elders when we ask our elders to join us in the priesthood of all believers and help share in serving communion that's part of this belief to say we are all sharing in serving this sacrament to each other This is not just a priestly power that this sacrament becomes holy. So where do we find this in scripture?

7:35 John 14, Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. In Acts 4, salvation is found in no one else. for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. In Colossians 1, Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together. Christ is the head of the body, the church, for in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. So Christ is the head of the body, the church. We say together as Presbyterians that Christ is the head of our church. We're not looking to a human vision only. We're looking also to this vision that we get from the love of Christ and from Christ's life and ministry in the world so this is this is sounding pretty clear you know I'm the way the truth and the life no one can get to the Father except through me this these are very clear scriptures but how does Christ alone challenge us what does this image remind us of what's happening in this image up here a concert worship How do you know?

9:16 What's happening? What do their faces look like? It looks like a praise band. We've got a little bit of a light show happening. Maybe some smoke and fog. Okay. Has anyone been to a worship service like this before? Yes? Okay, cool. Yeah, maybe. I when I first started going to Christian Church as an adult I started going to a contemporary service I was like this is awesome the music's amazing I felt so emotional I felt like this sense of welcome and this was happening when I was in my 20s living in rural Mississippi some of you know that I was public school teacher as my first career and I was coming to terms with life as an adult and living within the public school system in Mississippi which is incredibly segregated and unequal so I was going to church and seeking around me ways to feel accompanied and resourced in solving problems that were bigger than myself. So I went to church really seeking Jesus, feeling like I needed Jesus to be with me in the work that I was doing, but I couldn't do it by myself. And I really struggled with this idea of Christ alone. Does anyone know this song? In Christ alone. I've got a hand in the back. My hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. We sang this together a lot, and I was like, I want to feel it. I want to feel it. The music's amazing. The emotion is there. And I'm leaving feeling like when I'm in my classroom and I'm trying to work with my students and serve my students and thinking about all of the forces on their lives outside of the classroom, I need more than this song.

11:22 I need more than just my belief in Christ to be able to say, I need other people who know who Christ is, who know what Christ desires for the world, for my students to have equitable access to resources, for my students to have a school system that reflects their joy and potential. That that doesn't just happen through belief in Christ, that happens through other people who know who Christ is and who can act together towards that vision. So naming that even when we say in Christ alone, and we're saying there are no human mediators between the sacraments, there is no human fence between you and your salvation, there is still need to be together with other humans who can respond to this vision of Christ in the world, Christ loving us to a more unified and undivided community together.

12:18 so if you you too are having that reaction of like well is Christ alone enough it's okay we're gonna move through it together okay so one of the things that I find so amazing about thinking about Christ alone is that there's not just one vision of Christ we travel in our scriptures through Christ's life. And we come to know many versions of Christ, many facets of Christ. So I want us to, we're going to go through some of these images together, and as we explore them, I want you to think about what does each facet of Christ, each, you know, vision of Christ, teach us about our belovedness to God, teach us about what salvation is. So what do we learn about Christ, and what do we learn about salvation through each facet of Christ's life and ministry?

13:20 So, in this image we have Christ the infant. What do we see or learn about Christ in this image? What's happening in this image here? Bonding with his mother, yes. He's held. He's loved. This is such a loving gaze. You see this exchange of love between Christ and Mary. Anything else? Being taken care of. He has needs. He's small. He's being cared for. so what do we learn about a vision for salvation through this image of Christ through Christ the infant who is beloved Christ who is met in his needs even as a baby what do we learn about salvation through this image We will be loved and taken care of?

14:46 Yeah, what else, Michael? Jesus knew what it was like to be a human being. Jesus knew what weakness and need felt like. In our weakness and need, we are met. Are you going to say something, Martha?

15:10 All right. What do we see happening in this image? Christ the witness. Who do you see up here? The woman at the well. What does this image look like? Do they seem to know each other? Do they seem like strangers? Does it seem awkward or comfortable? Seems awkward. Okay. Does it seem like they're resting or they're in action? Resting, okay, they're taking rest.

15:55 Jesus is contemplating something. He's thinking. Maybe he's thinking, what do I do about this? Yeah. Yeah. He doesn't rise above her. She's above him in the image. Yes. They're looking together. What do you think they're looking at? Where is this going?

16:23 The well. Maybe they're looking together at the well. what do we learn about Jesus in this image, in this story? He doesn't always have to be in action. Yes, that maybe sometimes he's learning other people's stories and witnessing. He needs rest and water too. he approaches us. We're at the well together. We've come to the well because we have some need there. And there is Jesus waiting. yeah what is he contemplating what could he be contemplating he's really thinking this is in the midst of his ministry it's in the midst of performing healing and miracles what do you think he might be contemplating here in this story What's he going to say to her?

17:39 Have you ever been in an interaction where someone's shared some of their story with you, and you're like, I am so glad you shared that with me, and I'm not quite sure how to respond. Has that ever happened to you? Yes, and someone shares something really important with you, and you want to be sure to express your care for them.

18:01 Maybe that's what Jesus is doing here. Thank you. Okay, who do we see here? What's happening here? The money changers? What happened? Jesus is upset. Look at Jesus's body. Jesus is raising what looks like maybe a whip to hurt someone. This is not the Jesus that I connect with most, but this is a portrayal of Jesus, a facet of Jesus in our scriptures. What's happening in this story? Jesus comes into the temple. He sees the money changers. What are they doing that makes him have this body expression? they're taking money away from people they're being greedy and jesus's response to that is what emotion do you see here anger and action and not a lot of loving forgiveness in his face yeah, what do we learn about who Jesus is and about salvation in this facet of Christ?

19:24 He's protecting the temple. He's an activist. He's not just witnessing people's stories, but he's responding when he sees injustice. Certain things he won't accept. He has boundaries, people. Okay, he has boundaries. He says, this cross is a line that I have set in the sand.

20:05 Yes. All right, who's this? What is this image from? Do you recognize it? Mary Poppins. Feed the birds, tuppence a bag. You all know that song? Okay, yes. Who can describe to me who this woman is, who this character is? Who is this woman? The pigeon lady? Okay, what is she doing? Feeding the birds. Yes. Yes, so she's selling seed to people so they can feed the pigeons and so she can have a livelihood, right? And is this character respected in Mary Poppins? How do the kids feel about her?

21:03 They're a little scared. They don't know what to do with her. Thank you. What their father taught them, don't give this person money, they're not going to use it well. Maybe we've heard that story too. the writers of Mary Poppins have said that this character for them, they designed, modeled after Christ to be the stranger in our midst. For us to think about how do we greet Christ in the people that we meet. Also, maybe this is your signal to go back and watch Mary Poppins again. Maybe it's been a while. Okay, who's this?

21:50 Jesus from Godspell. Does anyone know what song is being sung at this moment? Do you, Jamie? okay glasses on okay this is christ the jester this is jesus in god's belt has anyone seen this movie yes okay so this is jesus who is um just radiating love in the world so fiercely that it comes out in this like jubilant kind of almost circusy joy they've painted their faces so people can tell that they radiate this kind of love that's so radical. It reads to people as circus, as play, as something that's totally beyond the structures of our world as it is. So what do we learn about Christ in this mode, who is ready to play, who is dancing and singing in a musical, wearing face paint, reaching out to touch his disciples.

23:00 What does this version of Christ teach us? Joy. God desires our joy. God knows how I have fun. What does this teach us about our salvation? Yes, yes, it doesn't always have to be hard work. we can find the connections that help lead us to our salvation through joy, through abundant love that flows out of us in face paint and in reaching out to each other. Okay, what's happening here? The crucifixion.

24:01 What do you see in this image? What's the energy or the tone of this image? What emotions do you feel looking at this image? English. Heartbreak. You can see on the faces of the people. the angels the love of the angels have surrounded Jesus here the people who love Jesus are looking up to him. Even the color in this image is telling us something, is bringing forth a feeling for us.

24:55 It's both this very muted soft gray and white, but then it's this really bright, bold green and pink. What do we think this image, this version of Christ, teaches us about our salvation? We see anguish, despair. We see the love of angels surrounding Christ. all the different people he died for they're looking up at him they're surrounding him Christ is with us in our pain. this image does not shy away from the reality of Christ's death, the pain of Christ's death.

25:53 You might hear me say from the confessional font, because Christ bore wounds, so too our wounds are not rejected or ignored. that this image is a reminder that to and through all the anguish in our lives that Christ is with us, that that too is salvation, to be present with Christ in moments of anguish too. What's happening here? Could be. It's ascension. What's in this image? What do you see in the image?

26:48 Angels. Is Christ there? What does Christ look like? does christ look dead or alive or alive okay does christ look wounded still looks christ looks whole maybe there's you can see some remnants of injury but Christ is alive. This triumphant vision. This is the tomb. It's empty. You can see the Roman soldiers depicted looking back at the tomb amazed. And what is Christ standing over?

27:44 Oh, his mortal coil. We see maybe a person's body. Maybe that's a depiction of death. We see some kind of maybe anti-angel demon image of this standing on top of those things, crushing them. What do we learn about our salvation through this image?

28:13 Spiritual? Yeah. Death is not the end. The tomb is open! Is that Peter sleeping in this corner here?

28:52 Could be Peter sleeping? What does that say about us? At the resurrection, we see Peter sleeping. What does that make us think of? Christ tells us stay awake right be alert to see resurrection in our midst to see new life in our midst Has anyone seen this piece of art before? Yes, it's here in New York. Yes, it's at St. John the Divine. This is a piece by Keith Haring, and this is one of the last pieces of art that he made in his life in 1990.

29:48 this piece of art, what do we see happening here in this altarpiece? Do you see any symbols or shapes or images? Angels? Here, wings? There's a baby. What else do we see?

30:20 Rain or tears. Yes. A lot of people. It's mostly people. Right? And on the top of it, we have what? A cross and a heart and this depiction of the baby. And these arms, almost like there are arms embracing the baby around here, that makes me think of our first image of the Madonna embracing Christ as a baby, as an infant. Are the people angry or are they celebrating? Or are they praying? altar pieces are designed for our contemplation they're designed to be a part of the worship service for us to see and visualize and imagine learning something about Christ and who God is through this art and I love that you've named how we see so many people in this image. And we're not sure if they're dancing or praying or praising or crying. And this image draws all of us into that crowd of people. There is no end to the people on the side or even down here. They just kind of fade into the sides. So all of us are invited into this vision, too, of imagining in our lives, when we're praying or praising or dancing or crying, when we're in anguish or in joy, that this vision of Christ is available, accessible to us.

32:20 You can visit this piece at St. John the Divine if you want to contemplate it even closer up. So we have, especially in triptych, we have this kind of division of three different stories happening here in this one piece. So what are the pieces of Christ's life and ministry that you see captured in these three phases up here in this triptych? What do you see happening? Baptism.

33:01 We're riding into Jerusalem. We have a donkey here. Jesus on the donkey. Palm Sunday. And what do we have over here? Fishermen in the boat could be so many miracles. Could be feeding the 5,000. Could be the nets are overfilled. It could be setting forth the disciples to say, go and be fishers of people. Yes.

33:35 We learn through the phases of this piece of art, through the phases of Jesus' life and ministry in Scripture, that in all of the phases of our lives, from our baptism, to our days of victory and triumph, to the days when we need to be fed, that Christ is with us in each of those aspects of our lives, in our need, and in our communities, saying we can be as Christ is to the people in this image and to the people in these stories. We can serve as Christ's hands and feet in the world. We can be as Christ's body in the world. And we can do so because Christ is with us, because Christ first taught us and showed us Christ's walking with us through all of those aspects of our lives.

34:31 So I have taken you through these images from Christ as a baby all the way through Christ's ministry and death and resurrection to imagine in our own lives there is no place that Christ is not. There is no time or need that Christ cannot be if we are able to call on Christ. that that's what we mean when we say solus Christus, that there is no need for intermediary of your attendance at church or your knowledge of scripture or having a priest up here in charge and telling you this is what this image means. I've intentionally designed this session to ask you, where do you see yourself in this image?

35:25 What do you learn about Christ from this art? Because we are set forth to teach each other about what we know of who Christ is. Not just from priestly issuing of sacraments, but that we are a priesthood of all believers, that I have something to learn about each of you of who Christ is. so know as we go forth from here today that you too are able to say to each other, hey, this is what I know of these teachings. This is what I know of who Christ is, who Christ has been to me in my life. And that is a path together of collective salvation, not just who Christ is to us individually, but when we share the story with each other. Thank you so much.