In May of 1953, two men became the first in history to summit Mount Everest: Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper and explorer, and a man named Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide from Nepal. Hillary’s name remains famous for this inspiring achievement, but how many of us remember Tenzing Norgay?
We should, though, because on the descent from the 29,000 foot summit, Hillary slipped and began sliding down the very steep, icy side of the mountain. He would have fallen to his certain death, except that Tenzing instinctively dug in his ice ax and braced himself for the sudden, heavy pull of the rope linking them together, thus saving Hillary’s life--but at the risk of his own, if his anchor hadn’t held.
Back at base camp, reporters made a great deal over what they called Tenzing’s heroism in that incident. But through it all he remained entirely unfazed and responded only matter-of-factly, “Mountain climbers always help each other.” He honestly couldn’t see why that should be considered extraordinary. It would have been exceptonal only if he hadn’t tried to save his friend.
“Mountain climbers always help each other.” It’s a matter of life and death in that context. But that truth also applies equally to the rest of us as well--or it should. As human beings we've been created to benefit from a network of mutually supportive relationships that both nurture and strengthen us, God’s good gifts to us in the form of family, friends and communities. They are just as life-saving, emotionally and spiritually. In fact, the Church is the supreme example of that vital reality. As the Apostle Paul taught, just as all the parts of the human body--our eyes, ears, hands, and even its “weaker” and “less honorable” members--rely on one another and work together, so is that also true of the Body of Christ. We need each other in order to become whole and to live in the fullness of God’s blessing.
The Old Testament has its own demonstration of this truth, found in a story from the Book of Exodus (read 17:8-13). As long as Moses held up the staff of God, Israel was strong and prevailed in battle. But whenever he tired and lowered it, the enemy began to win. Seeing this, Aaron and Hur moved a stone for Moses to sit on and then held his arms up, one on either side, so that the staff remained lifted up--and as it was held high, Israel overcame their enemy. We have this very simple, memorable illustration of our need for each other’s help, and the crucial difference it makes for the sake of our salvation.
It’s also noteworthy that in the very next passage in Exodus we’re told the story of Moses’s father-in-law Jethro visiting Israel at Mount Sinai and observing that Moses was overwhelmed by trying to govern the people single-handedly. Jethro could see that he needed to delegate responsibility and appoint other “capable men” to help him. He couldn’t do it alone. Moses did as Jethro suggested, and it solved the problem: both Moses and Israel were far better off for it. The point was made once again that we need each other, and that’s as it should be.
Jesus himself honored this truth by forming a band of apostles who had one another for support and encouragement. He even sent the Twelve out two by two, not singly, when he commissioned them to go out on their own to preach and to heal the sick (Mark 6:7-13). He never intended there to be any solitary disciples because he knew very well that we need one another to become our best selves.
Jesus also knew that there’s strength in numbers. There’s an important principle in nature called “synergy.” Synergy is the interaction of forces to produce a result greater than the sum of their separate parts. In just one example of this principle, it’s an amazing fact that a draft horse working alone is only capable of pulling about two tons, but two horses harnessed and pulling together can move over twenty tons! It’s a case of two plus two equals twenty. That’s the miracle of synergy, when the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
The principle of synergy also applies in the spiritual realm. One person serving the Lord is only able to do so much with their gifts and graces. But working together with other believers, the result can be multiplied many times over. God created the Church with that reality in mind.
Did you know that there are over sixty verses in the New Testament using the phrase “one another,” admonishing us to live this out: to serve each other, to honor others over ourselves, to pray for one another, to encourage, to forgive, to bear one another's burdens, and in many other ways to help each other. God clearly wants us to live out this shared life together for the sake of establishing the Kingdom, and for our own blessing.
Many of us are familiar with the Greek word “koinonia,” which is commonly interpreted as “fellowship.” But koinonia is about much more than just socializing or church potluck dinners. In three out of four occurrences in the New Testament, the word ‘koinonia’ conveys the idea of the kind of close camaraderie that is created through shared commitment and sacrifice. In secular terms, we sometimes call it esprit de corps, or team spirit. Military units or sports teams will ideally build this special bond as the result of working and sacrificing together towards a common effort. In the church it becomes close Christian fellowship formed through our dedication to God by living faithfully in His will.
We don’t emphasize this truth enough, but authentic love is sacrificial. Mother Teresa put it this way: “Love demands sacrifice. A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt and must empty ourselves. But if we love until it hurts, God will give us His peace and joy.” Christ-like love costs us something of ourselves, but God honors that sacrifice with his blessing.
Jesus demonstrated this truth more powerfully than anyone, of course, by willingly sacrificing his life for us, for the sake of love. His first disciples experienced that first-hand and they lived it out passionately, even to the point of their own deaths, in many cases. Love demands sacrifice.
It’s a profound truth that we find ourselves, our truest and best selves, only by who we are for God and for others. Jackie Robinson lived by the conviction that “the significance of a life is in its impact on the lives of others.” (Repeat.) And yes, it will always cost us something; it will require personal sacrifice, just as it did for Jackie Robinson in facing virulent racism for the ten years of his major league career. But his Christian faith strengthened him to remain committed in spite of the suffering he experienced, and the world is a better, more just and humane place because of it.
Show me a lone ranger Christian--someone who doesn’t recognize the blessing of the Church as the interdependent Body of Christ, or the power of committed fellowship, or the miracle of synergy--and I’ll show you an unfruitful Christian. Because the Church of Christ is about our coming together to love, inspire and enlighten one another for the cause of the Kingdom of God. In the words of the Book of Hebrews, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
We’re given this powerful image of Aaron and Hur standing on either side of Moses holding up his staff and enabling Israel to prevail in battle. It’s a very simple, memorable illustration of our need for one another’s help. Let’s take it to heart, and let’s look for ways in which we can be there for one another, to give of ourselves, and to love and to bless each other, for the glory of God and the coming of His Kingdom.
Amen.
