OCA Bible Study - Third Sunday of Easter - 04/14/24 - Sermon - “Peace Be With You!”

                          Sunday 04/14/24 – Bible Study (OCA)

Sermon Title: “Peace Be With You!”                                                        

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 4                                     

New Testament Scripture: 1 John 3:1-7

Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:36b-48

 

          He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Happy Third Sunday of Easter, as we will once again be in this season of Easter until Pentecost Sunday, on Sunday May 19th! On this day, Jesus has been risen from the dead for about two weeks now, and he has and had continued to appear to his disciples and others. Today in the gospel of Luke lectionary reading from Luke 24:36b-48 we hear this starting with 24:36b:

³⁶ While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ ³⁷ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have’ (Lk. 24:36b-39, NRSV). 

          Jesus appears to his disciples today, and the first thing that Jesus says is “Peace be with you.” Jesus could have said all manner of things, but he tells his disciples to have peace. Of all of the things that Jesus could have told his disciples, why would he tell them to have peace? Well, at this point in the narrative of the gospels, the disciples are still not all in for the gospel and the church.

          Last Sunday when we heard the “Doubting Thomas” story in John 20:19-31, Thomas did not see the risen Christ when he first appeared to the other disciples, and as a result Thomas “doubted” if the other disciples saw the Risen Christ. A week later Jesus appeared to Thomas, and Thomas believed. Even though Thomas wasn’t there in our John 20:19-31 from last Sunday in the beginning, he then believed when Jesus came back about week later, which would be about the time of this Sunday. Thomas believed and had hope, faith, and trust in Jesus Christ.

          What we also heard last Sunday was the disciples were hiding out of fear. For the disciple’s faith was not strong enough yet, to boldly go out at preach and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. For in doing so, the disciples could be persecuted, arrested, tortured, and even killed. To put it another way, the disciples clearly did not have peace, and were afraid. Not until the day of Pentecost, which will be on Sunday May 19^th this year, did Jesus’ disciples truly “get it”. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples of Jesus Christ, where filled with the Holy Spirit, and went out fearlessly preaching and living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

          Until the day of Pentecost however, it seemed evident that Jesus’ 11 disciples, and Matthias, that would be added to replace Judas Iscariot, did not have the courage and the faith to go forth preaching and living the gospel. In part, they were afraid of the consequences of their faith and preaching. Among many emotions that the disciples had at this point, it was clear that they did not fully have peace. When we don’t have peace, we are not fully connected to God. Due to this, in our post-resurrection appearance of Christ this morning, he immediately tells his disciples “Peace Be With You!” Over the centuries of the Christian Church, some churches as part of worship or in other places have added the tradition and practice of “Passing the Peace of Christ” to each other. Why? Is it just to copy what Jesus did in the gospels? In part, yes, but beyond this, it is a reminder to have trust and peace in Jesus Christ.

          In the same way that the first disciples didn’t fully trust and have peace in Christ until the day of Pentecost, when pass the peace of Christ in church, for example, we are telling each other, and ourselves to have trust and peace in Jesus Christ. Jesus appeared this day to his original eleven disciples, minus Judas Iscariot, and soon to be Matthias, knowing that did not have full peace and trust in Christ. In many churches we passed the “Peace of Christ,” in part because Jesus passed to peace, but remind us to seek to have peace and trust in Jesus. When we have peace and trust in Christ, everything is better, and our lives seem more manageable. This morning, Jesus is telling his disciples, to trust him, and to have faith in him. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus might say, but instead trust him. Trust him with you lives, your soul, your possessions, your wealth, and everything you are. For he is Lord of all, and the savior of the world. He is mighty to save, and through him we can have “the peace that passes all understanding”. This morning Jesus is telling his disciples to have the peace that only he can give, even though they will not fully have this peace to the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit will move as of tongues of fire. The disciples will speak in tongues, and on that day will have peace and trust in Jesus Christ. What will take for us to have peace and trust in Jesus Christ? Further, what is preventing us this day from having peace and trust in Jesus Christ? I mean the disciples were with Jesus for his entire three ministry, and they saw and witnessed everything he said and did. How could they then still have doubts, if there were there to see it all?

          I guess for me, this humbles me, as some still have doubts and struggles today, even though none of us where with Jesus in the flesh during his three-year public ministry on earth. What is robbing us this day of our “Peace with Christ?” What is preventing us from fully trusting Christ? Is it issue with our jobs? Is it relationship issues? Is it issues with finances or our health? What is it the prevents us from having “The Peace of Christ?” I think that our answers to this can be varied, and sometimes can change with a new day. Yet, Jesus came this morning in our gospel of Luke 24:36b-48 reading telling us to have his peace be with us. Peace is an amazing thing. Peace is that Sunday you are watching when all your stress is gone, and the world seems in perfect harmony. Peace is the moment where everything seems to make sense, and God seems every present.

          It is hard therefore, to have “The Peace of Christ” every moment of every day, but this is why Jesus came to his disciples this morning, two weeks after Easter, and said to them “Peace Be With You”. This is also why many churches, whether in worship or in other places “pass the peace” with each other. In our service today, we took time to “Pass the Peace of Christ” with each other, prompting us to have more trust and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. In our Old Testament or Hebrew Bible reading for this morning from Psalm 4, it ends with 4:8 saying, once again:

⁸ I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety (Ps. 4:8, NRSV).

 

          How many of us have gone to bed some night with no peace?  How many of us have lost some or all sleep, due to a lack of peace? How many of us have lost our peace sometimes in our daily lives? Why did Jesus tell his disciples “Peace Be With You” this morning? Why do some churches “Pass the Peace of Christ” with each other in worship, or in other times? It is because we hope to always, in all things, have “The peace that passes all understanding.” Unfortunately, though, sometimes we allow things to rob us of our peace in Christ. So, in some worship services like this one we “Pass the Peace of Christ” with each other to remind ourselves to trust Christ, and to seek the peace of Christ with each other.

          In our reading for today from 1 John 3:1-7, we are reminded starting 1 John 3:1, this:

3 ¹ See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are (1 Jn. 3:1, NRSV).

          God’s children know the love of God, and we should strive to have the peace of God through Jesus Christ. Picking up in 1 John 3:5, it says, once again of Jesus:

⁵ You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ⁶ No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous          (I Jn. 3:5-7, NRSV).

          In Jesus Christ our Lord is the forgiveness of sin, is righteousness, is hope, and yes is peace. What robs us of our peace in Christ? How can be more connected to Christ, so that we might have more peace in and through Jesus Christ?

          In looking at our gospel of Luke 24:36b-48 lectionary reading for this morning, Jesus appears to his disciples, post-resurrection, telling them to have peace. They clearly as of this point in the gospel narrative don’t have full trust and peace in him. Do we have full trust and peace in Christ? If not, what is preventing us from having these things?

          In looking at our gospel of Luke 24:36b-48 reading for this morning, the gospel lesson starts once again in Luke 24:36b, saying of seeing the risen Christ:

^36b Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ ³⁷ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet       (Lk. 24:36b-40, NRSV). 

          I guess on some level it is amazing to me that the disciples need so much convincing, but are we any different? Why we are robbed of our peace of Christ sometimes? Why do we stress or lose sleep sometimes? What is preventing us from fully trusting in Jesus Christ our Lord. Maybe this is in part one of the reasons that some churches in worship or in other places “Pass the Peace of Christ” with each other to remind ourselves to trust Christ, and to seek the peace of Christ with each other. We need to continually seek the peace, the hope, and the trust that we find only in Jesus Christ. This world and devil will constantly want to rob us from the peace of Christ, but we must continually turn to Jesus, and seek his peace, his love, and his hope.

          Jesus also wants to care for people’s bodily needs as well. Our gospel of Luke 24:36b-48 picks up this morning in 24:41, saying, once again:

⁴¹ While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate in their presence. ⁴⁴ Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things (Lk. 24:41-48, NRSV).

          In Luke 24:41, we hear of Jesus’ disciples, once again:

 

⁴¹ While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ (Lk. 24:41, NRSV).

          Luke 21:41, once again, tells us that Jesus’ words and presence gave the disciples joy, but yet they were still disbelieving and still wondering. This is amazing to me! I mean what else did they need to see, hear, and experience, to believe in and have peace in Christ? Once again, the disciples where with Jesus for three years, and say and experienced everything that he did and spoke. What else did they need to have faith, trust, and hope in Jesus. I mean, Jesus appeared to them this morning, and even fed them broiled fish, and this was still not enough!

          While this all seems insane to me, that the disciples where with Jesus for three years, and saw and experience all that Jesus did and said, and then saw him resurrected and still didn’t believe, what does this say about us? We never walked this earth with Jesus for three years, we never have seen Jesus physically resurrected and showing his nailed and spear wounds. We have never seen Jesus resurrected say to us “Peace Be With You!” Even so, it seems that some of us who have never physically walked with Jesus, and have never seen him resurrected, have more faith than his disciples that saw and experienced all of these things.

What the point? This point is this, we “Pass the Peace of Christ” with each other to remind ourselves to trust Christ, and to seek the peace of Christ with each other. Sometimes we lose the peace of Christ, but like Thomas doubted for a time, and like the disciples didn’t get it for a time, eventually the did. I pray that on this day and always that we may put our full trust, hope, and faith on Jesus Christ our Lord. This way the next time that we “Pass the Peace of Christ” with each other to remind ourselves to trust Christ, and to seek the peace of Christ with each other, we will have it all the more. God bless and amen.

OCA Bible Study - Second Sunday of Easter - 04/07/24 - Sermon - “We Are All A Little Like Thomas!”

Sunday 04/07/24 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “We Are All A Little Like Thomas!”                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 133                                       

New Testament Scripture: 1 John 1:1-2:2

Gospel Lesson: John 20:19-31

          He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Happy Second Sunday of Easter, as will be in this season of Easter until Pentecost Sunday on Sunday May 19th! On this day, Jesus has been risen from the dead for about a week, and he has appeared to his disciples and others. Despite the fact that for three years Jesus performed miracles, taught that he was the messiah, and transformed countless lives and communities, most of his disciples abandoned him on the day of his crucifixion. Only the beloved disciple, John, Jesus’s mother, Mary Magdalene, and perhaps some of the other women were at the cross of Christ.

          Judas Iscariot took his own life by hanging, and another account in the Book of Acts has Judas Iscariot buying land, falling face down in it, his bowels bursting out, and dying. Yet the other ten disciples, minus John and Judas Iscariot abandoned Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. Further, Peter denied Jesus publicly three times. Even so, Jesus’s disciples and many other others saw what he did, what he said, and who he was. Given this, how then could run, deny him, and just scatter?

          This is a real question, and I think a big answer to this question is fear. You see, if we stand for the truth of Jesus Christ, will we or can we pay a price for this. I think that it is true that the disciples didn’t fully understand who Christ was, until the Holy Spirit moved on the day of Pentecost, as this is the birthday of the Christian Church. The disciples knew that Jesus was not just a normal man though, so why did they scatter on Good Friday?

          Among other reasons, I think that fear was a big part of why they scattered, except for the Apostle John, and the women. They probably didn’t fully understand yet who Jesus really was, but why completely abandon Jesus? If there was no threat at all, and if Jesus wasn’t being crucified would they have scattered? I don’t think so. According to church tradition though, all the disciples except the beloved disciple, John died for their faith in Christ. Church tradition holds that the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, as Jesus told Peter that when he is older that he would be taken to place he didn’t want to go. Church tradition also holds that the other disciples died brutal deaths, and Church tradition says that the Apostle Paul was beheaded in Rome. Only the Apostle John was not killed, as he was put on the island of Patmos as a prisoner.

          So, after the day of Pentecost, the disciples of Christ are lions for the faith, and they are willing to sacrifice and will even die for their faith in Christ. Yet on the day of Christ’s crucifixion all scatter but the apostle John and the women. So, I have to believe that a big reason that so many scattered on the day of Christ’s crucifixion was fear, maybe for some confusion, and potentially some uncertainty over who Jesus was. Even so, later after the day of Pentecost, the same men would all be willing to die for their faith in Christ.

          What changed then? On the day the Pentecost, the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, and the Apostle Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times on Good Friday, turned into a champion for Christ. He preached an amazing sermon and over three-thousand people came to faith in Christ.

          What is the point of all of this? If we really know Christ, if we really love Christ, and if we really serve Christ, do we mean it? Are we willing to pay a price for this? I am, and I willing to go where Christ calls me, come what may? I fear though that there are some Christians, pastors, and priests though that have been subdued, and due to fear and other things are holding back. What if the church judges them, or what if they get in trouble for what they are preaching they might think? The disciples got to the point however, where they decided that they were going to preach Christ, live Christ, and spread the gospel no matter what.

          I’m sure that many of us have had times that we struggled to do this. In fact, this morning, in one of Christ’s post-resurrection appearances, Jesus goes to his disciples, and they see the risen Christ. The Apostle Thomas though was not present for this post-resurrection encounter. As a result, Thomas doubted that Jesus was truly risen, and he did not believe his friends. Even though Thomas saw what and who Jesus was for his three years of public ministry on earth, how could he doubt? How could any of us doubt? Further, how could Thomas go from doubting this morning, to dying for his faith in Christ. In this way we can probably say, as my sermon title says that “We Are All A Little Like Thomas!” Maybe sometime we were not bold, we held back, or we were worried about what would happen if spoke the truth of Christ, and stood on the truth on Christ.

          Beyond this, what if the body of Christ is not united fully in Christ? Or on the other hand, what if we are fully united Christ? We hear in our Psalm 133 reading this morning is Psalm 133:1 for this morning, once again:

¹ How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!                 (Ps. 133:1, NRSV).

          Even though we all have doubts sometimes, even though we all struggle, when we are united in Jesus, then the body Christ becomes a force to be reckoned with. There will always be little things that we will likely disagree on, but may be united in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. May we be united in the idea that Jesus was God in the flesh on earth, that he died for our sins, physically rose from the dead, ascended to God the father, and will one day return in glory. May we agree that Christ died to save us from ourselves, and through him and only through him can we be reconciled to our sin and brokenness. May we be so reconciled Christ that we are willing to take risks, and live our faith no matter what.
          This could mean going to a church or a denomination that universally and unapologetically stands on the authority of Jesus Christ our Lord. A Church or a denomination loves Christ, teaches Christ, and serves like Christ. Even further, this church or denomination is committed to staying centered on Christ, preaching Christ, discipling like Christ, and living like Christ. Why? This is because Jesus gave up his very life that we may live, and preaching, teaching, and living like Christ is who we are. This is how people come to Christ, are transformed by Christ, and when we are this deeply rooted in Christ, we are willing to be this committed to Christ come what may.

          If we have fallen short though, as we all have, may we be reminded on this day, as heard in our gospel of John 20:19-31 reading that “We Are All A Little Like Thomas!” The Apostle Thomas feel short, and doubted, but by the end of the gospel lesson, his doubt was extinguished. What prevented the Apostle Thomas from fully believing, and what has held us back in the past? For at times haven’t we all been “A Little Like Thomas

          In our reading from 1 John 1:1-2:2 for this morning, we hear in 1:1-4, once again:

1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ² this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— ³ we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete (1 Jn. 1:1-4, NRSV).

          Even though “We Are All A Little Like Thomas!” we here in 1 John 1:1-4 that there were those that saw and touched Christ, and they saw him, what he did, and his empty tomb. While they may have had doubts sometimes, they believed, and believe in Jesus Christ.

          The reading from 1 John continues, picking up in 1 John 1:5 saying, once again:

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; ⁷ but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1 Jn. 1:5-9, MRSV).

          We hear in out 1 John reading that in God there is light and no darkness, and the darkness will separate us from God. We also hear that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only sone cleanses us from sin. While we still sin, we can continue to turn to Christ, as become more and more sanctified in Christ through the Power of the Holy Spirit. You see “We Are All A Little Like Thomas!” so may we repent, turn to Christ, over and over, so that we can continue make Jesus the Lord of our lives.

          We then hear in closing in 1 John 2:2, once again:

² and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2, NRSV).

          The answer for us, and the answer for a hurting and a broken world is Jesus Christ. Not just Jesus the human, not just Jesus the nice guy, but Jesus Christ who was fully God and fully human. Jesus who shed his blood to reconcile to God and save our souls.

          This finally bring us to our gospel less for today from the gospel of John 20:19-31. This of course is about a week after Jesus, resurrection, and despite most of his disciples fleeing and abandoning Jesus on the day of his crucifixion, Jesus does not abandon his disciples or us. Even in death, Jesus appears to his disciples and many so that might have total faith in him as Lord and Savior.

          In looking at our gospel of John 20:19-31 reading again for today, it says picking in in 20:19, once again:

¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ ²² When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ ²⁴ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’       (Jn. 20:19-25, NRSV). 

          Jesus appears to his disciples and says “Peace be with you,” one of the reasons that many Christ “Pass the Peace of Christ” to each other in worship, and in general. The disciples are overjoyed to see Jesus, and again Jesus says “Peace be with you”. Jesus then gives the disciples some of the power of the Holy Spirit, preparing them for the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

          The disciples according to our gospel of John 20:19-31 reading for this morning, where hiding, and were afraid. Since the Apostle Thomas wasn’t present to see the resurrected Christ however, Thomas did not believe. Thomas doubted, which is where we get the term “Doubting Thomas”. In addition, beyond seeing Jesus, Thomas wanted to see and touch the nail holes in Jesus’ hands, and his spear wound in his side. Jesus offers this to this Thomas when he appears to him, but Thomas immediately falls to his knees and worshiped. Jesus then tells Thomas that he believed because he has seen him, but what about those who won’t see him in the flesh? The gospel of John reading, then ends in John 20:30-31 saying, once again:

³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹ But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name (Jn. 20:30-31, NRSV).

          As my sermon title for today is called once again, “We Are All A Little Like Thomas!” When have we doubted, and are we like the disciples today hiding inside, because of fear? I am personally to the point, where I am going to go wherever God calls me to preach the gospel, to live like Christ, and to love like Christ, for he for died you and for me.

          The Apostle Paul tells us of the gospel of Jesus Christ in Romans 1:16:

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek                     (Rom. 1:16, NRSV).

 

          While all have be guilty of being “A Little Like Thomas,” so may we live boldly for Christ! I don’t know about you brothers and sisters, but I don’t want wait in building in fear like the disciples did in our gospel of John reading for today. I want to proclaim and live the only hope that humanity has in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. As I said towards the end of my Easter Sermon last Sunday, and I say to you again, the words of the Book of Jude 1:3:

³ Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude. 1:3, NRSV).

          Our salvation is Christ, the church is Christ, this school is Christ, our hope is Christ, and the only future this world has is through Christ. Whie we all have been guilty of being “A Little Like Thomas!” let us live fully for Jesus. When we do this, the church will flourish, we will change, and the world with change around us. May we all contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Easter/Resurrection Sunday - 03/31/24 - Sermon - “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!” (“Resurrection Hope” Series: Part 7 of 7)

Sunday 03/31/24 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title: “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!”     

                                (“Resurrection Hope” Series: Part 7 of 7)                           

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24                                      

New Testament Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

Gospel Lesson: John 20:1-18

          He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Happy Easter everyone! Happy Resurrection Day everyone! On this day, on this Easter Sunday, we and all of humanity are offered “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!” through Jesus Christ. For on this day nearly two-thousand years ago, the reality of who Jesus claimed he was, and everything he did and said was cemented by him returning to life from death on that first Easter Sunday. Specifically, in our United Methodist Church “Articles of Religion,” this is what it says happened in part on Easter Sunday:

Article III — Of the Resurrection of Christ

Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day (https://www.umc.org/en/content/articles-of-religion).

          Now Jesus has not ascended to heaven on this day, but He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Due to this, Christians have celebrated this day, Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday for almost two-thousand years. On this day, the common day of worship for many Christians, Sunday, Jesus is risen! This is why, once again, so many Christians’ worships on Sundays.

          Beyond just the historical reality of Jesus’s resurrection and empty tomb though, does this day have any other significance for this day or our lives today? I would argue that on this, all of humanity can no know for sure that we can be forgiven, that we can be restored, and that we are all offered “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!” Other than just an event, other than just a miracle, today is what makes Jesus’ death on Good Friday matter, and what makes our faith powerful and transformative. Today is about life, light, and love. Today Jesus overcame, and as a result, we can claim “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!”

          Having new life and having a new sense of hope is powerful. Maybe some of us can relate to this. As I said, maybe some of us have had times in our lives where we thought everything was lost, that there was no hope, and that there was no way forward. If you or someone you know has ever felt this way, then you are not alone, as many people have felt this way, or still do. Jesus’s friends and disciples no doubt felt this way, until the morning of Jesus’ resurrection. They were not sure what would happen on this day, but imagine what it is like to have your crushed dreams, and your hopeless situations restored in an instant?

          We are reminded of this in our Psalm 118 reading for this morning, as we hear in Psalm 118:1-2 once again:

¹ O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! ² Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever” (Ps. 118:1-2, NRSV).

 

          The love of Christ is as resurrected love, and eternal love, and an endless love.

 

          Sometimes though if someone is overcome with grief, or is really struggling it can be hard for them to claim “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!”. I would submit and I will claim that on this day, Easter Sunday 2024, March 31, 2024, to be exact, that power of the Jesus’ resurrection can still transform us, and can still transform the world! The power of Easter, the power of resurrection is us embodying this truth in our hearts and our souls. The fullness of Easter, is us living and loving all people like Jesus, yet inviting as Jesus said, to go and sin no more.

          This is the belief that through the resurrection power of Christ that things can be better, and that God can use us to make things better. When we give up on the power of the resurrection, we give up on hope itself. I don’t know about you, but I have hope, I want hope, and I want to believe in the good things that God can do.

Today, this Easter or Resurrection Sunday, reminds us then that hope wins, that our love for Christ wins, that joy wins, that kindness wins, that Biblical justice wins, and that mercy wins. Beyond just a historical event and toy set that Pastor Paul owns then, today we are offered “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!”. Do we claim this Hope and New Life? Or is it just another Easter Sermon, before an Easter Egg hunt and an Easter dinner?

belief in Jesus’ resurrection is transformative. As Christians we believe that the highest ideal that we can have in this world is to live and love like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For if he was the greatest person to cross the horizon of this world, and if we can be more like him, what a world we would have indeed. Make no mistake, all Christians are call to unconditionally love, uphold, and to respect the full dignity of all people, while following Christ the best we can.

          After Jesus ascended into heaven, we have the story of the early Christian Church in the Book of Acts, or also called the “Acts of the Apostles”. We have a reading from this morning from Acts 10:34-43. Once again in this reading it begins in 10:30 with the Apostle Peter saying:

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him (Act 10:34-38, NRSV).

 

          The Apostle Peter is saying that we live like and for Jesus. The highest goal of the Christian life, as I said, is to fully live like and love like Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. You see the future of the church, any church, our church is not rooted on whether or not we all like Coke or Pepsi, on whether we like Ford or GMC, on whether we like the New York Yankees or the New York Mets, instead the future the church is us being focused on Jesus. When the church is focused on Jesus, it has a bright future indeed!

          The Apostle Peter then continues on in our Acts 10:34-43 reading, once again, and says this is not just mythology or midrash to us. Peter said that he, the other disciples and many other met and knew Jesus. They became convinced of who Jesus was not only by hearing, but also be seeing and experiencing. Church tradition holds that all but the Apostle John died brutal deaths for their faith and beliefs in Jesus, and only someone who was convinced that Jesus was Lord and Savior would be willing to go to this length to retain their faith.

          The Apostle Peter then explains, as I said, that he and many other witnessed Jesus’s life on earth, and all he did. Peter says that they put him to death, but that three days later, on this day, God raised him to new life. Further, Peter said that after Jesus’ resurrection that many saw and interacted with him. Peter said, we have been offered forgiveness, new life, and hope through Jesus. Easter Sunday for Christian then, is about much more than bunnies and jelly beans.

          In looking at our gospel of John reading, we have one of the narratives of Jesus’ resurrection. It is true to say that gospels present the resurrection story a little differently, as far as who arrived at the empty tomb first, and the events, their in. Yet all the gospels affirm an empty tomb. Since Mary Magdalene is often considered the first of Jesus’ followers to be at the empty, she is the first person to attest to and affirm the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sure, the men seemed to take all the credit, but Mary Magdalene was the first. Mary Magdalene is considered the first witness and preacher of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

          In revisiting our gospel of John account of the resurrection for this morning it says once again, starting in John 20:1:

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead (Jn. 20:1-9, NRSV).

           When hear in our gospel of John reading about how Jesus’ linen wrappings and the cloth on Jesus’ head being in rolled up in a place by itself. In past Easter Sunday sermons, I have talked about this face or head covering being separate and rolled up, as a sign that the master, Jesus Christ, would return one day.

The rest of our gospel of John lesson of course then continues with Simon Peter and James returning to tell everyone that Jesus’ tomb is empty, and they did not know fully yet why the tomb was empty. Mary Magdalene stays behind though, and was weeping over the whole thing. Mary sees two angels, and then Jesus, but at first mistakes him for the gardener. After seeing Jesus, she triumphantly heads home to declare to the world that she has indeed seen the resurrected Christ. For Mary Magdalene is the first witness to resurrection of Jesus Christ.

All of this points to this fact my friends, that on this day, Jesus is alive, alive in us, alive in glory, and when we leave today may we offer new love, new hope, and new life to this world. This world needs you, and needs your gifts and your graces. Live like resurrection power is within you, and offer the world “The Hope of New Life Now and For Eternity!”.

Lastly, I just want to say what a profound honor and privilege it has been these last six-years to serve as your pastor, and to serve Sidney and Sidney Area. I have baptized some of you and or your family members. I have done funerals, burials, and celebrations of life for some of your friends and family. You have allowed me into spiritual places, that only a trusted pastor or priest has access to. I want you know, that you all have changed me for the better, and have made me a better pastor, a better husband, and a better man. I am profoundly grateful for each and every one of you, will miss you all, will always be praying for you.

With this said, this what I would I encourage you all to do. Stay together as the body of Christ, for your joined or came to a church, not a pastor. Look around you, these are your brothers and sisters in Christ, and I would encourage you to stay connected to each other. Stay connected, and await your next incoming pastor.

Finally, I will say this last thing to you all. Quoting the Book of Jude in the New Testament 1:3, I want to read this verse to you:

³ Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3, NRSV).

 

Friends keep Christ at the center of your life, preach his gospel of repentance, restoration, and resurrection hope. For as you have heard me say many times, we stand in a line of heroes and we stand on the shoulders of giants. We are here, and have the faith we have because of the countless generations that have gone before us. So, keep the faith and live the faith, because Sidney, the Sidney Area, and the world needs it now more than ever. With this said, He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Happy Easter everyone! Amen. 

Sidney UMC - Good Friday - 03/29/24 - Sermon - “The Boundless And Sacrificial Love Of God!”

                     Good Friday 3/29/24 - 6 PM - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “The Boundless And Sacrificial Love Of God!”          

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 22                                      

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 10:16-25

Gospel Lesson: John 18:1-19:42

          So, I remember earlier in my time in ministry when someone asked me around the time of Good Friday, how could the day that Jesus was tried, rejected, mocked, tortured, and crucified, be called “Good Friday”? I mean how could such a day of such awful events be “good?” It’s a fair question, isn’t it?      

In getting into the answer of this question, today is a day that Christians the world over have remembered and have commemorated for nearly two-thousand years. Marking this day, worshiping on this day, telling the story of this day is an important part of our Christian faith and tradition. In fact, in some Christian Churches like in Roman Catholic Churches or in Episcopal Churches, this day is literally laid out in numbers/images around the church’s sanctuary. These stations or numbered markers are the events of this day.

          Our Holy Week, began this week with Palm Sunday, Jesus entering Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna,” and palms. The week then continued, as Jesus continues loving, healing, and forgiving. On Monday of this week, Jesus cleansed the temple, flipped the tables of the money changers, released the sacrificial animals and threw out the vendors selling these animals. On Tuesday, Jesus confronted the hypocrisy of the some of the religious leaders. On Wednesday, Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus for 30-pieces of silver, the cost to buy a slave at that time. Yesterday on Maundy or Holy Thursday, Jesus had the Last Supper in the Upper Room in Jerusalem with his disciples. After likely eating the Passover Seder dinner, Jesus took bread and wine and he instituted Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. Jesus also washed the disciples’ feet, and gave us the “Maundy” or the commandment to love each other, as Jesus has loved us. Judas Iscariot then of course leaves the Last Supper to officially betray Jesus.

          After the Last Supper, Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, and prays all night long. He asks a couple of his disciples to stay awake, but they both fail to do this both times that Jesus asks them to do so. On this day, in the early morning, Judas Iscariot greets Jesus with a kiss, even though he betrayed him. Jesus is arrested, Peter will deny him three times, and the majority of Jesus’ followers scatter out of fear.

          Today’s saga will then play out as Jesus is brought before the high priest, the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, and the King of Judea, Herod Antipas. You can see how this week, Holy Week, can therefore seem similar to a stage production, as the story of this week keeps unfolding. Every year for centuries we have gone through this week and the events of this week, as it is our faith and our tradition.

On this day that we have come to call Good Friday, the religious leaders clearly wanted Jesus dead, as he was a threat to their authority and their power. The King of Judea, Herod Antipas finds no fault in Jesus, as the high priest and the Pharisees tear their robes open feeling Jesus was committing blasphemy in claiming to be God in the flesh on earth, while the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, seems to not want to deal with Jesus at all. Pontius Pilate even offers to release Jesus or the bandit Barabbas to appease the angry mob (Jn. 18:1-18:40, NRSV).

          The pressure continues to build, as the crowd shouts for the bandit Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be retained in Pontius Pilate’s custody. Barabbas is released, and then things move to a fever pitch with shouts to crucify Jesus. Many in the crowd shouted “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Jn. 19:6, NRSV). Pilate has Jesus flogged and whipped to try to appease the crowd, but this does not appease the crowd. Eventually, Pontius Pilate conceded to the mob and has Jesus crucified. Jesus carries his cross, but will end up getting help from Simon of Cyrene. By the time Jesus gets to the cross he is marred, whipped, beaten, and barely recognizable as a man. Jesus is crucified along with two other criminals. One of these criminals rejects Jesus, and once accepts him. Jesus prays for those who are harming him, condemning him, mocking him, and even spitting on him. Jesus asks his beloved disciple John, who is the only disciple of the twelve disciples at the cross, to take care of his mother Mary. Jesus had a crown of thorns placed on his head, and has been treated is ways that are cruel and demeaning. Pilate has a sign nailed to Jesus’ cross above his head in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that reads “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (Jn. 19:19, NRSV).

          In addition to all of this, at Jesus’ crucifixion some of the prophecies of the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible come to fruition, as well. These prophecies of old, like casting lots for Jesus’ clothes, or none of Jesus’ bones being broken, etc. occurred. We also hear once again in tonight’s reading from Psalm 22, in 22:1a the Psalmist says:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1a, NSRV).

          Jesus is recorded saying these words from Psalm 22:1a in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. The great saga of this day, as this great stage production that we move through every year on Holy Week continues.

In our reading from the Gospel of John 18:1-19:41, Jesus says, “It is finished” in 19:30, bows his head and gives up his spirit. Jesus has died. He then is taken off the cross, as the Sabbath Day, which is sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday was quickly approaching. Jesus was wrapped in linens and a mixture of myrrh and aloes were put on his body. Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and this is how the great saga of this week, Holy Week, continues.

          So how then, as the person asked me some years ago can this day be called “Good Friday?” One good answer is written in the gospel of Matthew 27:51, which says upon Jesus dying this:

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split (Mt. 27:51, NRSV). 

Further, this is reinforced our scripture reading for tonight from Hebrews 10:16-25, it says once again in 10:19-22:

“Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:16-25, NRSV).

 

          You see, when Jesus died, the veil or the curtain in the great temple in Jerusalem that separated the high priest from the holiest room in the temple was torn. This room could normally only be entered into by the high priest, and only once a year. In fact, a rope would be tied around the waste of the high priest. Should God find him unworthy, and he be struck down dead, the other religious leaders would just pull him out. I mean after all, if the high priest were struck down, what hope would there be for the rest of them.

          Jesus dies, and the sins of the world dies with him. Today then could simply be seen as merely a saga alone, or part of the stage production alone. We can view today merely as the events of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and death, or we can realize as my sermon title for tonight says today is a day about “The Boundless And Sacrificial Love Of God!” Death on this day has been swallowed up in victory. For on this day, the only perfect and the only sinless person, who was fully God and fully human, Jesus Christ, dies for the sins of the world. Jesus dies for us, as measure of unfathomable love, and this open door is offered to us all. The torn veil in the temple shows us that all people are invited into the forgiveness from Christ that this day offers. Today is good, because Christ our Lord dies for us. Jesus does so because on this day and always he embodies “The Boundless And Sacrificial Love Of God!”

          Today then is not just a legal transaction. Jesus did not just die this day to merely just check a box. This is to say, Jesus did not just die a brutal death to only fulfill some sort of contractual agreement. Jesus died this day, willingly. He could have gotten out it. He could had denied everything he said and taught. Jesus had a way out. Yet Jesus chose the nails, and chose the cross. On this day Jesus shows us all “The Boundless And Sacrificial Love Of God!”

          Some have argued that events of this day are just simply too brutal. Some have argued why did the events of this day happen or need to happen? Couldn’t God just forgiven us they ask? Sure, but this day was preordained before time itself. We hear in the gospel of John in chapter 1 these words regarding Jesus in 1:14-17:

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) ¹⁶ From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:14-17, NRSV).

          Today’s events were planned before time itself, and God’s plan to reconcile humanity through the life, love, light, and death of his son was God’s plan to redeem humanity before time itself.

          Only a perfect spotless lamb’s blood would save the Israelites first born on that first Passover in Egypt, and on this day the death and blood of Christ saves us all. We cannot earn it, we cannot buy it, instead it just is. God in the flesh came to this earth to teach us a radical new way of loving, healing, and forgiving, and this love was so great, it even went to death on a cross.

          Do we receive this free gift of grace and salvation offered so freely to us through Jesus Christ. Who deserves it? No one does. Who is offered it? Everyone is. All of need Jesus, and today all people, without exception are offered new hope, redemption, forgiveness, salvation, and eternity through the cross of Christ. For today is about “The Boundless And Sacrificial Love Of God!” Beyond just Jesus’s brutal death, is the new hope that is brought through the life, love, death, and soon resurrection of Jesus Christ. For today Jesus shows the world and us “The Boundless And Sacrificial Love Of God!” Happy Good Friday. Amen.