SFD Training Center - Bible Study - Fourth Sunday of Easter - 04/21/24 - Sermon - “Being A Shepherd!”

      Sunday 04/21/24 – Bible Study (SFD–Training Center)

Sermon Title: “Being A Shepherd!”                                                           

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 23                                       

New Testament Scripture: 1 John 3:16-24

Gospel Lesson: John 10:11-18

          He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Happy Fourth 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 three weeks now, and he has and had continued to appear to his disciples and others.

          The last couple of weeks I have been preaching about how even though the original handpicked disciples of Jesus Christ were with Jesus for three years, they still didn’t get it. They saw and witnessed Jesus heal people, raise people from the dead, and perform all sorts of other miracles. They say and witnessed everything Jesus taught, said, and did. Yet on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, all the disciples, except the beloved disciple, John abandoned Jesus. Peter denied Jesus three times, and outside of the women that followed Jesus, including his mother Mary, and the Apostle John, everyone scattered out of fear.

          Our two-thousand-year Christian faith grew in its first three-hundred years under the heaviest of persecution. Christians were jailed, marginalized, oppressed, killed in the Roman Coliseum, thrown to lions, crucified, burned alive, and etc. Yet these early Christians for the first three-hundred years of our Christian faith never stopped preaching that Jesus Christ is Lord. They believed that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, was God in the flesh, that he lived a sinless life, that he performed miracles, that he transformed lived, and that he died for the sins of the world on a Roman cross. They also believe that this same savior physically rose from the dead three days later, after which he appeared to his disciples, Mary Magdalene, and hundreds of others. They also believed that this same savior ascended to heaven, is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, until he returns in glory to judge the living and dead.

          Even though Jesus’ first twelve disciples lost heart, and even though being with him and seeing and hearing everything he did for his three years of public ministry on this earth wasn’t enough to keep them from hiding and doubting, Jesus stilled pursued them. Jesus still pursues us. Some in the Sidney Fire Department have joked having said the phrase “Jesus Saves” to me. The reality is, is that Jesus does save, and has saved billions of people over the last two-thousand years. This saving though isn’t just the moment where we repent of our sins, it’s our continued life in Christ. It’s a daily surrender to Christ, it is lived out in community, and guess what it changes us, it changes our family, it changes our communities, and it changes the world. The gospel of Jesus Christ continues to transform lives, restore hearts, and the Christian Church for it’s first three-hundred operated under complete persecution. In many places the Christian faith was illegal, and yet it thrived, because the transforming power of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit changed lives. The Christian faith is also illegal in places in the world today.

          In the past few weeks of our “Bible Studies” I talked first about the story of “Doubting Thomas”. The Apostle Thomas would not believe the Jesus rose from the dead, until the physically risen Christ stood in front of him, and allowed Thomas to touch the nail holes in his hands, and to touch the spear wound in his side. Thomas of course at the sight of the physically resurrected Jesus feel at Jesus’ feet and worshiped him.

          Last week in our “Bible Study,” Jesus physically appeared to his disciples, who were still scared, and he said, “Peace be with you”. I talked last week about the tradition in many Christian churches of passing or sharing the peace of Jesus Christ with each other. We do this to love each other, to be a strong Christian community, but hopefully we also mean it literally. Hopefully, we want people to have the peace of Jesus Christ that passes all understanding. Jesus appeared to his disciples last week, and said, “Peace be with you,” because he wanted them to put their full trust and faith in him. When we believe fully, we have courage, fire, and strength to go forward, we are changed, and it can change the world around us.

          One of the concerns that I have as a young pastor is that I think that some Christians and some churches do not have  the full peace of Christ. We come from a faith where people risked their lives to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the world. In the Methodist tradition, before we had cars, our preachers were on horseback. These preachers or “Circuit Riders” risked life and limb to bring people the hope of Jesus Christ. At about 1840-1850, half of all Methodist Circuit Riders died before the age of thirty. Some died from disease, exposure, attack, etc. They would ride with reckless abandon into the areas no one would go to. They would sleep in a farmer’s barn, eat whatever they were given to each, and sometimes would literally oversee the physical construction of a church. Friends this is why there are so many Methodist Churches. Sidney United Methodist Church was started when circuit rider rode his horse into Sidney in the 1830’s.

          If we really believe in Jesus, his gospel, the transformation that only he brings through the power of the Holy Spirt, then what would we do to promote, to teach, and to spread this good news that we have believed for two-thousand years? One of the ways that pastors, priests, and church leaders can aide with all of this is to be a shepherd. What I mean by this, is being among the people, caring for them, serving them, and loving them. This is what a Shepherd does. When the current head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis was elected Pope in 2013, as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rome, or the Pope, he quickly challenged all Roman Catholic clergy. Pope Francis challenged them, saying of his clergy that “The shepherd must have the fragrance of the sheep”. What Pope Francis was challenging his clergy to do with this challenge was this, be among your people. If you are a pastor, like me, then you are in “Pastoral Ministry.” Why is called “Pastoral Ministry?” The answer is, is because where do sheep graze or eat grass? Often the sheep are out in the pasture, eating the grass to live. The shepherd is there to love the sheep, protect the sheep, coral the sheep, and sometimes even correct the sheep. So, if the shepherd has no fragrance of smell of sheep on him or her, then what kind of shepherd is that? We are also called to keep the wolves out of the flock.

          As Christians, Christians leaders, chaplains, pastors, priests, etc., a big part of what we are supposed to do is to be among the people. Be in the community, spend time with the people, join organizations, get involved, because shepherds are among the sheep, are among the flock. There is a huge difference between being a Sunday morning preacher and a shepherd. Since we are all called to live and love like Jesus, then we all called to be shepherds in our own right, knowing that the great and high shepherd is Jesus Christ. If you have ever seen a painting or a portrait of Jesus with sheep, or holding sheep, this is exactly what I am talking about. Is it true sometimes that there have been corrupt or harmful shepherds? Absolutely! People and flocks must be led by men and women that teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, the authority of God’s word, and by men and women that love and care for the people, or the flock.

          As we also know from the scripture, as well, sometimes wolves come in. These wolves can kill the sheep, and sometimes people you may know have had their chickens and or other animals killed. Shepherds that are seeking to follow and live like Jesus Christ are not serving for money, or an easy “job,” they are there to be among the people. They are there to love and serve all people, for this is why Jesus came.

          In one of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, he appeared to the Apostle Peter and the other disciples. In part of this gospel narrative, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Why did Jesus do this? Jesus did this because Peter denied knowing Jesus, loving Jesus, or following Jesus on the day of Jesus Crucifixion on Good Friday three times. Each time Jesus asked Peter if he loved him in this post-resurrection appearance, Peter said he did. In response Jesus said, “then feed my sheep”. One time Jesus said, “then feed my lambs”. If we are all shepherds in our own right, we have a duty to stand for the truth, to teach the truth, and to live like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I don’t know well I have done this in Sidney and the Sidney area, but I strive to be a shepherd. I strive to be a person that is “nameless to history, and faithful for eternity.” I strive to serve and love all, so that some might be saved, and transformed, thus transforming their families, their communities, and the world. This is what shepherds do, as we are all called to be shepherds of Christ in different ways. Instead of incessantly arguing over social issues, and trying to make the church of Jesus Christ into everything we want it to be, let us instead love all, serve all, tell people about the one who died for sins and rose again! When do this, our faith will grow, lives will be changed, and the church will grow like wild fire. Being in the Sidney Fire Department right now though, they know a thing or two about wild fire!

          When I looked our Psalm 23 reading for this morning on www.biblegateway.com, that I often use to copy the Sunday scriptures for my Sunday sermons, I noticed that the description for this Psalm, was not just “A Psalm of David.” In addition, the description for Psalm 23, which is the header that explains parts of the scripture, says “The Divine Shepherd.” When looking at our reading from Psalm 23 for this morning, once again, as many of us have likely heard countless times, it says:

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;  ³ he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long (Psalm 23, NRSV).

 

          Throughout our lives and eternally God is with us, though Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, if we put our faith and trust in Jesus. For people that don’t know Jesus, who have never even heard his name, how will they know? Are willing to be among them. Are we willing to be shepherds. While there are many great things in the world today, we have very serious struggles and problems in our communities and in the world. How will people know about Jesus if we don’t tell them? How will the community grow, change, and improve if we don’t shepherd the people?

          In looking at our 1 John 3:16-24 reading for this morning, we hear, starting in 1 John 3:16, once again:

¹⁶ We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? ¹⁸ Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. ¹⁹ And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him ²⁰ whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything (1 John 3:16-20, NRSV).

 

          Our scripture reading from 1 John 3:16-20 reminds us once again this morning that Jesus in perfect love died for us, and we need to love each other sacrificially. We are to love, to care for, and to serve each other, because this my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is what shepherds do. We are all shepherds in our own right, and if we know Christ than we carry with us the truth of the gospel.

          Further, as our reading from 1 John 3:16-24 concludes in 1 John 3:21-24, we are reminded of being bold in our faith.

²¹ Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, ²² and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴ All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us (1 John 3:21-24, NRSV).

 

          Live the gospel of Jesus Christ, worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. In our own ways may we be shepherds for Christ. If not us then who, and if not now than when? Live and love like Jesus. If we don’t, where will our country and the world be in 10-years? I believe that the hope of the world in Jesus, and the only hope of the world is Jesus Christ.

          In looking again at our gospel of John 10:11-18 reading for this morning, we have one of Jesus’ “I Am” statements. Statements where Jesus is stating that he is God in the flesh. As God told Moses “I Am who I am” in the burning bush, when, Moses asked God his name, we have seven “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John. Jesus said, he is “the way, the truth, and the life,” he said, “I am the vine,” “I am the gate,” etc. Today in our lectionary reading however, as we have been discussing here today, Jesus talks about being a shepherd. Jesus is the ultimate shepherd, and the shepherd over all humanity, the world, and the universe.

          Let’s hear what our gospel of John 10:11-18 reading has to be say for us today. This reading, once again, begins with Jesus making an “I Am” statement. Starting in John 10:11 Jesus says, once again:

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father”            (John 10:11-18, NRSV).

Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is the good shepherd. He leads us, we can trust in him, and through him we can share him with the world. We can all be shepherds in various ways. The question though is how serious are we about Jesus? How serious are we about serving people, guiding them, loving them, and helping them? Our answers to these questions and how we live and love like Christ will can change us, can transform lives, can transform communities, and can transform the world. In this my final sermon that I am giving in Sidney my dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called in various ways to be shepherds. The world needs Jesus, I need Jesus, and so do you. So go tell them, live like Jesus, and love like Jesus. Amen.

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.