Sunday’s Message for Second Sunday of Easter
April 19, 2020
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
Second Reading 1 Peter 1:3-9
Gospel John 20:19-31
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
“Nothing someone says before the word ‘but’ really counts.” George RR Martin
I love this quote because it is so true. Here’s an example: You look beautiful today, but your hair is a mess! I also love it in the context of Acts 2:23-24 where Peter is speaking to fellow Jews saying “you crucified and killed [Jesus] … BUT God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.” To us sinners, it is encouraging to realize that what “really counts” is the resurrection of Jesus from death as opposed to our sin which was the reason he had to die. As it is written “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” 2Corinthians 5:19. What a blessing! Our sins which lead to death are not counted against us and the Lord’s resurrection which leads to life counts for us. God must really love us!
“…because God is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8
God’s love is a right-handed love. “Right-handed” in this sense means “present.” The Psalmist is saying that God’s presence is a comfort and steadies one’s spirit. It is a refuge and source of protection. (v.1) God’s presence means that we are not abandoned to the grave (v.10) but rather are shown the path of life and receive the fullness of joy. (v.11) God is at your right hand, God is present in your life, because God loves you.
On the day that Jesus rose from the dead he paid a visit to his disciples. They were locked away in a house and they were afraid for their lives. (Sound familiar?) But roofs, walls, doors and locks couldn’t keep Jesus away. He placed himself at their “right hand.” He was present to them. He revealed himself to be alive. Here was their refuge and strength and life and joy! Their former failures mattered not. Yes, they were afraid, BUT Jesus was in their midst. All that truly mattered, all that counted, was that Jesus was alive and present.
As we experience separation and isolation today, we do so with the assurance that Christ is at our right hand. This is what matters. He is present at all times and in all places. Nothing can keep him away from you. All barriers are penetrated. This notion brings me a lot of comfort as I think about the tragedy of people dying, for the most part, alone in our hospitals. Family members are precluded from being bedside, but Jesus is present. No one is abandoned and no one dies alone. Jesus reigns victorious over the grave and has made death to be a sound and temporary sleep. And not for a second is anyone separated from God’s love.
A barrier that many people contend with in times of trouble is doubt. The disciple Thomas was struggling with doubt until Jesus appeared at his right hand. The right-handed love of God dispels doubt and cultivates faith. Thomas is the prime example of this as he declared in the presence of the risen Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28 Thomas was “protected by the power of God through faith.” 1 Peter 1:5 He was rescued by the right hand of God. He was learning that Jesus did not count his doubt against him. It was clear to him that all that really counts is Jesus.
“Nothing someone says before the word ‘but’ really counts.” We are a vulnerable and broken people but we are also protected by the power of God through faith. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 Regardless of what is said about you, others, the world, or our circumstances always add “BUT God is with us and God is for us; God loves us – Jesus died for us – He is risen for us.”
In the examples above, the words after “but” are the words that count. They are words of salvation; the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Such words “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.” John 20:31 The Gospel of our crucified and risen Savior is the source of faith, strength, joy, and blessing and is especially meaningful in a time of suffering. That’s why we must not permit ourselves to be shy about sharing the Gospel with family, friends, and neighbors as God gives us opportunity.
Many people are feeling alone and scared these days. Please help them hear the words that really count. Help them hear words of assurance about our powerful God who easily reaches us and loves us. Help them hear the words about Jesus, forgiveness, and eternal life. Help them hear words that diminish fear and strengthen faith and life. Help them hear words that turn mourning into dancing.
Jesus is at everyone’s right hand. That is a wonderfully comforting thought. No “buts” about it. Amen.
The following was shared by Rodger and Ruth Ries. They received it from a neighbor and it fits well with today’s Gospel reading. The author is unknown to me.
The very first Easter was not in a crowded worship space with singing and praising. On the very first Easter the disciples were locked in their house. It was dangerous for them to come out. They were afraid. They wanted to believe the good news they heard from the women, that Jesus had risen. But it seemed too good to be true. They were living in a time of such despair and such fear. If they left their homes their lives and the lives of their loved ones might be at risk. Could a miracle really have happened? Could life really have won out over death? Could this time of terror and fear really be coming to an end?
Alone in their homes they dared to believe that hope was possible, that the long night was over and that morning had broken, that God’s love was the most powerful of all, even though it didn’t seem quite real yet. Eventually, they were able to leave their homes, when the fear and danger had subsided, they went around celebrating and spreading the good news that Jesus was risen and love was the most powerful force on earth.
This year we might get to experience a taste of what that first Easter was like, still in our homes daring to believe that hope is on the horizon. Then, after a while, when it is safe for all people, when it is the most loving choice, we will come out, gathering together, singing and shouting the good news that God brings life even out of death, that love always has the final say!
This year we might get the closest taste we have had yet to what the first Easter was like.
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Peace and blessings,
Pastor Bill