Good morning Children of God! Whenever I write that greeting I can hear your response, “Good morning Child of God!” So, I want to thank you for reminding me that I am God’s child. That is why I am living each day in strength, hope, and joy in Jesus and am trying to live by our memory verse’s command “Let everything you do be done in love.”Here is your Sunday message. It is also provided as an attachment.
April 26, 2020
Third Sunday of Easter
Confession
If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Please find time for self-reflection, asking for God’s forgiveness.)
Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and for his sake forgives us all our sin. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the forgiveness of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Prayer of the Day
O God, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
Second Reading 1 Peter 1:17-23
Gospel Luke 24:13-35
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
Noah’s ark. Joseph’s pit. Jonah’s whale. The Lord’s tomb. All of these are significant places in important Bible stories. They are places of restriction and loss of freedom. But they also represent a transition to something new; a new mission, and in some cases, a new creation. These stories remind us that with God there is always an AFTER. And the AFTER is special.
We are living in a time of restriction and loss of freedom. Our homes might be thought of as arks, pits, whale bellies, and tombs. But this is only temporary. God has an AFTER prepared for us. It will be fresh and new and important. In time, we will have the joy of discerning the AFTER which is our gift from God.
Through the great stories mentioned above, God teaches us to have hope in times of adversity. We are taught to expect an AFTER. Our positive expectations permeate our negative experiences and help us to survive them. When we are experiencing difficulty and despair we can look forward to our deliverance. When we experience heart-ache we anticipate healing. Even death comes with the expectation of a resurrection, thanks to Jesus. In our time of enduring the Covid-19 pandemic we are not without hope because God always brings forth an AFTER.
Easter is the season of AFTER. It comes after the Lord’s suffering, death, and entombment. In the AFTER of the first Easter God raised Jesus from the dead and established a new creation which is beyond the grasp of death. In it there is no more crying and no more dying. God has built a creation that will stand eternally and the Father wants the world to know that it is for everyone. It was given to the risen Christ to appear to many of his followers in order that the truth of God’s AFTER might be made fully known. The truth is:
Jesus is Alive
Jesus appeared to some of his followers on the day of his resurrection and revealed himself as being alive. Luke Ch. 24 tells of one such appearance to Cleopas and an unnamed disciple as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Jesus was persuaded to stay with these two disciples when they reached home. “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” Luke 24:30-31. How on earth did Cleopas and the other disciple process this experience? First and foremost, they knew that Jesus was alive. That meant that there was an AFTER to his crucifixion and death. Death is not the end.
Jesus is God’s Son
Acts Chapter two shows how the early church progressed in its understanding of the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus. For Saint Peter it meant that one should “know with certainty that God has made [Jesus] both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36 And Saint Paul wrote that Jesus was “declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:4 As Lord, Messiah, and Son of God, Jesus has authority over everything except the Father. He has authority over our sin … it is forgiven. He has authority over death … it is vanquished. He has authority over evil … it shall not prevail. He has authority over the present … there shall be an AFTER. He is the reason we have hope in turbulent times.
Jesus Reveals the Father
Jesus said, “Whoever sees me sees the Father.” John 14:9 Jesus has revealed the Father to be a God of love and salvation. He has shown the Father to be trustworthy. “Through [Jesus] you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.” 1 Peter 1:21 Faith and hope in God will see you through any crisis. You are experiencing that reality daily.
The Easter season reminds us that AFTER the Lord’s death and burial there is resurrection, revelation and rejuvenation. It is a time of growth in faith and appreciation of the greatness of God. Word of the AFTER spreads and penetrates human hearts and opens eyes of faith to a new way of being. Hope is given that the pain of the past will be the foundation of happiness in the future. The AFTER of Easter has been and remains special. It is a gift from God.
Noah and the reboot of the old creation. Joseph being put in the right place at the right time to conquer a severe famine. Jonah and the opportunity to bring people to God. Jesus and the new creation. God’s blessings flow AFTER the time of restriction and loss of freedom.
Noah’s ark, Joseph’s pit, Jonah’s whale, and the Lord’s tomb were not the most desirable of places. But God used those places and the experiences that they represent for good. The “good” always has to do with the extension of God’s grace to a vulnerable and suffering world. The “good” is always revealed in the AFTER.
We are going to make it through our time of restriction and loss of freedom. We will emerge from the ark – pit – whale – tomb – house that holds us and appreciate the grace of God and our salvation. Together we will learn what amazing things God desires to accomplish through us. We will discern God’s good plan for us in the AFTER. And we will carry on. Amen.
The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done (Koln; tr. Francis Pott)
Alleluia, Alleluia, alleluia!
The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the victor’s triumph won!
Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst;
Jesus their legions has dispersed.
Let shouts of holy joy out-burst. Alleluia!
The three sad days have quickly sped,
Christ rises glorious from the dead.
All glory to our risen head! Alleluia!
Christ closed the yawning gates of hell;
The bars from heavens high portals fell.
Let hymns of praise his triumph tell. Alleluia!
Lord, by the stripes which wounded you,
From death’s sting free your servants too,
That we may live and sing to you. Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Bill
thanks Ryan. great job!