Picture the scene in John 20:19-31. All the disciples except Thomas are in a room behind locked doors at night. It was common for early Christians to meet at night. In times of persecution they were forbidden to meet during the day, so they had to meet at night. The disciples are scared. They saw their leader brutally killed, and they are afraid that they will also be killed. In more ways than one, the room and the situation are dark.

Suddenly, Jesus appears. He walks through the locked door. The first words Jesus says to the assembled disciples are, “Peace be with you.” They are terrified, first for fear of the Jews and because they thought they were seeing a ghost. But when Jesus shows them His wounds, they know this is their Lord. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come. Just as God created humanity with His breath in Genesis 2:7, He gave the Holy Spirit to His disciples by breathing on them. God is recreating humanity in Christ. The darkness of the room is dispelled by the light of Christ.

Jesus gave the disciples and us a mission, but we and they can’t begin this mission of healing and peace without the power and energy of Jesus’ risen life. Jesus breathed on these men. As God breathed His life into that first man and he became a living soul, Jesus shared the intimacy of His own life with His disciples that they may be a new humanity, recreated and empowered for their mission.

If Christianity seems to us to be having rather less than a remarkable impact on the world, it’s because too many people have the idea that we’re in a waiting game, that we are basically killing time until Jesus comes back and we all get to go to heaven. We’re sitting around like people waiting to catch a flight. That isn’t what Jesus told us to do. He didn’t say, “Now sit tight in those pews and twiddle your holy thumbs. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He said in John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, I send you.”

Part of Jesus’ mission, and hence part of the mission of the disciples and us is to deal with forgiveness. Specifically, we are to declare on what terms, to what people and to what temper of mind God will extend forgiveness. It is not the authority to forgive people. It establishes the terms and conditions on which people can be pardoned, with a promise that God will confirm all that they taught-that is, that all might have assurance of forgiveness if they comply with these terms.

In John’s Gospel, sin is a failure to see the truth-a refusal to accept the risen Christ. Jesus is sending the disciples and us into the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the risen Christ. Some people will accept their testimony and ours, and others will reject it. Their response will determine whether they will find themselves among those whose sins are forgiven or among those whose sins are retained.

One of the sins that can be forgiven is unbelief-specifically, refusing to believe that Christ rose from the dead. Thomas was guilty of this sin. He refused to believe the disciples’ statement that they saw the risen Christ. He wanted concrete proof. Many people today are like Thomas. They refuse to believe because they do not see Jesus. The testimony of fellow believers, like that of the other disciples, should be enough proof that He rose from the dead.

Jesus didn’t scold Thomas for his unbelief. Rather than belittling Thomas for His doubts, Jesus welcomed his reach and touch, which moved Thomas from unbelieving to believing. Thomas saw and believed, and Jesus affirmed his belief. But then He added, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Anyone today can have as much confidence believing without seeing as those who saw and believed. Jesus approved Thomas’ faith, but He more highly approves the faith of those who should believe without having seen the risen Saviour.

To Mary, Thomas and the disciples, sight of the risen Lord was granted. Faith doesn’t rest on sight or smell or touch, but on the word and call of the risen Lord! As the apostle John believed before he saw the risen Lord, so we believe and trust the witness of those who have seen and believed. We have seen His life revealed in the community of those on whom He has breathed and as we have heard Him speak our name and responded in trusting faith, we have been born into His family. The Spirit then confirms that we are the children of God, as blessed as those who have seen and believed.

Closely connected with the sin of unbelief is the sin of doubt. Doubt destroys faith if doubt is not resolved.  At times it serves as an excuse not to do God’s will. It can also be used as a cover to do evil. Doubt can’t remain without harming us. To cease doubting means that we must take action, to believe, to trust in the Lord, to surrender our lives to Him, to follow Him-and to confess Him as Thomas did: “My Lord and my God!”

Will we be more like the disciples during the first week after Easter, who claim to believe in the resurrection, but whose lives give no sign that it has made a difference for them? Or will we be like the kind of people whose words and actions proclaim the faith that has claimed our lives, graced us with peace, and has given us a sense of meaning and purpose?

The cause of Thomas’ defection was his own doubting and denying heart. Those who profess to be Christians and yet deliberately absent themselves from fellowship with their Christian brothers and sisters are the ones who are usually most in need of Christian fellowship. There are certain things that we can only experience when we are part of Christian fellowship. The idea that we don’t have to go to church to be a Christian is a folly. We can only know God’s blessing when we are part of His body here on earth.

Amid the scandal of the crucifixion and the empty tomb, Jesus doesn’t hide. He reveals himself, makes himself known to those who love Him. When we go through the struggles and temptations of life we are sometimes tempted to hide from our trouble. During this time, we find ourselves only wanting to be with the selfish trinity of me, myself and I. We find ourselves no longer wanting to fellowship with friends and family and becoming most distant from those whom we love. It might be beneficial during times of trial to retreat, but we must do what Jesus did. We must make ourselves visible instead of hiding like Thomas did.

One way we can make ourselves visible is to tell our own stories of joy and pain, sunshine and rain. When we share our stories, we create the opportunity to become wounded healers. If we have a story of suffering, we must share it, because there is glory to be found in our story.

What will it take for us to believe? Our eternal destiny rests on our answer. Jesus lives and because He lives we can agree with a no-longer doubting Thomas and say, “My Lord and my God.” If we do, our lives will be eternally changed for the better.

Are we doubting Thomases? Do you doubt God could ever love someone like you? Maybe you’ve been ridiculed and bullied and struggled with your self-worth? Author Philip Yancey once said, “Grace does not depend on what we have done for God, but rather what God has done for us. Ask people what they must do to get to heaven and most reply, ‘Be good.’ Jesus’ stories contradict that answer. All we must do is cry, ‘Help!’”

When we embrace God’s love, it’s easier for us to let go of the need to please people, the need for validation. We choose to please God through obedience because we love Him and He loves us, unconditionally.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1478-1479)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 275-280)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Selwyn Hughes, “Missing from the Meeting.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Stop Doubting.” Retrieved from www.forthright.net
7. Pastor David J. Risendahl, “Doubting Apostles.” Retrieved from www.StPlC.org
8. Rev. Ken Klaus, “What Will It Take?” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
9. The Rev. Billy Honor, “How to Handle a Scandal.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
10. “An Invasion.” Retrieved from dailyreadings@ransomedheart.com
11. Rev. Gregory Seltz, “How is God Present in My Life?” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
12. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for John 20:19-31.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
13. Carol Round, “Are You a Doubting Thomas?” Retrieved from noreply@assistnews.net

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Has anyone ever told you something so outrageous or so unbelievable that you thought you couldn’t believe it unless you saw it for yourselves? Have you ever seen anything that was so unbelievable that it was scary? If so, then you can understand how the disciples felt after they saw the risen Jesus in the passage from Luke 24:36-48.

The disciples did not immediately believe after seeing the resurrected Christ. They felt great joy, but the truth had not created faith in their hearts. Perhaps it still seemed too good to be true. This detail alone should quash any thought that the disciples desired so much to see Jesus alive that they made themselves believe. In fact, even when they saw, doubts arose in their hearts. They needed to see that being with Jesus was a metaphor for being with God. He signaled the coming of the Reign of God.

How many of us have been in a similar place? We might have been in a place of disappointment or hardship. Jesus was there with us, but we didn’t see him because our thoughts were on our situation. We might even wonder if the disciples needed consoling so much that their imaginations played tricks on them. Jesus helped them to see that God can bring new life after death.

Luke wants to make it clear to us that our real, physical world is so valuable that God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, our Risen Saviour. He came to heal our physical, mental, spiritual and emotional needs. He continually meets us in this world, especially as we gather around the word of God.

The apostles were the first witnesses, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, all believers are the custodians of the truth. God poured out his Holy Spirit on us at Pentecost. That Spirit is a present power in our lives. We are being healed, transformed, liberated and sent on missions because of the supernatural God living in and among us by his Spirit.

What do you think would have happened if Jesus had not made his presence known when he did? Perhaps the disciples would have gone back to whatever their lives were before Jesus called them. Jesus stood among them. He reminded them that his coming was for peace. He invited them to see for themselves that it was him in the flesh and not a ghost. He told them to stay put and wait for the power that was to come.

This passage emphasizes the reality of Jesus’ resurrected body and the need for Jesus’ death and resurrection to fulfill God’s plan for salvation. In Jewish folklore, the spirits of the dead appear to mortals only to engage in evil activities. When Jesus suddenly appeared to the small group of disciples, it was a frightening supernatural event.

Jesus spent time with his disciples, summarizing his ministry, especially the Old Testament prophecies. He prepared them to continue his work after he returned to heaven. He laid out exactly what their message after he left earth should be about. He gave them the courage to speak publicly on a street corner in Jerusalem at Pentecost, and that speech led thousands of Jews into the Christian faith in a very public baptism as written in Acts 2. The disciples had the mission and power to change the world.

Jesus and the risen Christ are the same. The only difference is that the body of the risen Christ is different from his pre-resurrection body. It is fully healed, strong and not subject to the death and decay of the flesh. Jesus presented himself to the disciples not as a disembodied spirit, but as a person in bodily form. His body was recognizable by sight and touch. His body was capable of eating food. Just like Jesus was raised from the dead, we will also be raised from the dead in bodily form according to the Scriptures. Our bodies are not useless pieces of garbage that we will leave behind when we die. They are an integral part of our identity.

Luke reminds his readers in verse 44 that Jesus came to satisfy all the prophecies made about him in the Old Testament. It has been said that Jesus was concealed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. Everything that was written about Jesus in the Bible was fulfilled. That was why Jesus taught his disciples in the Scriptures while he was with them during his life and his resurrection. They needed to understand the significance of the past. Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament, not to abolish it.

We, like the disciples, can’t understand life after resurrection, but we know that resurrection is God’s plan for us. Jesus is the model for God’s plan. The resurrected Jesus was no ghost. He explained the Scriptures to the disciples, especially the Scriptures dealing with resurrection. The disciples were physical witnesses to the resurrection, and we are witnesses to the risen Christ through the Scriptures. We are witnesses when we come to church. We are witnesses when we come to the Lord’s Table to receive communion. We are witnesses when we do a kind act for someone. We are witnesses when we invite a friend or neighbour to church. We are witnesses when we do things such as teaching a Sunday school class, sponsor a youth group, sing in the choir or serve as an usher. We are witnesses when we get up in the morning and decide to let God guide us through the day.

In verse 39, Jesus offered the disciples proof that he rose from the dead, and he wants us to have the same proof. More important, he wants to prove that he is our friend. God is on our side. Satan persuaded Adam and Eve that God was not their friend and that the fruit of the tree of knowledge was forbidden because if they ate it, they would become as wise as God. Satan convinced them that God couldn’t be trusted. The Old and New Testaments are the records of God’s attempts ever since to convince us that he is our friend and we can trust him. Jesus wants to stand with us through job uncertainty, illness, loneliness and estrangement.

The disciples heard the Lord teach innumerable times. They watched him perform miracles for at least three years. They saw him crucified and now they stood in his resurrected presence. It was only when the Lord opened their minds to understand the Scriptures that they truly comprehended. The understanding of the Scriptures-that is, understanding how all of the pieces of redemptive history fit together-is a gift of God. Spiritual understanding comes through the Spirit of the living God, or it does not come at all. God’s influence helps us understand and accept the truth of his word. Without understanding, the things of the Holy Spirit are foolish to normal human beings.

We can, and should, read the Scriptures at home, but it doesn’t replace hearing the Word of God preached and taught in church. Preaching can strike us in a way that adds new meaning to God’s Word. Understanding Scripture has a lot to do with the mindset that we bring to the pages of the Bible. We need to be open to new revelations to really understand the meaning of God’s Word for our lives. In return, God works in us to go into the world to share the gospel. When we do, future generations will be able to put their trust in Jesus and continue his work until he returns.

In verses 46 and 47, Luke makes it clear that the message of Christ must include a focus on repentance and the remission of sins. One without the other is incomplete. When we understand Scripture, we move from doubt to worshipping and great joy. We are to preach repentance and remission of sins in his name and in all nations. Jesus said that after his death and resurrection, the message his followers would carry to others would be about repentance and forgiveness. In fact, Jesus called on his disciples to preach this to all nations.

Salvation occurs when we trust Jesus as our Saviour. He forgives us, changes us and sees us as righteous. In that moment, we are redeemed, and though we continue to struggle with sin, it is a defeated foe. Then, as time goes on, our service, gifts and love for him should naturally become greater. We as modern disciples are an extension of Jesus’ ministry. We are witnesses to the same real relationship with Jesus that the disciples had. Just like Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples, he does not leave us alone. We have his power so that we can touch lives and affect eternity.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
3. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
4. Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2005)
6. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Holy Spirit-An Absolute.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Philip Yancey, “As Below, So Above.” Retrieved from noreply@rbc.org
8. Selwyn Hughes, “Changed Perspectives in Church.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
9. Kenneth L. Samuel, “Knowing as Understanding.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
10. Rev. Wayne Palmer, “Passing the Torch.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
11. Exegesis for Luke 24:36-49. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.
12. George Hermanson, “Standing Near Greatness.” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com/2009/04/standing-near-greatness-year-b-easter-3-sermon.html
13. The Rev. Dr. Steve Montgomery, “It’s Touching Time.” Retrieved from www.day1.org/6532-its_touching_time.print.
14. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 3^rd Sunday of Easter (B), April 19, 2015.” Retrieved from firstimpressions@lists.opsouth.org

Have you ever wondered how the disciples were able to accomplish so much after Jesus returned to heaven? The answer is revealed in the story of Peter and John and the healing of the lame man. We read what happened because of that healing in Acts 3:11-26.

Jesus worked through Peter and the Holy Spirit to heal the lame man. Jesus had two main purposes for healing the lame man:

1. He loved the lame man and released his healing power because of the compassion and concern in His heart.
2. He wanted the people to know that the movement he started when he was on earth was continuing through His disciples, in whom He was living through the Holy Spirit.

Peter directed the attention away from himself and toward Jesus. We as Christians are encouraged to follow the same pattern.

Faith was the secret of the lame man’s healing, and it is the secret of unlocking all power in heaven and earth. That’s why Peter could heal the lame man. He had great faith and consequently great power. Peter wanted the people to receive the same gift of faith.

Faith is a response to Christ’s love revealed on the cross and in the Resurrection. Faith comes by hearing the truth. When we have faith, we receive Christ’s healing power through the gift of the Holy Spirit for our needs and those for whom He guides us to pray. Unless a prayer request glorifies Him, His name can’t be used nor the power released.

The Jews knew about miracles and could interpret them. They should have known that the miracle of the lame man’s healing came from God and not from man. Peter’s sermon was a call for the Jews to repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah. He told the Jews that they were responsible for Jesus’ arrest and death and that they needed to repent, even though Jesus was crucified because of the ignorance of the people.  In the very city where his audience had crucified Jesus, Peter used the word “you” four times to confront them with the enormity of their sins. Before these people could repent, they had to see themselves as guilty before God.

Peter could have scolded the Jews for crucifying Jesus, but if he did he would not have reached their hearts. His goal was to encourage the Jews to repent, and that could only be done with tenderness, love and kindness. Love, not scolding, is the key to encouraging people to repent.

The main reason why the Jews crucified Jesus was that they did not know that He was the Messiah. Ignorance must be considered when looking at a crime, but the Jews did have an opportunity to know that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter reminded them that since these events were predicted in the Old Testament, they had hope in God’s mercy, especially since they were living under grace just like we are living under grace today.

In Acts 3:22 and 23, Peter quoted Moses, the hero of the Israelites. Moses said in Deuteronomy 18:15,18 and 19 that God would raise up a prophet. That prophet was Jesus. The New Testament is the glorious revelation of the Old Testament shadows that mysteriously forecast the coming of the Saviour. Peter showed that he preached the same Messiah and God that the prophets proclaimed.

Peter told his audience that he knew that they and their leaders had killed Jesus in ignorance and Jesus appealed to the Father in Luke 23:24 not to hold their sin against them. Their sins could be blotted out if they would only repent and be converted.

It’s one thing to admit our mistakes, and another to actually be willing to turn to God. If we are willing to accept Christ as our Saviour, God’s grace will be enough. He will wipe away our sins. He will restore us and our relationship with Him.

Peter promised three results of repentance:

1. Forgiveness of sins.
2. Times of refreshing. People will be refreshed in their Spirits when the Holy Spirit comes to live within them.
3. Christ will return and establish His kingdom on earth. The earth will be renewed beyond the abundant and productive state it had before Adam and Eve’s fall.

Every sermon in the Book of Acts is built around the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the sermon we heard in the reading from Acts is no exception. If Christ is not resurrected, then His death is meaningless.

Countless people who place their faith in Christ say that their first and most evident emotion is the sense of having a burden lifted from them. The idea of repentance applies to us today. The Scriptures state that if we do not hear God’s Word and repent, we will be destroyed. We have a choice, and we should choose the offer of mercy and embrace the Messiah. If we do, we will receive the same power of the Holy Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we will also be able to accomplish so much for the Kingdom while we are here on earth.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1491-1492)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 81-86)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Dr. Tony Evans, “Do You Need to Change Your Expectations?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Repentance.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
7. Richard Neill Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 3:12-19.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
8. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

The passage from John 20:1-18 is the key point of our faith because it is about the Resurrection. Christ’s resurrection is the basis of our faith. Without it:

1. The Gospel would be meaningless.
2. Forgiveness of sins would be hopeless.
3. Present life would be joyless.
4. Godly living would be fruitless.
5. Future life would be worthless.

The resurrection of Jesus is like the quiet dawning of a new day heralding the defeat of the night. Our Saviour meets us personally and intimately at unexpected times and places. When we meet Him, our grief and doubt are overcome. We are flooded with joy and peace as we move from sight to faith.

Early on that first Easter Sunday morning, Mary expected to find death, but instead she found new life. We also expect to find death. We know what it means to expect death but find new life. We know what it feels like to follow on Good Friday only to be confronted with Easter Sunday. We have stood there looking into the empty tomb experiencing the impossible. We don’t go looking for resurrection. It finds us.

Jesus’ resurrection is about God loving us so much that He is willing to go to any length to find us in all the wrong places. Like Mary, we go looking for God in the familiar, in the places where we expect to find God. In Jesus’ resurrection God finds us when we are down and out, when we are at the end of our rope, when we have lost hope. God rolls back the stones that bind and confine us. He stands waiting with a familiar voice that calls us to new life and to “go and tell.”

Jesus opened up a new relationship for us through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. No longer do we have to go through a high priest to seek atonement for our sins. Jesus became the final sacrifice for our sins. He has given us free access to God the Father, to whom we can come in times of need.

There is something about a living testimony that gives us courage. Once we see someone else emerging from life’s dark tunnels we realize that we, too, can overcome. In the eyes of humanity, death was still the black veil that separated them from joy. There was no victory over this enemy. It invaded every human, convincing us that life was only meant to end abruptly and senselessly.

Jesus revealed the true nature of death. It was on the Cross that the showdown occurred. Jesus was tired of seeing humanity fooled by death. He entered the dark tunnel of death to prove that there was an exit. As the world darkened, creation held its breath. Jesus emerged from death’s tunnel, lifted a triumphant fist toward the sky and freed us from the fear of death. Even though demons, darkness and death have been defeated, they continue to fight against everything God has created. We don’t have to worry though. Jesus is alive with a new kind of life that He wants to give to all believers.

Two different ways of seeing are depicted in verses 5-8. Both John and Peter viewed the facts-the tomb was empty, with the burial cloths lying there. But the text implies that John saw at a deeper level; he believed. Today, the tomb still stands empty, and people still can “see” the evidence. But not everyone believes that Jesus has, in fact, overcome death and provided the only way to eternal life.

John saw the empty tomb and folded grave clothes and believed that Jesus was alive. Love brought him to faith. Later, Jesus explained the Scriptures that testified to His resurrection-teachings the disciples didn’t understand during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Many of us came to faith in the same way. We believed in a God whom we knew only in a small part, and we recognized that our faith was incomplete. As we grew older, our faith deepened and our ability to talk about it grew but looking back we understand that there was something wonderful even about our immature faith.

Jesus appeared to Mary to comfort all who have become penitent believers after leading lives of sin. It was meant to show them and us that no matter how far we and they have fallen, we and they are raised to complete peace with God if we and they believe the Gospel.

Why did Jesus tell Mary not to hold on to Him? There are three possible answers:

1. Having accomplished the sacrifice, He was on His way to present the sacred blood in heaven. Between meeting Mary and another meeting referred to in Matthew 28:9, He had ascended to heaven and returned.
2. Mary was to become His messenger-the messenger of the Resurrection.
3. He merely meant, “Do no detain me now; I am not yet ascended. You will see me again; run to my brethren.”

Jesus told Mary, “Do not cling to me,” because He had not yet ascended to the Father. Exactly what He meant is not certain, but He did have an assignment for Mary: “Go to my brethren and tell them the Good News.” Jesus commanded His followers not only to pray but to go out and serve and witness. Christians are the conduits of His love to others. Just as Jesus told Mary not to hold on to Him, He tells us not to hold on to the things we cherish. We must go and tell people about the Good News. Rather than allowing her to cling to Him, Jesus sends her on a mission to tell the others what she has seen and heard. Like Mary, we are sent forth to announce that Jesus’ body is not in the tomb. He is with the Father in resurrected glory.

In His resurrection, Jesus broke the bonds of sin and death and the limitation of space, time and the weaknesses of earthly existence. By the power of God He has brought forth a new creation, a new order. He is now returning to His Father. Mary is to cling to Him when this journey is completed and He is in perfect union with the Father. Through the Holy Spirit, she will then live with Christ and “cling” to Him as her permanent place of abiding.

Part of proclaiming the Good News includes telling people that God is their heavenly Father. He isn’t a tyrant who blesses us when we are good and curses us when we are bad. He is a loving Father who loves us unconditionally.

We do not worship a dead god but a living Lord. We worship a God who has placed all our burdens on Himself. We don’t have to find Him because He never loses us. He promises that if we see Him, we will find Him as He comes to us. We are never lost from His sight. We may not see Him but He is always there, even sometimes from behind.

God does lead us from behind at times and we can feel that we have lost Him. But like Mary, when Jesus calls our name even from behind, we will recognize His voice. We must remember to keep seeking Him and desiring to be with Him even if He seems to be missing. We have not lost Him because He can never lose us.

So how do we get close to God and keep close to Him? First, we do so by prayer. The person who keeps close to God is the one who is always talking to God. Second, we do it by constant study of the Scriptures. God’s word is alive with meaning, and when we read it, something will happen to us. Third, we do it by sharing with others. Nothing is ours if we do not share it. When we share, the things go deeper inside us. We have to share what God is doing, both with our fellow Christians and with non-Christians also. In the four Gospels, half of the references to people running occur in the Resurrection stories. Their urgency was due to excitement. Jesus’ disciples today should retell the story with the same excitement.

All Jesus wants from us is our hearts. He longs for our lives. In return, He will be with us everywhere and all the time. He will be with us in the good times and in the tough times. He doesn’t promise that we will be immune from the problems of this life. He does promise that He will go ahead of us. He meets us along the way of life’s journey. Sometimes the harsh realities of life are so overwhelming that we forget Jesus is alive. He has conquered death, and our future is safe in His hands.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1477-1478)
2. The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 269-275).
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; p. 1498)
6. Dr. Steven Davey, “Then Comes the Good Part.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. “What Jesus Most Longs For.” Retrieved from dailyreadings@ransomedheart.com
8. Pastor David J. Risendal, “Christ is Risen.” Retrieved from www.StPLC.org
9. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for John 20:1-18.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
10. Pastor David McGee, “Out of the Mire.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
11. “Whom Are You Seeking?” Retrieved from info@dailydisciples.org
12. Pastor Jim Collins, “Father God: Protector and Provider.” Retrieved from www.BeyondPopsitiveThinking.org
13. “Jesus Lives.” Retrieved from info@dailydisciples.org
14. Charles R. Swindoll, “Not to Worry…He’s Risen!” Retrieved from www.insightforliving.ca
15. The Reverend Deon K. Johnson, “Practice Resurrection, Easter (C)-2016.” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
16. Pastor Greg Laurie, “A New Relationship.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org

What is so good about Good Friday? That is the question many of us probably ask when Good Friday comes around every year. After all, what is good about a day that commemorates Jesus’ horrible torture and execution on a Roman cross?

Good Friday is a dark day in some respects because it commemorates the day that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but it is also a bright day in other ways because Jesus’ death and resurrection on Easter Sunday paved the way for our relationship with God to be restored. This is the good news that Jesus has asked us to spread, but in order to understand the good news, we have to understand the bad news that is called our sinful, human nature. Once we see that we are slaves to sin, the good news of deliverance makes sense. 

The book of Hebrews tells us to live by faith in God alone. The father of our faith is Abraham. His faith in God made him “right” before God. As a result of this righteousness, God protected his family as they grew into a nation, the Israelites. Moses was their first official leader and he established their worship, culture and laws. God spoke to Moses as he wrote down God’s ways for the people, including the Ten Commandments.

These rules were given to teach the Israelites how to live. They were enforced to protect the Israelites from walking away from God and to protect them from destroying themselves and each other. These rules were not designed to replace faith, but by the time Jesus came these rules were more important than faith, mercy and kindness. The rules were more important than the people. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law. He came to fulfill it so that we, like Abraham, could be righteous through faith in God.

The good news of salvation is the cornerstone of the joy of Easter. In order to appreciate the joy of Easter, we have to appreciate what Jesus endured on Good Friday. Sin had to be punished because God is a just god who demands justice and hates sin. Because he hates sin, and because he wants to restore a loving relationship with us, someone had to pay the price for our sins.

In Old Testament times, sins were paid for by sacrificing animals. These animals had to be perfect in the eyes of the priests, which led to the marketplace in the temple where animals who were deemed to be perfect for sacrifices were available for sale. That was the same marketplace where Jesus upset the tables and drove out the moneychangers. When he laid his hands on the animal, the priest symbolically transferred sins to the animal, and the animal’s death symbolically cleansed the people from their sins.

Unfortunately, there was a problem. These sacrifices had to be repeated every time someone sinned, and because the priests were human, they also had a sinful nature. God wanted one ultimate sacrifice in order to complete his plan for our restoration to him. The only perfect sacrifice that would fulfill his plan was Jesus Christ, who was the perfect sacrifice because of his sinless nature.

We can’t underestimate the importance of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Before his death, we were separated from God. No one could approach God in the Holy of Holies portion of the Temple except for the high priest, and even then he could only enter it once a year on the Day of Atonement. Jesus’ death destroyed the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple and provided a way for us to be reconciled to him. Jesus removed the barriers for anyone who wanted to know and worship God. We can serve the Lord and abide in his presence.

When we accept what Christ did for us on Good Friday, we can get out of the black hole of our sinful, earthly life. That can be a struggle that we can’t fight on our own. The Holy Spirit will help us, but other Christians are also ready to fight alongside us. The writer of Hebrews even states in Hebrews 10:24-25 that we must “not neglect our meeting together, as some do, but encourage one another, especially now that Christ’s return is drawing near”. Around Jesus were a close-knit group, but those who believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour were quickly shunned by non-believers. The writer of Hebrews encouraged the early believers by reminding them that God will never abandon them. We as believers today can also be confident in our hope because God will never abandon us.

It is important for believers to gather together on a regular basis to worship God. We were not designed to “go it alone”. Belonging to a church not only protects our fellowship with God, but it is a vital part of how God matures us and transforms us to his image. Part of that transformation includes believing in Jesus in faith, especially in what he did for us on Good Friday.

There is strength in numbers. Getting together with other Christians strengthens our faith and provokes us to do more for God. All of us can encourage someone, whether it is a family member, friend, co-worker, casual acquaintance or a stranger. We can encourage others to keep going in times of difficulty. By worshipping with other Christians, we can celebrate the Eucharist and remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We can’t keep our faith strong unless we have encouragement from fellow Christians, just like Jesus encouraged his disciples and the early followers. True believers will not look the other way when we sin, just like God can’t and doesn’t ignore sin. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can have eternal life. We have direct access to God, unlike the Israelites in the Old Testament. Jesus’ sacrifice means that we do not have to feel guilty about sinning against God, provided that we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us.

Belonging to a good church is so beneficial for both individuals and families that it is well worth finding a church where leaders and members not only love God and believe and teach his Word, but also where they are loving, accepting and non-judgmental; where they present grace with truth; and where they are committed to ministering to each other’s needs. That’s why God designed the church, and that’s why people such as Pope Francis are trying to bring the church back to its roots just like Jesus brought the church back to its roots by his sacrifice on the cross. That, my friends, is one reason why Good Friday is good for us.

The Christian life is based on God’s promises. These promises fall into two categories:

1. Unconditional: These are promises made without exceptions. A good example is the promise God made to Abraham to bless all the families on earth through him. Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, fulfills this promise because salvation is made available to all believers because of what he did on Good Friday.
2. Conditional: These are promises that are subject to certain conditions. A good example is the promise that Jesus made to the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to them if they waited in Jerusalem. We as humans can only make this type of promise because we can’t control every circumstance.

The truth of the cross is that God remembered every single sin that every believer has committed or will commit (no matter how small) and punished Jesus for each and every one of them as our substitute. Jesus’ righteousness is imparted to us so that we stand before God completely spotless. God forgets our sins because Jesus took them upon himself for us. The penalty has been paid, and so our sin debt has been forgiven.

God promises in Hebrews 10:17-18 that he will forget our sins if we confess them and believe in him in faith. The key words are “in faith”. There are people who make what sounds like great confessions of faith, but in reality they have no faith at all. Real confessions come from the heart when believers get God’s Word so deep in their hearts their lives are aligned with God’s plan for their lives. For example, believing in the forgiveness of sins calls on us to live our lives in a particular way. When we live with God’s forgiveness in our hearts, we are positive and hopeful. The hope of forgiveness comes from the pain of Good Friday.

I want to close my message with a story about a little boy who was visiting his grandparents. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. And getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner.

As he was walking back, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day, Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn’t you, Johnny?” And then she whispered to him, “Remember, the duck?” Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper.” But Sally smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.” And she whispered again, “Remember, the duck?” Sally went fishing, and Johnny stayed.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug and said, “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window, and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. But I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

Jesus Christ is like the Grandma, standing at the window. He sees all our sins, but because he had made the ultimate sacrifice with his blood, we can have forgiveness. Christ is the sin eater who has taken care of all our sins, and that is another reason why Good Friday is good for us.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F., The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)
2. Justin Holcomb, “What’s So Good About Good Friday?” Retrieved from http://www.christianity.com
3. Gwen Smith, “Through the Veil”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmil.com
4. Steve Preston, “Assembly Together”. Retrieved from bibletalk@freegroups.net
5. Elizabeth Cole, “Friends Don’t Let Friends…”. Retrieved from Homeword_with_Jim_Burns@crosswalkmail.com
6. Robert A. Schuller, “Live Guilt Free”. Retrieved from positiveminute@hourofpower.cc
7. Amy Carroll, “Drawing Near”. Retrieved from Encouragement_for_Today@crosswalkmail.com
8. Dick Inness, “What a Good Church Can Do For You, Part III”. Retrieved from http://www.actsweb.org
9. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Promises of God, Part I: Our God of Promise”. Retrieved from http://www.intouch.org
10. Rev. Ken Klaus, “No Forgiveness”. Retrieved from http://www.lhm.org
11. Rick Renner, “True Profession is Form the Heart”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
12. Dr. Keith Wagner, “Our Faith in Action”. Retrieved from wsww.lectionary.org
13. Dr. Mickey Anders, “The Sin Eater”. Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org

A little boy wanted to meet God. Not knowing where God lived, the boy packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and started out on his journey. When he had gone a few blocks, he met an old woman who was sitting in the park staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! Together they sat all afternoon eating and smiling.

As it grew dark, the boy realized it was time to go home, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around and ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”. 

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I had Twinkies and root beer with God, and you know, he’s much younger than I expected.”

John 13:31-35 is part of Jesus’ farewell speech to his disciples. It takes place on the night before his crucifixion, and he is giving his disciples final instructions for continuing his work. Many of you have also provided instructions for loved ones at other points in your lives. For example, if you went away on trips you likely gave instructions to other people for picking up your mail, checking on your homes or mowing your lawns. Hopefully most of you have also prepared wills in which you give instructions about how your property is to be dealt with after you die.

In John 13:31-35, Jesus is teaching his disciples about humility, acceptance and love. This particular passage occurs just after Jesus has washed the disciples’ feet, and after Judas has left to betray Jesus. Judas’ departure began the process by which Jesus was glorified by God. Jesus knew that Judas’ actions would result in victory over sin and death, but the disciples didn’t realize it even though Jesus told them several times that he would die and rise again. Jesus was their source of comfort and strength, but he knew that they would have to learn to support each other after he returned to heaven. That’s one reason why he issued the commandment to love one another. It is also the new commandment that we as his modern disciples are to follow.

Jesus told the disciples that he will be glorified through his death and resurrection. His death and resurrection opened the door of salvation for us. Before we can walk through that door, we have to obey God’s commandments, including the new one Jesus introduces in his farewell speech-love each other just like I have loved you. This commandment is not entirely new. The Israelites were told in Leviticus 19:18 to love their neighbours, and Leviticus 19:34 told the Israelites to love both foreigners and fellow Israelites.

This commandment is new for four reasons. First, Jesus was a clear model of the love he requires, and he proved that by washing the disciples’ feet. Second, the commandment focuses on the Christian community. We are called on to love everyone-friends, enemies and total strangers. Third, it creates a new covenant based on love and not obedience to all of the Jewish laws. Fourth, this new commandment is open ended. There is no end to the requirement, so we can never say that we have obeyed it entirely. Even if we can’t feel affection for someone, we can still help them, and when we do, we show Christ’s love.

In his book “Miracle on the River Kwai”, Ernest Gordon described an incident in which British prisoners of war tended the wounds of injured Japanese soldiers and fed them. The Japanese soldiers were covered with mud and blood. Their wounds were infected, and they were left uncared for by their own people. The British prisoners saw them, took pity on them, bathed their wounds and gave them a little food to eat. They cared for the enemies who starved and beat them and killed their comrades. God broke down the hatred and conquered it with love.

We love our neighbours when we seek them out. We love our neighbours when we make ourselves available to serve them. We love our neighbours when we shepherd them in their walk with the Lord and teach them in God’s Word.

Jesus’ humility and service to others, especially when he washed the disciples’ feet, is a good example for us to follow. Here was the Master serving others, and not the other way around. If Jesus could serve others, so can we. He showed his love for others by serving them. If he can love others by serving them, we can also love others by serving them.

We don’t have the option of ignoring this new commandment. Obeying it is a sign of our love for Jesus. It requires us to throw ourselves on God’s mercy. It’s hard for us to love others as Jesus commanded because it goes against our human nature. It goes against human reasoning and logic. It’s not logical for us to love our enemies or those who hate us. It’s not logical to love people who are different from us, or at least that’s what the Jews thought. They did not want to love the Gentiles. In fact, the Jews often referred to the Gentiles by names that were rather uncomplimentary, such as “dogs”. God showed Peter in Acts 11:18 that he loves the Gentiles as much as he loves the Jews, and to refuse to accept the Gentiles would be hindering God and opposing his will. When we find it hard to love our enemies or those who are different from us, all we have to do is remember what Jesus did for us. All we have to do to respond to what he did for us to is love our neighbours just like Jesus loves us.

Bibliography

1. Exegesis for John 13:31-35. Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org
2. Pastor Vince Gerhardy, “To Love As Jesus Loved Us.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org
3. Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “Family Tales”. Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org
4. Swindoll, Charles R., Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010
5. Bobby Schuller, “Living a Life of Love”. Retrieved from http://www.hourofpower.org
6. T.M. Moore, “How to Know When You Love Others”. Retrieved from http://www.colsoncenter.org
7. Exegesis for Acts 11:1-18. Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org

Palm Sunday is a turning point in our journey of faith with Jesus. We walk alongside Him as He enters the holy city of Jerusalem for the last time. His fame as a messenger of God has travelled far. He is riding in triumph and humility on the back of a donkey. The crowd has spread their cloaks on the ground before Him and has strewn His path with palm branches.

Jesus had to go to Jerusalem for the same reason the apostle Paul knew he had to go to Athens, then Ephesus, then on to Rome. The gospel had to be declared in places that served as the crossroads of cultures and ideas. The message had to be preached in places where the world was always coming and going so people who heard it could take the message with them where they went. The same thing happened on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and gave them the ability to speak in different languages. People who heard the Good News in their own language could take the message back to their home countries.

In Jesus’ time, spreading one’s garments on the street was an act of homage reserved for royalty. This suggests that the Israelites recognized Jesus’ claim to be King of the Jews. This claim was recognized by the crowd’s shout of “Hosanna!” The people showed that they were receiving Christ as royalty by spreading their clothes and palm branches on the road before Him and shouting words meant only for the Messiah.

Jesus entered Jerusalem not on a horse as a symbol of power, but on a donkey as a symbol of humility. He is the peaceful king of the people of God, not a revolutionary with political interests. Pride swells our heads and our hearts. We tend to think more highly of ourselves than we should. Jesus did not consider equality with God as something to flaunt. He humbled Himself to death on a cross. We as believers are challenged to follow the same example. Jesus kept His eye on God, and so should we.

The time had arrived for Jesus to be presented to Israel as the Messiah. Jesus chose to act out this truth in a public and memorable way, especially memorable for the two disciples who had the task of bringing Him the lowly animal He would ride on into Jerusalem. His instructions to them could only come from one with supernatural knowledge. Just as the donkey was untied for Jesus’ purpose, we must unleash ourselves for God’s business. He is preparing the church to be a vessel ushering in a great harvest of souls. He is preparing us to be a major force in His great harvest.

The Messiah would re-establish the kingdom founded by David-a kingdom reuniting feuding peoples into one nation. That kingdom would bring all the People of God from the far corners of the world back home where they belonged. The Son of David would establish an everlasting reign.

Jesus came on an animal of peace, not of war. The crowd wanted Him to grab a sword and wave that sword to show what He and His followers would do to the Romans. Instead, He had an olive branch between His fingers. The crowd that shouted “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday would shout “Crucify Him” on Good Friday.

As the crowds entered the city gates during Jesus’ Triumphal Entry, their zeal grabbed the attention of all of Jerusalem’s citizens. When Matthew wrote that the city was moved, he used a Greek term related to the English word “seismic.”

The pilgrims coming to Passover were excited. They were hoping for a new Exodus, for a new return from the captivity of Babylon, and freedom from Roman rule. Many people believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Pilgrims came to Jerusalem by the hundreds and thousands for the Passover festival. Since the people had a history of rebelling against the Romans, Roman governors would plan for additional security during Passover. As Jesus entered Jerusalem from the east, Roman soldiers were entering the city from the west. They were coming because of the crowds that were in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. They incited fear in the crowd. On the other hand, the crowd cleared the way for Jesus and hailed His presence.

The crowd proclaimed Jesus as the king in Jerusalem who has come as an outsider, a prophet from Galilee. He was proclaimed as Lord. He came to replace Pilate’s system of rule. When we proclaim Jesus as Lord, we proclaim that it is possible for those with power to use it as Jesus used His power.

Jesus, as God’s all-knowing Son, saw humanity more clearly and completely than any sociologist or psychologist. He wasn’t surprised by the change in the crowd’s attitude mere days after His triumphant entry. He had seen it before. He was there when ten divine miracles paved the way for freedom of God’s people from the Egyptians. He heard the Israelites’ complaints in the desert. He saw their reluctance to immediately entering the Promised Land.

The crowd heard His words and believed that He was the man who had been sent to free them. Unfortunately they were disappointed. He didn’t do any of the things they expected of Him. Instead, He threw the moneychangers out of the temple. He cursed a fig tree. He told the people to pay their taxes to the oppressive Roman government. He taught the people that true greatness is to be found in servanthood.

For the crowd, this was a disappointing experience. The people wanted Jesus to give them earthly freedom, but God had a higher purpose in sending Jesus into Jerusalem. He sent Jesus to free humanity not from earthly oppression, but from the oppression of sin. Jesus came in peace. He came to bring peace between mankind and God. He came to break the barriers that exist between God and us. He came so that we may find a peace that passes all understanding.  

All of these events were part of God’s plan. What happens to our plans if we pause to confirm whether or not the Lord has need of all we are doing? Do all of our preparations reflect what God has planned for us? Do we respond to what God has asked of us? When we obey God, we are given an opportunity to bring others to Jesus.

During Passover week, Jesus taught about faithful workers in God’s kingdom. He encouraged people to work faithfully without delay, and He encourages us to do the same thing today. Do it now! If you died today, would you be happy with the level of service you have given to God’s kingdom? if not, we must be more involved in serving others.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1318)
2. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Col. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; p. 24)
3. Stanley, C.F. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
6. The Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, “The Latest Polls.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
7. Ron Moore, “Abandoning My Agenda.” Retrieved from www.ronmoore.org
8. Os Hillman, “Loose your Donkey.” Retrieved from tgif@marketplaceleaders.org
9. Marvin A. McMickle, “A Question in the Crowd: Who is This?” Retrieved from https://www.preaching.com/contributors/marvin-a-mamickle
10. Joy Moore, “Matthew 21:1-11.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu.
11. “Progressive Involvement: Lectionary Blogging: Palm Sunday: Matthew 21-1-11.” Retrieved form www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2011/04/
12.  Sarah Dylan Breuer, “Dylan’s Lectionary Blog: Palm Sunday, Year A.” Retrieved from www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/03/palm_sunday_yea.html
13. The Red. Edward Markquart, “What Are You Doing for Lazarus?” Retrieved from www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_hey_sanna.htm
14. The Rev. Susan Sparks, “The Only Train in the Storm.” Retrieved from http://day1.org
15. “Volume 2 Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020.” Retrieved from volume2@lists.opsouth.org

When someone makes a promise to you, do you expect them to keep it? I certainly do, and after reading Genesis 17:1-7,15-16, we can expect God to keep His promises to Abraham. God was committed to the covenant He made with Abraham and his descendants. God declared Abraham righteous in Genesis 15 simply because Abraham believed, but this faith must never be separated from obedience that flows from faith.

In contrast, many of us have had the unhappy experience of making an agreement only to find that it benefitted us far less than we had hoped for and been led to expect. The more we learn about God’s promises, the richer the blessings they contain.

When God spoke, Abraham fell on his face. When God and man are in relationship, God must be the communicator and man must have a listening, obeying attitude. If men and women are not willing to assume a listening attitude, there will be no relationship with God.

The covenant was introduced with a revelation by God of His name. This might not be of great importance to us, but in Eastern thought to reveal a name was to reveal the person and to invite intimacy. Similarly, when God reveals Himself to us, He invites us to have an intimate relationship with Him.

When a promise or agreement is made, there is usually some tangible sign of the agreement. It could be a signed document or a handshake. In the case of God’s covenant with Abraham and subsequently the Israelites, it was the requirement that males be circumcised. It was a bodily mark that identified each male as belonging to God. God’s very words were carved into their flesh. Their deepest and truest identity was as God’s own people.

Similarly, we as Christians are marked and named in our flesh as God’s own. The difference is that instead of circumcision, our baptism is the physical sign. It gives us our true identities the moment it takes place. Our names are stated and written in the book of eternity.

When the covenant requirement to be blameless is applied to people, it means that their approach to God should be wholehearted. It does not mean sinless perfection. This wholeheartedness was demonstrated by Abraham and Sarai in their willingness to accept a change of name, which would have special significance for them.

Abraham and Sarah’s original names honoured pagan deities. Now that God had promised they would be the father and mother of nations, including the Hebrew people, God gave them new names that signified their relationship with the one true God. The Lord changed the name of Abram from “Exalted Father” to Abraham, which means “Father of Multitudes,” and changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. Both Sarai and Sarah mean “Princess,” but the new name has a new dimension: she would henceforth be a “Princess (of God).”

God’s covenant with Abraham means that all those who bless Abraham will be blessed and given the gift of the Promised Land. Similarly, all those who accept Jesus as their Saviour will be blessed. Through the waters of baptism, God has named us, claimed us and promised us the gifts of forgiveness and new life. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God has defeated the powers of death and declared that we too will live.

This was an everlasting covenant-so even if Abraham’s descendants proved faithless, God would remain faithful in fulfilling His promises. God never wavered in His commitment to the covenant despite the repeated disobedience of the Israelites. God keeps His promises and rewards our obedient faith. Divine attestations of Abraham’s obedience were pronounced years after the formal establishment of His covenant. When He promises to direct our paths we can be confident He will carefully lead us.

We as Christians are a covenant people. Christianity is not a religion of the individual. It is a covenant between a community of faith (the church) and the God revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. That’s why we gather every week. We remember the covenant, especially during Lent. We remember that because of Christ’s death, true life can be given to everyone, and God will be our God and we will be God’s people.

God is the love that never leaves us alone, even when we would be content to settle for that which is more reasonable. God is the love that wakes us from our slumber and lets us know that we are loved and wanted. God’s promise endures in spite of life’s trials. No matter what we face, we are not alone. We walk with God, and we are claimed and called by the one who spoke creation into existence.

When God made the covenant with Abraham, everything in Abraham’s life changed. When Abraham said, “As for me, whatever God has said is true for me!”, God’s thoughts became settled and established in his way of thinking. When we make the same statement, God’s thoughts become settled and established in our own way of thinking.  If we make the practice of doing the following five things we will start each day on the right course so it can be filled with God’s power and presence. We can turn our life around-one day at a time:

1. Imagine the good things God wants for the day.
2. Pray in faith and receive God’s blessing on the day.
3. Plan a good day.
4. Be grateful.
5. Sow the right seeds. Our thoughts, words, attitudes and actions are all seeds that will set a course. The fruit of the spirit within will bring self-control to the surface and override our feelings, filling us with God’s joy and peace.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 25-26)
2. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 1: Genesis (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 148-150)
3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 21-22)
6. David Wyrtzen, “Fruitfulness and the Demand for Integrity.” Retrieved from truthnote@gmail.com
7. Kenneth L. Samuel, “Still on the Chase.” Retrieved from dailydevotionals@ucc.org
8. Paul Clark, “Genesis 17:1-7,15-16.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
9. Jessie Gutgsell, “Bible Study: 2 Lent (B).” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
10. Pastor Dave Risendal, “Promise.” Retrieved from http://onelittleword.org?p=6790
11. “Personal Life: Face Down Listening.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
12. Vikki Burke, “As for Me.” Retrieved from dbm@dennisburkeministries.org
13. Elizabeth Webb, “Commentary on Genesis 17:1-7,15-16.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1223
14. Geoff McElroy, “Desert Scribbling: March 8, 2009.” Retrieved from https://gmcelroy.typepad.com/desertscribblings/2009/03/march-8-2009-second-sunday-in-lent
15. “Grasping the Great Truth of God (Genesis 17:1-27).” Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/18-grasping-great-truth-god-genesis-171-27

The passage from John 11:30-47 shows Jesus at some of the highest and lowest points in his ministry. Jesus was told a few days earlier that his friend Lazarus was sick, but he waited for two days before he and the disciples went to the home of Mary and Martha, who were Lazarus’ sisters. By the time he arrived, Lazarus had been dead for several days, so it’s not surprising that Mary and Martha were disappointed with Jesus.

Sometimes Jesus disappoints us as well. We’ve prayed, but no answers have come. We’ve pleaded, but God has delayed. We’ve waited, but he hasn’t arrived. Why has Jesus waited? Possibly it is because our faith and hope in Jesus have to be proved and/or tested. Our faith depends on the faith that comes from experiencing God’s power in our lives. That faith needs to be as deep as Martha’s was when she said that God could do for Jesus whatever he asked. She had a faith experience because she had seen him work miracles throughout his ministry and she knew what he was capable of.

When he saw the mourners and their raw grief, Jesus wept. Why did he weep? There are several possible reasons. Jesus could have been genuinely moved by his grief and that of the other mourners. After all, Jesus was both fully God and fully human, and as a human he experienced human emotions. Jesus was also in awe of the power of God that was about to flow through him to triumph over death. Jesus’ tears could also have been caused by grief for a fallen world that is caught up in sorrow and death caused by sin.

Jesus could have also been grieving because the people could not see that the Messiah had come and therefore they could not see what God would do through him. This is a good lesson for the church to learn. The church can be unbelieving, unconcerned and indifferent toward Jesus and God. Regardless of the reason for his weeping, the knowledge that resurrection and joy would follow were the underlying points of his grief.

It might be hard for us to believe that Jesus could cry. After all, we’ve been told for years that only babies cry, but as Dr. Phil said in an episode of the Dr. Phil Show a few years ago, “Big boys don’t cry, but real men do”. I’ve even cried. Jesus wept because he was sad and hurt, and his tears provided relief. Jesus was sad over Lazarus’ death. He could have spared everyone grief by coming sooner, but he didn’t because it benefitted them in the end to witness his power over death. His actions proclaimed his power and glory.

Jesus’ prayer to God shows the intimacy of their union and the gratitude that God heard and answered Jesus prayer. Jesus always did what his father asked him to do, so all he does is in reality a prayer to God. Jesus hoped that everyone who heard him pray to God would know that he was the long-promised Messiah.

Our suffering and grief matter to Jesus, and he wept in empathy many times. When we get to heaven, there will be no more sorrow, pain or tears. We will experience love like we have never experienced it before. This miracle set the stage for Jesus’ death and resurrection. It was his last miracle. Some of the people who witnessed the miracle reported it to the Pharisees, and that led to Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection. If Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, and if Jesus can rise from the dead, he can bring new life to us as well if we are willing to profess our faith in him.

Jesus asked the people to unbind Lazarus and let him go. He could have done it himself, but when human beings are capable of doing something themselves, God will not intervene. Jesus calls us to unbind people as well-people who are bound up in prejudices, bad habits or other problems. They’ve heard the saving word of Christ, but they still need to be delivered from the bondage of sin. That is the ministry we care called to. When we unbind people, we show God’s love.

There is a lot of emotion in this story-grief/sorrow, sympathetic neighbours who shared the grief of Mary and Martha, Jesus weeping. In the midst of these emotions, there is an abundance of faith-faith in the words of Mary and Martha and faith in Jesus’ prayer to God. The most important feature in this story is the love of Jesus, especially as shown in his weeping. His love shows us God’s mind and nature, especially his compassion and sympathy.

The people were sad because they were stifled. Their lives were constricted. They could only see the darkness and finality of death. They knew that when Jesus’ hour came, he had to meet it and that there was no way out, and they also knew that the same thing would be true for them. They could not see the sunlight and eternity of life with Jesus in heaven until he died and rose again. Only then did they realize that Jesus made it through the valley of the shadow of death and came out on the other side. The other side was filled with light and glory.

Lazarus heard the voice of Jesus and answered the call. The voice of God reassures us and calls us from the past into the present. The voice of God keeps our faith alive. Jesus always seeks people out. He comes to us wherever we are. He calls us whoever we are. He can use us whatever we are.

When Jesus called to Lazarus, he brought Lazarus from death this time. Lazarus eventually died again. There will be a time when Jesus will call our names and bring us out of death into everlasting life. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus sent the people running for cover, and it should also send us running for cover too. We and they finally see that Jesus is Lord and liberator of all the people of God. Those who are oppressed in any way by society will be convinced that his power came from on high and could not be defeated by the evil forces of the world. Evil plotted to silence Jesus by crucifying him, but Jesus has silenced evil through the hope that his resurrection offers each and every one of us.

Bibliography

1. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible Software package.
2. Frederickson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)
3. “Bottle of Tears”. Retrieved from keys@lists.cbhministries.org
4. Stanley C.F.:  The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
6. Joni Eareckson Tada, “God Weeping”. Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org
7. Harvey Stob, “He Will Call Our Name”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
8. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “Who Gets the Last Word?” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
9. Dr. Mickey Anders, “Waiting and Weeping”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
10. The Rev. John Bedingfield, “Deconstruction”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
11. Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “The Raising of Lazarus”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
12. Dr. Keith Wagner, “A Voice You Can Be Sure Of”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
13. Maxie Dunnam, “The Ministry of the Unbinding”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
14. Eric S. Ritz, “Called by Life”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
15. James W. Robinson, “A Cup Running Over”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
16. Thomas Peterson, “Come Out!” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
17. Carlyle Fielding Stewart III, “Take Off the Grave Clothes”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

Doug peered out the van’s back window as his dad drove down the cemetery’s narrow path past rows and rows of small gray tombstones. Snow and ice covered the ground from the last winter storm. When they reached the second to last row of tombstones, Dad pulled to the side of the road and turned off the engine. They all got out of the van, and Mom opened the back door and pulled out a colorful cross made of purple flowers. Purple had been Doug’s grandma’s favorite color.

Doug pulled his hood tightly around his head as he and his parents walked slowly down the row of graves. He counted the tombstones as they passed each one. He knew his grandma’s grave was the seventh in the row. When they reached it, the family stopped and read the inscription once again: “Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother.”

They stood silently for a moment as a bitter wind pierced the air. Then Doug spoke up. “It’s so sad and depressing coming out here.” He looked around the cemetery and shivered. “Just thinking about how many dead people are buried in these graves gives me chills.”

Dad put his arm around Doug. “I know, buddy. But we know the grave’s not the end. We have hope for eternal life. Jesus said that He is the resurrection and the life, and anyone who believes in Him will live forever. Grandma trusted Jesus as her Savior. Even though our physical bodies die, Jesus has promised us eternal life if we trust in Him. After we die we’ll go to be with Him, and one day He will give us new bodies that will never die. Nothing beats that hope.” Dad gave Doug a pat on the shoulder.

“Do you want to put the flowers on Grandma’s grave?” Mom asked, holding out the flowered cross.

Doug took the cross from his mother and stooped down beside his grandmother’s tombstone. He pushed the stake down firmly into the ground. As he started to stand up, Doug noticed something green behind the grave. A few blades of grass were poking up out of the snow. There in the cemetery, out of the deadness of winter, the new life of spring was on its way.

Why doesn’t God stop suffering and pain? It is because he has given us a free will to choose-either to follow Him and obey Him or go our own sinful, evil way. When we choose the way of evil, God’s heart is grieved. In fact, because God loved us so much, He gave His Son Jesus to die for our sins and deliver us from evil and from sin’s eternal consequences-hell and eternal separation from Him, who is the source of all love and life.

In times of despair, we often ask, “Where is God?” It’s okay to ask that question. Many of God’s faithful servants such as Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus have questioned God’s decisions. God’s heart breaks for us in response to the pain of death and grieving. He doesn’t resent our honest questions about His plans, but if we refuse to trust Him because we don’t like how He has spent His power, we cut off our source of comfort.

We often say, “I don’t understand why God let my loved one be taken. I don’t understand why He is allowing me to suffer physically. I don’t understand the paths by which He is leading me. I don’t understand why plans and purposes that seem good to me should be baffled. I don’t understand why blessings I need badly are so long delayed.” We don’t have to understand all of God’s ways. In fact, God doesn’t expect us to understand them, but some day we will see the glory of God in the things which we don’t understand.

Jesus meets us when we mourn, just like He met Mary and Martha in John 11:1-45. He meets us where we are with our needs and what little faith we have. God is far more concerned with growing our faith than with making us comfortable.

Why would Jesus not rush to Bethany? Jesus’ plan made no sense by human standards, but His friends would have to trust Him-for the timing and the outcome. Sometimes God asks His followers to walk by a different light source than that of their limited human judgment.

Sometimes Jesus disappoints us. We’ve prayed, but no answers have come. We’ve pleaded, but God has delayed. We’ve waited, but He hasn’t arrived. Why has Jesus waited? Possibly it is because our faith and hope in Jesus have to be proved and/or tested. Our faith depends on the faith that comes from experiencing God’s power in our lives. That faith needs to be as deep as Martha’s was when she said that God could do for Jesus whatever He asked. She had a faith experience because she had seen Him work miracles throughout his ministry and she knew what He was capable of.

Jesus was glad that Lazarus had died without Him. That doesn’t mean that He enjoyed knowing Lazarus had died or that He enjoyed thinking about the family’s grief and despair. He was teaching His disciples and us that there is a greater miracle than physical healing. It is the miracle of the Resurrection. Jesus was glad because He knew God would be glorified to a far greater extent by the death and resurrection of Lazarus then He would have been by Lazarus’ healing and recovery from sickness.

Jesus was continually teaching and preparing the disciples for life after He was gone. The raising of Lazarus from the dead did result in greater faith among them. In all circumstances-even in times of waiting-believers should interpret circumstances by the love of Christ rather than trying to interpret Christ’s love by the circumstances.

When Jesus saw the tears of Mary and her friends, He wept, responding both physically and emotionally as He identified with their sorrow. The Lord sees and feel the anguish of God’s people when their loved ones die. Why did He weep? There are several possible reasons. Jesus could have been genuinely moved by his grief and that of the other mourners. After all, Jesus was both fully God and fully human, and as a human He experienced human emotions. Jesus was also in awe of the power of God that was about to flow through Him to triumph over death. Jesus’ tears could also have been caused by grief for a fallen world that is caught up in sorrow and death caused by sin.

Jesus could have also been grieving because the people could not see that the Messiah had come and therefore they could not see what God would do through Him. This is a good lesson for the church to learn. The church can be unbelieving, unconcerned and indifferent toward Jesus and God. Regardless of the reason for his weeping, the knowledge that resurrection and joy would follow were the underlying points of his grief.

Jesus would perform the miracle, but He wanted someone to take away the stone, demonstrating that human obedience often has a place in His supernatural work. In telling others about Jesus, the Christian may have to roll away the stone of ignorance, error, prejudice, or despair. But it is still God-not the effectiveness of a person’s witness-that “raises the dead.”

Jesus assured Martha that everything would happen just as He promised-the way God intended-and that all would see the glory of God. Her role, and ours, would be to simply trust Him.  Jesus prayed aloud for the benefit of the Jews who were watching: “that they may believe that You sent me.” Belief was on the line, and Jesus wanted everyone to know that the resuscitation of Lazarus would clearly be the result of cooperation between God the Father in heaven and God the Son on earth.

The Greek word for “cried” conveys that Jesus was shouting, both for Lazarus and the people to hear. His was the voice of divine authority. Had Jesus not specifically called Lazarus, perhaps all the dead would have been raised. That is the power of God!.

Jesus asked the people to unbind Lazarus and let him go. He could have done it himself, but when human beings are capable of doing something themselves, God will not intervene. Jesus calls us to unbind people as well-people who are bound up in prejudices, bad habits or other problems. They’ve heard the saving word of Christ, but they still need to be delivered from the bondage of sin. That is the ministry we are called to. When we unbind people, we show God’s love.

Lazarus heard the voice of Jesus and answered the call. The voice of God reassures us and calls us from the past into the present. The voice of God keeps our faith alive. Jesus always seeks people out. He comes to us wherever we are. He calls us whoever we are. He can use us whatever we are.

When Jesus called to Lazarus, he brought Lazarus from death this time. Lazarus eventually died again. There will be a time when Jesus will call our names and bring us out of death into everlasting life. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus sent the people running for cover, and it should also send us running for cover too. We finally see that Jesus is Lord and liberator of all the people of God. Those who are oppressed in any way by society will be convinced that His power came from on high and could not be defeated by the evil forces of the world. Evil plotted to silence Jesus by crucifying him, but Jesus has silenced evil through the hope that His resurrection offers each and every one of us.

Do you know someone who has died? Are you afraid of dying yourself? Death can be a difficult reality to face, but those who trust in Jesus have hope beyond the grave. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, you can trust in Him today. If you do know Him, share His truth with others so they can have the hope that comes with knowing Him too.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1460-1462)
2. “Dead Man Walking: Again, If You Had Been Here.” Retrieved from ysu@youthspecialties.com
3. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 185-194)
4. Stanley, C.F; The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Craig Condon, “Jesus and the Power to Overcome Death.” Retrieved from the author’s personal sermon library.
6. “Day 6 These: The Gospel Message.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
7. Anne Graham Lotz, “A Greater Miracle.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
8. Vanessa Small, “Hope Springs Up.” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
9. Richard Innes, “Where Was God?” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

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