From the Pastor |
Acts 3:12-19 & Luke 24:36b-48
Centuries ago, William Shakespeare wrote his play Romeo and Juliet and in it he asked the question: “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” What is in a name, indeed? Names are actually very important. A person’s name is their identity… their sense of individuality. Our name can carry deeply personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections… names can give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world. Some might say that our name is the most important word for each of us. Using a person’s name is the best way to get their attention… It is a sign of courtesy, recognition and respect. Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles reveal how very important one specific name truly is. Our reading actually picks up mid story. Peter and John were going to the Temple at the hour of prayer. There they saw a man who had been crippled since he was born. He was carried to the Temple gate everyday so he could beg for money to survive. On this day he asked Peter and John for money. Peter told him that he had no money, but “what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.” [Acts 3:6b-8] The man was healed and jumping all around praising God. Needless to say this got the attention of all those in the area who were amazing and astonished by this turn of events. Which leads us to today’s reading. Peter lets the crowd know… in no uncertain terms… that HE nor John had the power to do this great thing. He makes it very clear that it was not HIS doing… but God’s. He said “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus… By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” It was not me… it was the power of God offered through faith in the name of Jesus that did this miraculous thing. Peter knew the power wasn’t his own. It was the power of the faith that Peter and John had. Where did that power come from? Our Gospel reading gives us a hint. When Jesus appeared to his disciples he spoke of this power. “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” We now know that this power is the Holy Spirit descended upon them all on the day of Pentecost. They were given the power through their faith… through their faith and trust in the man named Jesus. That power in truly in the name. Jesus of Nazareth… the Christ. Think about it… the name Jesus… יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua) in Hebrew… means “Yahweh is salvation”… “The Lord is salvation.” What more fitting name could there be for our Savior? During his ministry, Jesus’ very name put fear into demons… it was the power of his name that drove the demons out of people… that healed and made whole… that called the stormy seas… and that power continues because Jesus is alive…he is not dead… The same power that was bestowed upon Jesus at his baptism was pour out upon all who put their faith in his Holy name… since the Day of Pentecost… the followers of Jesus have embodied the power of Jesus’ name… and it has enabled them to continue to carry out the work of Christ in the world. You see… That awesome power was not meant for them alone… that power was meant to be used… it was meant to be shared. Disciples of Christ… Followers of the Way were called to share amazing power… to do something with it. Peter and John used the power the found in their faith in the name Jesus Christ of Nazareth to heal a man who had been lame his entire life… throughout the New Testament they used the power granted to them to help others… to serve and glorify God through the work they did. In fact… throughout the sub sequent generations, people have continued to utilize the amazing power in Jesus’ name… the power that comes from the Holy Spirit when they put their faith in Christ Jesus… amazing, miraculous, wonderful things. Healing… caring… teaching… preaching… utilizing all the many gifts that come from the Spirit of God to bring glory to God. Even today… through his disciples… Jesus’ name and power are made known throughout the world. The power that can heal the body AND the soul… the power that forgives sins and offers salvation… The power that continues the work Jesus began on the cross in breaking down the barriers of division. The power that is in HIS name! We are called to do the same. You see… we too have the power that comes from our faith in the name ‘Jesus’. When we put our faith in Christ… when we hear God‘s holy Word and accept the truth in our hearts… when we “come to Christ” as they say… we too are granted that power. In our baptism… in our faith…. The Holy Spirit comes upon us… dwells within us… provides the power we need to do God’s will in the world around us. My friends… WE are the ones who embody the power of Christ our Lord in the world today, and like the apostles… like the early church… like the disciples throughout the ages… we are called! We are called to do something… to work… to serve… to care for and lift up those who are in need… to praise and worship… all to the glory of Christ our Lord. The problem is… do we? Do we even attempt to use the power of the Holy Spirit granted to us? Do we allow our faith in the name of Jesus to tap into the power that is in that name? Matthew West is a contemporary Christian singer and musician. He tells of meeting Andrea, a former college student who “had chosen to spend a semester abroad…in Uganda. While there, she happened upon an orphanage in critical condition. The children were being badly neglected and even abused. Her heart broke for these orphans who had no advocate. That’s when this college student decided to do something. She called her parents and said, “I’m not coming home.” She refused to leave these children until something was done to improve the conditions.” Andrea and her sister worked together to get the Ugandan government to fix the situation. The government in turn closed the orphanage leaving about forty children homeless turning them over to Andrea. She had “a new vision and desire to create a safe place for these children to grow and learn. Today, Musana (which means “sunshine”) is a thriving orphanage in… Uganda, housing over one hundred children! … When asked what it was that made her fight for these children she simply said, “I just kept thinking, ‘if I don’t do something, who will?’” Andrea’s story inspired Mr. West… he said “Today, so many of us Christians talk so much about being the hands and feet of Christ, but never really displaying what that looks like... It’s not about talking. It’s about doing!!! It’s time for us to do something!” [Matthew West] As a result he wrote a song entitled Do Something. (See video below) If not us, then who If not me and you... If not now, then when Will we see an end To all this pain Oh, it's not enough to do nothing It's time for us to do something As Christians, we are called to boldly proclaim the glory and power of Jesus’ name… not only with our words but with our actions… we are called to “do something”… If we have faith in the name of Jesus… then we have the power… Because Jesus is present in his name… and there is Power in His name… It is up to us to use it. Amen.
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Easter Story from the Gospel of John
That morning was not a typical morning for Mary... But it turned out to be quite different from what she imagined when she woke up that day. In fact… I doubt she had imagined how much exercise she would be getting. It was so early in the morning that it was still dark outside as Mary made her way to the garden. She was grieving… heart-broken… I can only imagine that the weight of her sorrow made the journey a slow, arduous one. There was no excitement… no joy… no “skip” in her step… The grief was too deep. After all… she had been there… through it all. She was among the women who had followed Jesus throughout Galilee all the way to Jerusalem. She was there when he was nailed to a cross… She watched him suffer in anguish. She had stood with his own mother and had heard the words he spoke… she saw him breathe his last breath… She personally watched this man… the one who had saved her… the one she followed faithfully… the one she loved… die. Matthew tells us that she was among the women who stayed around after his death and watched as he was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb. She was there when the tomb was sealed. Now… the Sabbath was over. Mary goes back to that place… to the garden where the tomb is located. BUT… when she arrives… things are not at all as she expected. The stone has been rolled away from the entrance and the tomb is empty. Jesus’ body is gone. She is so upset that John tells us… she RAN to find help. She ran to Peter and John “and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” They, in turn, take off running back to the tomb with Mary not too far behind. That is a lot of running so early in the morning. How often are we running? (and I am not referring to exercise) Think about it… we are living in an extremely fast paced society… we spend so much of our lives basically running… chasing our dreams… running from our fears… moving as fast as we can to get to the next level… the next success… the next chapter of our lives. We run toward things that bring happiness… we run from those things that scare us. Even our speech demonstrates just how fast we are moving… It is common to hear phrases like “I’m running to the store.” “I’m running some errands.” Even our thoughts are affected… “My imagination is running wild.” “My mind is racing.” I’m exhausted just thinking about it. We always seem to be running to … OR… running from something. We even spend a great deal of time running (like Jonah) from God… Yes… Even those of us who believe. We ignore God’s call to go… to do… and we run the other way. Not wanting to get involved… not wanting to go out of our way… not wanting to risk getting hurt or failing. Let’s face it… We spend a vast majority of our time… running… racing through life. That is why this past year hit many of us so hard. Living in a pandemic… living through extended lock-downs and quarantines… suddenly… we couldn’t keep running. We were forced to stop which means life changed for us in drastic ways. But maybe that is not such a bad thing. What happened when Mary stopped running? Stopped trying to ‘do’ things? After Peter and John left the tomb… Mary stayed behind. She was distraught… she did not know what to do. All she wanted was to know where Jesus was. It is then that she gets the greatest… most joyful surprise… She encounters Jesus… She sees him… Risen from the dead with her own eyes. She stopped running… she stayed there in the garden and her fears dissipated… her grief is turned to joy… she found what she was looking for and so much more. But receiving the news… obtaining that great joy was not the end for Mary… No! Jesus gives her an important job to do… “Do not hold on to me… Go instead to my brothers and tell them...” So she does as Jesus told her to do… she “went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them…” all he had said to her. Now… I bet you that if she was not running back to them with the news… she was moving pretty fast. She was filled with excitement and joy… nothing was gonna stop her from sharing this great Good News. So today… on this Easter Sunday… I want to encourage you to do two things. First… take some time to simply stop! Stop running… stop racing around… racing through the busy-ness of your day and simply be. Follow the words of Psalm 46 which instruct us to “Be still, and know that I am God…” [verse 10] Allow yourself to spend some time in the proverbial garden with the Lord. Give yourself the time needed to truly encounter Jesus. Let him remove your fears and your grief… your pain and your sorrow… and allow Christ to replace them with the joy of the resurrection. Then… think about why you are running so much of the time. What are you running to? What is the goal of your race? Is it success? Money? Or are you just chasing some unknown prize… trying to keep up with those around you? What are you running from? Is it your fears… your failures… your grief or shame? Are you running to the Risen Lord? This pandemic has thrown us all for a loop. We long for things to return to “normal”… but as Followers of Christ Jesus… “Normal” is not good enough. We weren’t created for normal. The Resurrection brings with it new life and transformation. We are not called to be ‘normal’… we are called to be better. To live as Christ lived… to love as Christ loved… to live our lives as Resurrection people… people who believe that we no longer have anything to fear. Because by the amazing grace and love of God… through Christ’s death and resurrection… death has been conquered and the doors have been thrown wide to eternal life in the Kingdom of God. We are called to run for God… not for the things of this world… We are to run with excitement and joy… not fear. All because “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16] Because of this glorious day we celebrate… we have nothing to fear… nothing to run from because the promises we heard from Isaiah have been fulfilled in Christ… the Risen Lord. And just like Mary… we have been given a wonderful task by our Lord… “Go and Tell…” For every disciple of Jesus… then AND now… is commanded to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [Matthew 28:19-20] Amen Easter Account from the Gospel of Mark
That first Easter Sunday was filled with emotion. The Disciples were in hiding… filled with grief, shame and fear. The women… the women, Mark tells us, went through a myriad of emotions. For them… the morning began with grief and sadness… but also determination… The Sabbath was over and they were determined to go and properly care for Jesus’ body… to anoint it with the normal spices to demonstrate their respect and love. But they were also unsure… they knew the stone had been rolled in front of the tomb and they did not know who they could get to roll it away for them. They knew they could not do it themselves… so they were worried about the logistics of what they had planned. Then they reached to tomb and confusion strikes… the stone is already rolled away. Who would do that? … Why? Then “As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.” Think about how shocking that must have been. They enter the tomb and instead of Jesus’ body… they find a young stranger sitting there… like he was waiting for them to show up. Who is this guy? What did he do with Jesus’s body? Talk about disconcerting! Then this young man… whom we presume is an angel… a messenger of God proclaims what should have been good news: “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” This message was shocking… and they had to have been dazed and confused. Then Mark tells us that they ran off in fear. Now most Bibles now offer verses 9-20 which is a very quick rundown of how Jesus appears to his followers… however… The earliest manuscripts end here… without the appearance of Jesus. The rest were added later on. Not the Easter ending we are used to. Is it? With the women receiving the news and fleeing in terror. I mean… All the other Gospels tell how they actually encountered Jesus and how the eye witness accounts spread. They tell of the joy that came from those encounters. But not Mark. Mark is different… in Mark’s account, we are left standing at an empty tomb with a proclamation that Christ has risen… we are left with the task of going and telling others the news… without proof… without an eye-witness to the event. All the women are told is that Jesus has risen from the dead and will meet them all in Galilee… in the old familiar places. In other words… Jesus will meet them where they live. No offer of proof… no sign of the Risen Lord… just the stranger’s proclamation. “He has risen! He is not here.” Most people prefer John’s account, because Mark kinda leaves us hanging. We miss the joy Mary feels when she encounters Christ in the garden… her excitement in sharing this great good news. But this morning… Mark’s account seems oddly appropriate… because… let’s face it. That is our reality today. We are left standing on the proclamation of Jesus’ Resurrection. We have heard the news that Jesus rose from the grave… that he defeated death. But let’s face it… death we know… death we have experienced… but resurrection… eternal life… that’s something else… it is hard to grasp. Those women at the tomb… and even Peter and the other Disciples… they knew Jesus personally. They loved him and had heard his words and teachings… they heard him specifically tell them that he would die, but that he would rise again… yet THEY could not grasp the truth of that. How are we supposed to? The answer comes in what we are NOT told. Marks says that the women were so shocked by the news they fled in terror… in fact “They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” That’s it… Mark’s tale is done… EXCEPT that we know that the angel’s words came true. Somehow… somewhere… they encountered the Risen Lord. Their shock and fear subsided and was replaced with resounding joy! How do we know? Easy… we are here! We have come here today… Almost two-thousand years later… believing and feeling the joy of a proclamation we have heard. How many of us have seen Jesus… in the flesh… risen from the dead? Have we seen his hands? Or touched his wounded side? So… why do we believe? How can we believe such a strange story? Because… like those women… like Peter, James, John and the other followers of Christ… we have all heard the proclamation… and we have all encountered the Risen Christ at some point… in some place in our lives. We may not have seen his face, but we have felt his presence… we have experienced his love… or we would not be here. Now… our mission is the same as theirs. As we stand here… hearing again of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior… as fear dissipates and turns to joy… we too are called to go and proclaim the wonderful Good News… Christ is Risen… Alleluia! Amen! |
Yeon Shin
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