04-26-20 Today is tomorrow’s past

Scripture:  Matthew 16:1-12

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

          5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

          7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread."

          8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

In our text today, The first 4 words & the last 4 words are:

THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES

As you read the words of Jesus and stories of Jesus' life in the gospels, you'll quickly notice that many people were opposed to Jesus' teaching. These people are called the "religious leaders" or the "teachers of the law." When you exegete, or dig a little deeper, you find that these teachers were divided into two main groups: the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

There were quite a few differences between those two groups. To better understand them, we'll start with their similarities.

The Similarities

Both the Pharisees and Sadducees were religious leaders of the Jewish people during Jesus' day. They ruled Zion’s hill = Jerusalem. That's important because Jewish people believed their religious practices influenced every part of their daily lives. Therefore, the Pharisees and Sadducees each held a lot of power and influence over, not just the religious lives of the Jewish people, but their finances, their work habits, their family life, and more.

Neither the Pharisees nor the Sadducees were priests. They did not take part in the actual running of the temple, the offering of sacrifices, or the administration of other religious duties.

Instead, both the Pharisees and Sadducees were "experts in the law" -- meaning, they were experts on the Jewish Scriptures (the Old Testament).

Actually, the expertise of the Pharisees and Sadducees went beyond the Scriptures themselves. They were also experts on what it meant to interpret the laws of the Old Testament. As an example, while the Ten Commandments made it clear that God's people should not work on the Sabbath, people began to question what it actually meant to "work." Was it disobeying God's law to buy something on the Sabbath -- was that a business transaction, and therefore work? Or, was it against God's law to plant a garden on the Sabbath, which could be interpreted as farming?

Given these questions, the Pharisees and Sadducees both made it their business to create hundreds of extra instructions and stipulations based on their interpretations of God's laws.

Of course, they didn't agree on how the Scriptures should be interpreted.

The Differences

The main difference between the Pharisees and the Sadducees was their differing opinions on the supernatural aspects of religion. To put things simply, the Pharisees believed in the supernatural -- angels, demons, heaven, hell, and so on -- while the Sadducees did not.

In this way, the Sadducees were largely secular in their practice of religion. They denied the idea of being resurrected from the grave after death. In fact, they denied any notion of an afterlife, which means they rejected the concepts of eternal blessing or eternal punishment; they believed this life is all there is. The Sadducees also scoffed at the idea of spiritual beings like angels and demons / Acts 23:8 The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.

So we see the Pharisees were much more invested in the spiritual aspects of their religion. They took the Old Testament Scriptures literally, which meant they believed in angels and other spiritual beings, and they were completely invested in the promise of an afterlife for God's chosen people.

The other large difference between the Pharisees and the Sadducees was one of status. Most of the Sadducees were aristocratic. They came from families of noble birth who were very well connected in the political world. We might call them "old money". The Sadducees were typically well connected with the ruling authorities among the Roman Government. They held a great deal of political power.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, were more closely connected with the common people. They were typically merchants or business owners who had become wealthy enough to turn their attention to studying and interpreting the Scriptures – they were "new money,". Whereas the Sadducees had a lot of political power because of their connections with Rome, the Pharisees had a lot of power because of their influence over the masses of people in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas.

Despite these differences, both the Pharisees and Sadducees were able to join forces against someone they both perceived to be a threat: Jesus Christ. And both were instrumental in working the Romans and the Jewish people to push for Jesus' death on the cross.

Jesus’ first words in this text are familiar to almost anyone in any culture in history even if you have never heard of Jesus or the bible, you are familiar with the phrase: “Orange sky at night, sailors delight. Orange sky in the morning, sailors warning.”

The MESSAGE: Matthew 16:2-4   He told them, "You have a saying that goes, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight; 3 red sky at morning, sailors take warning.' You find it easy enough to forecast the weather — why can't you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you'll get is the Jonah sign." Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

JONAH

800-750 BC – One story – Autobiographical

Jonah is the story of what we are going through today and how people respond.

People protest against stay at home orders arguing that the great calamity of millions dying has not happened.

Jonah protested going to Nineveh when God said he was going to destroy the city and then God did NOT do it.

The reason God did not is because Jonah warned the people and they responded with appropriate action.

The reason we have not seen more infections and deaths is that many people have responded with appropriate action.

Vs 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

          In other words, Jesus is not going to show them a thousand ways what they should understand in one way. Have you ever told something to someone about something that is absolutely true, but no matter how many times and how many ways you tell them, they still don’t believe? The only sign they needed to believe in God was the sign of Jonah – it not only showed how God acted in the past – it showed how God would act in the future for redemption. Matthew 12:40-41   For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

What Jonah did, saved the lives of over 100,000 people in Nineveh.

What millions of people are doing today are saving the lives of billions.

As Jesus said a sign from the past can teach you; do you believe the past has affected you? Of course, you do. The fact is, today is tomorrow’s past and what you do today can greatly affect your life and the lives of others tomorrow.

Here is an example of how the past can affect the future. At age 60, as I was sharing the 10 at 10 last Friday, something dawned on me I had never realized before. I exist because of the stock market crash of 1929. I can say with relative certainty, that if it had not been for the stock market crash, I would not be here today.

History of the Kramb Co. and Kramb family.

Matthew 6:34     Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I don’t like how we have to live right now! It stinks – I dislike not coming to church – but i/we need to respond in the best way possible.

This is like a Year of Jubilee, which came every 50th year, was a year full of releasing people from their debts, releasing all slaves, and returning property to who owned it.   The year of Jubilee was also dedicated to rest.   During this year, the Israelites were not supposed to reap or harvest; it was a time for people to return to their families and loved ones. 

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

1. Learn from yesterday's mistakes. Romans 15:4.

2. Be grateful for today.

3. Work hard. Proverbs 22:29. Avoid laziness.

4. Maximise your potential. Only God has no potential.

5. Be prayerful. James 5:16.

6. Give thanks to God. God inhabits the praises of His people.

7. Set spiritual growth goals. 2 Timothy 2:15.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  Be specific. Write it down. Pursue it.

8. Have a deeper relationship with God. He loves you, and desires to have a vibrant relationship with you.

TODAY IS TOMORROW’S PAST

As Christians, we should be doing all we can to determine what this past will one day look like:

Keep in mind that…

These are the days of Elijah, where we must declare the word of the Lord
These are the days of Moses, where Righteousness is being restored.

These are the days of Ezekiel, where dry bones become as flesh,
These are the days of King David, where we are building a temple of praise.
Yes, these are days of great trial, of hunger and virus and war,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying "Prepare the way of the Lord!"

Behold He comes riding on the clouds, Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee, And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

04-19-20 KICK OUT THE JOY THIEF & HAVE SOME FUN

Scripture   John 10:1-10

Philippians 4:4       Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Prov 15:30    A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

Proverbs 17:22     A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

WORKING ALONE

          A letter to the insurance company called “Doing the Job Alone”.

Dear Sir, I’m writing in response to your request for additional information. In block 3 of the accident report form I put trying to do the job alone as the cause of my accident. In your letter you said I should explain more fully, and I trust the following details should be sufficient.

          I am a brick layer by trade and on the date of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six story building. When I had completed my work, I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand or having someone to help me, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley that was fortunately attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor.

          Securing the rope to the ground level I went to the roof, swung the barrel out, loaded the bricks into it and then I went to the ground, untied the rope while holding the rope tightly to insure a slow descent of 500 pounds. You will note in block 2 of the accident report that I weighed 160 pounds. CHUCKLE Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. CHUCKLE Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the 3^rd floor I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and the broken collar bone. LAUGHTER

          Slowing down only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until my hand was two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, I regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. LAUGHTER Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block #2. CHUCKLE As you might imagine, I began a rather rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the 3^rd floor I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for my two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs. CHUCKLE This encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell on the pile of bricks. LAUGHTER

          I’m sorry to report, however, that as I lay on the bricks in pain, unable to stand, watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. LAUGHTER The empty barrel weighed more than the rope and so it came down and broke both of my legs. LAUGHTER

ACTUAL CHURCH BULLETIN ANOUNCEMENTS

1.     Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30 pm.  Please use the back door.

2.     Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m.  Please use the large double door at the side entrance.

3.     The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.

4.     The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.

5.     Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of several others.

6.     The choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

7.     Stewardship Offertory: “Jesus Paid It All”

8.     During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon thanks to Rev. Johnson who filled in.

9.     Due to the Pastor’s illness, Wednesday’s healing services will be discontinued until further notice.

10. The sermon this morning: Jesus Walks on the Water.  The sermon tonight: Searching for Jesus.

11. Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions.  She is also having trouble sleeping and requests recordings of Pastor Jack’s sermons.

12. Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale.  It is a good chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.  Bring your husbands.

13. The peace-making meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

14. The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: “I Upped My Pledge – Up Yours.”

15. Applications are now being accepted for 2-year-old nursery workers.

16. For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

17. This afternoon there will be a gathering in the north and south ends of the church.  Children will be baptized at both ends.

B.C. Stands for Baptist Church

Mrs. Clifton Hord of Baird, Texas relates a rather strange reply to a request for a campground reservation. Mrs. Hord says that it actually happened to one of her friends, but we’ll let you be the judge. Here’s her story:

“My friend is a rather old-fashioned lady, always quite delicate and elegant, especially in her language. She and her husband were planning a weeks’ vacation in Florida, so she wrote to a particular campground and asked for a reservation.

“She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped, but didn’t quite know how to ask about the toilet facilities. She just couldn’t bring herself to write the word “toilet” in her letter. After much deliberation, she finally came up with the old-fashion term “bathroom commode”. But when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being to forward. So, she started all over again, rewrote the entire letter, and referred to the bathroom commode merely as B.C. “Does the campground have its own B.C?” is what she actually wrote.

Well the campground owner wasn’t old-fashion at all, and when he got the letter, he just couldn’t figure out what the woman was talking about.

After worrying about it for a while, he showed the letter to several campers, but they couldn’t imagine what the lady meant. So, the campground owner, finally coming to the conclusion that the lady must be asking about the location of the local Baptist Church, sat down and wrote the following reply:

“Dear Madam: I regret very much the delay in answering your letter, but I now take the pleasure of informing you that a B.C. is located nine miles north of the campground, CHUCKLE and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. CHUCKLE I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly, CHUCKLE but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along and make a day of it. LAUGHTER They usually arrive early and stay late. CHUCKLE

“The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, CHUCKLE and it was so crowded that we had to stand up the whole time we were there. LAUGHTER It may interest you to know that right now there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats. They’re going to hold it in the basement of the B.C. GROAN LAUGHTER

“I would like to say it pains me very much not to be able to go more regularly, LAUGHTER but it is surely no lack of desire on my part. CHUCKLE As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort, particularly in the cold weather. SINGLE LAUGHTER

“If you do decide to come down to our campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time you go, sit with you and introduce you to all the other folks. LAUGHTER Remember, this is a friendly community.” LAUGHTER

John 10:1-10

I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.  Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

During the Palestinian uprising in the late 1980’s the Israeli army decided to punish a village near Bethlehem for not paying taxes. The commanding officer rounded up all of the village animals and placed them in a large barb-wire pen. Later in the week he was approached by a woman who begged him to release her flock of sheep., arguing that since her husband was dead, the animals were her only source of livelihood. He pointed to the pen containing hundreds of animals and laughed as he said it was impossible because there was no way to find her animals. She asked if she could separate them herself, would he be willing to let her take them? He agreed. A soldier opened the gate and the woman’s son produced a small reed flute. He played a simple tune over and over – and soon sheep heads began popping up across the pen. The young boy continued his music and walked home, followed by their flock of 25 sheep.

THE SHEPHERD BECOMES THE GATE

          7 Therefore Jesus said again, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

When Jesus is speaking here it is during the festival of Hanukkah, also known as the festival of Dedication commemorating the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after Israel’s leaders contributed to the demise of Yahweh worship and the Greek soldiers desecrated the temple with pig’s blood, burned scripture scrolls and erected a pagan idol in the temple.  Imagery used to describe Israel’s leaders were that of a bad shepherd compared to a good shepherd. Jesus is using that same imagery here going so far as to call Israel’s current spiritual leaders – thieves, and pointing out that he is the good shepherd.  The thieves steal the joy of the people and the good shepherd brings joy.

          As shown earlier, shepherds of Jesus day would often have a flute and play a particular tune that would make that shepherds sheep come out from among the larger flock. Sometimes it would be the voice of the shepherd alone that would call them out.  Note that (unlike herding cattle) the shepherd does not drive the sheep – he is out front and leads the sheep – they willingly follow him.

          The most important thing to take from this portion of scripture is = who Jesus is and how Jesus is toward us is made known. He is the one, who in the darkest of nights will protect us and watch out for us and in the light of day will lead us to water and green pastures. Knowing we have someone like that looking out for us allows us to have joy and not have it stolen away by what the thief has taken from us.

          The problem is, the world allows the thieves in, often encourages the thieves, seek out the thieves. In a study George Barna asked high school students where they would turn in times of tension, confusion or crisis. Fathers were ranked 25 on the list. Mothers were ranked 11. Music and personal friends topped the list.  That means in a time of tragedy or difficulty, young people are looking in all the wrong places for help when trying to get out of the desert and find pasture and clean water.

THE SCRIPTURE POSTLUDE

John 10:11-16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep.

          You may be asking what John 10 and Jesus being the good shepherd has to do with JOY.

The answer EVERYTHING: Because we are sheep who have no idea when or if this Coronavirus will end. But God does, and He is the only one who cares for us like a good shepherd helping us to go in and out and find green pasture and clean water. And, knowing he is like that toward us allows us to live in His joy.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Happiness (like my humorous stories at the beginning) is fleeting; but JOY come in the morning!

PICNIC with the Pastor

Philippians 4:4      “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Have a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.”

We try to get joy the wrong ways sometimes by putting things into our lives that are not good for us.

GREEN        =     Envy, Jealousy, Money

RED             =     Party – Temporary Happiness, Better than others

YELLOW    =     A light for others

PURPLE      =     Jesus is the King of kings

BLUE           =     Heaven one day

04-12-20 EASTER: The whole Resurrection Story

Scripture:  4 Gospel Resurrection Mashup

In 1922, Howard Carter made what is probably the greatest archeological discovery in history. He found the ancient tomb of the Pharaoh, known as Tutankhamun or King Tut. This was significant because, unlike other tombs that had been emptied by grave robbers, this tomb was full of priceless artifacts, as well as the body of King Tut himself.

It took eight years to remove and document the contents of the tomb. The mummified remains and his treasures were sent all over the world. Millions upon millions of people stood in line for hours just to catch a glimpse of a dead king. The whole world celebrated because that tomb was NOT empty. 

There were a few women that discovered a tomb just over 2000 years ago that was empty. And today, I want to tell you the whole story about the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus – the man of God. I have taken all four gospels and put the events in as close of a chronological pattern as possible. The only thing I left out were exact duplicates, but each witness adds to the story. It is a relatively long story, but as we are forced to deliver a message through small screens, this seems like the best time to share the Easter message like this. As well, this is the year of looking at what Jesus said, which we will hear as we go through the story together. Sit up, listen close, pray that the Holy Spirit will keep your mind attentive to hear the story of the first Easter in its entirety according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

When the Sabbath was over, at dawn on the first day of the week, early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.  Just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

          There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The women found the stone, which was very large, rolled away from the tomb,
but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen just as he said! See the place where they laid him. Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words.

“Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead, just as he told you, and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.”

Trembling and bewildered, yet filled with joy, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid but ran to tell his disciples.

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. So they came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).  Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.                                             Road to Emmaus

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. 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." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."  Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

IF THE RESURRECTION NEVER HAPPENED…

Some years ago a popular English novelist wrote a book called When It Was Dark. The story centers about the efforts of a wealthy unbeliever to discredit Christianity. He endeavors to do this by attempting to discredit the Resurrection. In that respect his logic is sound, for if the Resurrection can be discredited Christianity is overthrown. This man hired archaeologists to fake a discovery of the body of Jesus in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. On the tomb was an inscription testifying that the owner of this tomb stole the body of Jesus and hid it there. The novel then goes on to describe the ultimate effect of such a discovery, if accepted as truth, upon the Christian world, upon the Christian Church, and upon civilization in general. In powerful passages he shows how, gradually, the Christian Church crumbles and collapses; how men and women go back to lust, cruelty, and animalism; and how the flame of hope dies out in every human heart.

Had the body of Christ ever been found, or a grave in which it could be proved that his body had been placed, other than that of Joseph of Arimathea, the Church would indeed disappear and the beacon of human hope would set in the darkness of an ever-ending life. But thanks be to God, now is Christ risen from the dead! On that empty tomb is the epitaph written by the angels, -- "He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him!" (Luke 16:6).

GOING TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING

Professional golfer Paul Azinger was diagnosed with cancer at age 33. He had just won a PGA championship and had 10 tournament victories to his credit.

He wrote, "A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then another reality hit me even harder. I'm going to die eventually anyway, whether from cancer or something else. It's just a question of when. Everything I had accomplished in golf became meaningless to me. All I wanted to do was live."

Then he remembered something that Larry Moody, who teaches a Bible study on the tour, had said to him. "Zinger, we're not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We're in the land of the dying trying to get to the land of the living."

Jesus said, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own life?" If it's really possible to live forever, there's no more relevant issue than the one we're dealing with right now during this global pandemic where thousands are dying;—if a man dies, will he live again? The Bible says, "If only in this life we have hope, then we are of all people to be pitied." The longer you live, the more you realize that life is coming to a dead end. It is futile if there is not hope beyond the grave.

WRITTEN IN RED UPON HIS HAND

At the battle of Inkerman in 1854 a soldier was just able to crawl to his tent after he was shot. When found, dead he was lying face down, his open Bible before him, his bloody hand stuck to John 11. When his hand was lifted, the letters of the printed page were clearly seen transferred to his hand by his own blood, and with the words of Jesus in red, he was laid in a grave. The words were: “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

FOREVER – Kari Jobe

The Son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive

04-05-20 “He hung on a cross, they hung on His words”

Scripture   Luke 19:28-48

Luke 19:28-48

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'"

          32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs it."

          (Jesus had a plan and knew the resources for that plan were available if the disciples would trust him and follow his instructions – They did, and it happened exactly as Jesus said it would.)

          (Have you ever been so in love with Jesus that you just burst into song – and maybe even dancing? That was not only about to happen, but it was happening at the beginning of the parade as soon as Jesus sat on the colt. It reminds me of an OT story: David first dressed as a King and touched the ark-BAD Then he dressed as a priest and let the Levites carry the ark-GOOD / His wife Michal thought he demeaned himself not being dressed like a king – he was not naked but was filled with joy and would said he would not stop rejoicing before the Lord.)  (ILLUS: It’s like when the preacher’s sermon on God stimulated some questions in the mind of a child, and she raised the questions to her mother on the way home from church. “The pastor said God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” “Yes,” the mother responded, “He is.” The child continues, “And the pastor also said God lives inside of us. Is that true, too, Mommy?” “Yes,” the mother again responded.  “Well, then,” concluded the little girl, “if God is bigger than us, and if He lives inside of us, then shouldn’t some of Him show through?”)

          35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

          (I love a person who can have unbridled worship – I am not talking about being a crazy person, rather a person who recognizes who Jesus is and gets excited about him and what he is doing. These people were putting there coats on the road so the colt would not step on dirt but a road paved with material and they were waving palm branches which is reserved for the entrance of the King or the return of conquerors. Palm trees were abundant, and spiritually they represented life – Solomon had them carved to the inside and outside of the first Temple.)  (Funny how everyone can be having a great time filled with such great joy and someone has to come along and try to ruin it all…)

          39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (In other words: this party is going to happen whether you like it or not!!!)

          41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (Can you picture all the joy – then Jesus begins weeping for the people) 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

          45 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

          (Daily after Palm Sunday…)

          47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

The people hung on His words. When we hang on the words of Jesus, we develop a resolve like Jesus had – it both allows us to move forward whatever the cost – even as he was going UP to Jerusalem AND in the midst of that singlemindedness serving the Lord, individually and as a church, we can worship with abandon, knowing we are secure in the Christ who came riding in on a colt.

          Speaking of animals, birding week in Oregon (our town’s biggest money maker for local merchants) was cancelled, but the birds have come and are still coming even if there are few people out taking their pictures. Those birds are single minded and come back even if birding week is canceled.  Those birds are like all birds at this time of year – even the bar swallow – here is a story of a few, told by a man named Ray Jennings…

When the Swallows Come Back . . .

“Yes, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young” (Psalm 84:3)

Church members tell me that, like their fabled cousins of Capistrano, the barn swallows come back each spring. As Jeremiah the prophet said, they know their “appointed time.”

Rapidly darting blurs of color, they busily built a nest of mud and twigs under the eaves near the main church door. One Saturday, a work-day crew member knocked the nest from its perch with water from a carefully aimed hose and then washed away the debris. “That should take care of that,” he said.

It didn’t. A week later, on Sunday, worshipers noted the nest had been rebuilt. Again, a church member destroyed it.

Within a week, the industrious birds had built a third nest. This action put the birds on the church executive board’s agenda. Some objected to the way the birds decorated the wall beneath the nest. Others said the bird’s chatter during worship was distracting. Still others argued that, as God’s creatures, they were entitled to build a nest wherever they chose.

The nature-lovers carried the day. It was agreed the barn swallows should be left undisturbed and a notice to that effect was posted beneath the nest.

I suspect that if we kept destroying the nest, the swallows would spend the entire summer starting over. They had chosen their spot and, like Jesus when he “steadfastly set his face to go up to Jerusalem,” they were not to be turned aside.

If there’s a bit of contemporary jargon the church can embrace and employ, it’s the phrase, “Hang in there.” Too many in the church give up too soon. “We tried that once and it didn’t work…” is an easy excuse. “I don’t think that will work with our people…” has stopped more than one good proposal on the launching pad. To a generation wired for fast food and quick results, the 19^th century poet’s admonition, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” is both quaint and antiquated. The words of Edison, after another failure in creating a filament for his envisioned light bulb – “but I know a thousand ways it CAN’T be done” – no longer challenge us.

Consider the Scriptures: “Who endures to the end, will be saved” (Matt. 24:13); “No one who puts hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62); “Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor in the Lord is not wasted” (1 Cor. 15:58); “Do not be weary or lose heart in doing right” (2 Thess. 3:13); “Let us hold fast without wavering the hope we cherish…” (Heb. 10:23); “We count them happy who endure” (James 5:11); “[Do not] fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17); “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

We’ll probably not rename our little church “The Sanctuary of the Stubborn Swallows,” but all summer long the nest by the front door will be a reminder of our need to persevere.