April 7, 2021 — Easter plus Three

^“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31

In John’s Gospel, the writer ends his book with the idea that what was written in his gospel was just a tip of the iceberg for the deeds that Jesus did. It was not intended to be an “all inclusive” book of Jesus and his life. It was just an encapsulation of what John had witnessed. But knowing this was just the highlights of what Jesus did, it makes us wonder about the other deeds. What else did Jesus do that John just did not have the room to include in this edition? Were there greater things? We must realize there were lesser things, but what John did include was purposeful: “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ…”.

So, how did John do? Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G-d?” Or do you have questions that linger? I often preach on Easter about the empty tomb — wondering what were the possibilities that led to an empty tomb. As Lutherans we believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. And, though we do not have all of the answers, we do have 2000 years of witnesses who have lived their lives believing that Jesus was raised and will come again. We have a Great Cloud of Witnesses over time and space who have lived in the trust and faith that Jesus defeated death through the cross and the resurrection.

We do not need proof as much as we need faith – and trust – living into the new creation that Jesus offers everyone.

Pastor Dave

April 8, 2021 — Easter plus Four

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”²²When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”  John 20:19-23

The disciples, the followers of Jesus have been through a difficult, difficult week. They followed Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey – and they shouted, “Blessed is the king”. It was Jesus’ triumphal entrance.  Then he taught them a new commandment, which had their heads spinning.  Immediately he went out and was arrested. He was convicted and hung on a cross. And finally they heard the news that he was not in the tomb, but had been raised.

So, here they are locked away in fear, and their fear is very real. That description sure sounds like our lives over the last year – locked in our homes hiding in fear – another very real fear.

And here I am, Easter plus one day, Easter Monday, and I am wondering how many of our members will climb back into their homes, their year-long pandemic tombs waiting for a vaccination – hunkering down again hoping to be unleashed upon the world sometime soon. And, of course, I also wonder if people will want to come back to church. Why? Some will have become so comfortable with watching church from home this will be their new normal. Others will continue to live their lives without Jesus for most of the year. Something drove them away – the pandemic may keep them away. 

The risen Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon his disciples in that room the first day of the week, after the resurrection. It will take until the Day of Pentecost for the Holy Spirit to really take hold – once they watch Jesus’ ascension.  It is that same Holy Spirit that empowers us to face our brothers and sisters in Christ who come only occasionally, to put aside our fears and love them enough to invite them back, again, and again, and again.

Pastor Dave