"He is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!!"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Recently in worship we were asked by one of our members to pray for one of their friends.  This friend has been diagnosed by a physician to be terminal with cancer.  The way I was told the situation, the question is no longer whether this friend will pass away, but when.  That’s a sobering diagnosis.  Now, I’ve seen doctors make a mistake, but not usually.  We are blessed with good and skilled and faithful medical professionals in our area and I’ve always received good treatment.  It seems this friend is facing a sobering reality.

 

The truth is that all of us are terminal.  Unless Jesus comes again before our death, all of us will die.  Death is the result of sin in our world, our sin and the sin of everyone else.  All have broken God’s laws and hurt others. Life as we know it will end for all of us. 

 

Facing the sobering realities of life can be overwhelming.  There are some trials that we cannot overcome.  One of those sobering realities is death.  But, death is not the only reality we cannot overcome on our own.  I saw a news article recently in which a person was quoted to say, “You can’t fight city hall.”  Sometimes it seems there is nothing we can do.  I know people, especially in other parts of the country, who have been frustrated by the recent economic downturns.  For some, addictions seem impossible to overcome.  What do we do when life’s problems and realities seem bigger than we are???

 

Before His death, Jesus faced the death of his friend Lazarus.  When talking to Lazarus’ sister, Martha, Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. " (John 11:25-26)

 

Jesus died because of our sin.  But, Jesus, the Son of God, rose from the dead.  Jesus did what we can’t do.  He overcame sin and death.  In the  account above Jesus is telling Martha, and telling us, that everyone who believes in Him as Savior will live forever in heaven . . . after death. 

 

Jesus shows that because of His Easter victory we can face even the most impossible and unchangeable situations.  Cancer and death may be realities we cannot overcome on our own.  But the greater reality is the forgiving love and the Easter victory of Jesus.  With Jesus we overcome death and have eternal life in heaven.  With Jesus we can face the stark, seemingly unchangeable, seemingly impossible trials of life with the one who rose again by our side.

 

The early Christian church started worshiping on Sundays to celebrate Jesus’ Easter victory.  It’s that important!  I encourage you to make a point to celebrate Jesus’ Easter victory this Sunday.  In fact, I encourage you to celebrate Easter every Sunday.  “He is risen!”  “He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!”

 

 

A Child of God, Facing Life with Jesus’ Easter Victory,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  Please note the Holy Week activities and worship services listed below.

 

P.P.S.  A couple of years ago St. John member, Bill Weith, shared this music video on You Tube with me.  This song, sung by the English boys choir, Libera, is called, “Going Home,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2aLSat3h0w  This is a great Easter message.  By the way, please ignore the advertisement.

 

 

****

 

ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.

 

******