Convicted by Jesus' Rising from Death

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

For Christians actively involved in their congregations, Easter is the ultimate celebration of God’s greatest victory.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the event that accomplishes and proclaims God’s victory over sin and death.  Jesus’ rising from death is the source of our forgiveness and eternal life!  No wonder Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 , “3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . . ”  The death and resurrection of Jesus are the center of history!

  

But, for Christians actively involved in their congregations, Holy Week and Easter can also be times of planned frenzy as we work to remember and observe all the important, life changing gifts of God that happened in the week before Jesus died and rose.

 

So after Easter people who looked forward to the celebration of that which wins our salvation often breathe a sigh of relief when the hyper-activity and frenzy are over.  We are through special Lenten services.  The Palm Sunday procession and celebration are behind us.  We have celebrated Passover and Maundy Thursday, and watched with tears on Good Friday. We have finished our Easter Egg Hunts and Easter breakfasts. The extra worship services on Easter Sunday are joyfully complete.

 

My goal every year is to truly enjoy and celebrate the meaning of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.  But, I confess, I am thankful when we have completed the festival and return to a more normal schedule.

 

One of my favorite devotions each day comes from Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.  Dale is also a friend.  On Thursday he wrote the devotion below.  I share this with you for a number of reasons.  I am thankful for all who give of their time and effort to make the most important celebration of the year special.  And, I appreciate what Dale has to say about the continuing meaning of the resurrection of Jesus for our lives.  Please read and consider.

 

Back to normal after Easter?

 

James Martin[wrote in the Wall Street Journal]: “If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, however, everything changes. In that case, you cannot set aside any of his teachings. Because a person who rises from the grave, who demonstrates his power over death and who has definitively proven his divine authority needs to be listened to. What that person says demands a response” (“The Challenge of Easter,” Wall Street Journal, March 26-27, C 1—2)

 

Might conviction, even in the face of persecution, be a reason for the spectacular growth of the early church? “There was a group that was willing to go through horrendous suffering rather than deny that they saw Jesus alive again after he had been executed. If they fabricated the resurrection, why would they endure that? Something had to have happened that created such a deep-seated conviction” (Thomas Zelt, “The Lynch Pin: Seven Reasons to Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead, 14).

 

The time when the church had a comfortable, unchallenged place in American society is gone. Is that so bad? Might God be scraping the barnacles off His church?  James Martin again: “In short, the Resurrection makes a claim on you.”

 

“Faith shall cry as fails each sense: Jesus is my confidence!” (“Jesus Lives the Victory’s Won, verse 5) 

 

I pray that the worship of Holy Week and Easter allowed you to celebrate and claim God’s actions of "First Importance” for your life.  And, I pray that the risen Lord Jesus continues to give you faith and strength to live as His child with conviction.

 

A Child of God, Convicted by Jesus’ Rising from the Dead,

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  THANK YOU again to all the musicians, cooks, volunteers, and other servants of God who made Holy Week special!

 

P.P.S.  For all who have asked, I am getting over my illness and spent the week at work again in the office.  However, I did not make calls so as not to share any germs.

 

 

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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 regularly 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.

 

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