Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Perhaps you were shocked and saddened, like many at the
fire in Paris which engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday, April 15. This historic cathedral, begun in the 12th
century, has been a center of the Roman Catholic faith, and of Christianity, in
France. In many ways, however, Notre
Dame represented not just the Christian faith, but represented France to many
around the world. In fact, the cathedral
was so important in the mind of the French, I am told, that when mileage from
Paris to another location in France is calculated, the Paris location of measurement
was Notre Dame. It was the center, the
heart of Paris. So, losing this center
of Christian faith, this center of French spirit, is a blow to the heart and to
the spirit of many.
Reality of the fire is now soaking in. The disbelief and the grief at the loss of
the cathedral is palpable. Many are left
wondering, “How could this happen?” Many are left asking, “What now?” Even as people search for the cause of the
fire and destruction, there seems to be a sense of emptiness, of sorrow. The cathedral will never be present again in
its historic form.
Perhaps this loss can begin to remind us of the loss
experienced by the disciples of Jesus on Good Friday. However, the death of Jesus was so much
greater than the destruction of an historic cathedral. Jesus was not just a
symbol of God’s power, compassion, and love.
Jesus is the Son of God Himself. Jesus
is the cornerstone of the foundation of God’s Church. On Good Friday, it was not a building that
burned, but the promised Messiah, the Son of God who died on the cross. No
wonder the disciples could not recognize Jesus on Easter morning, and could not
recognize Him on the road to Emmaus. The
eyes of their minds were blinded with grief and loss.
Sadly, tragically, the death of
Jesus was necessary in God’s effort of sacrificial love to make atonement for
sins we had committed. As Isaiah
prophesied 700 years before Jesus, “But he
was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone
astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6) Our sin made the death of God’s Savior
necessary, if we were to be forgiven and saved.
As I read about the fire at Notre
Dame, I have also read that there were reparations taking place. The cathedral was deteriorating. The limestone structure was in danger of
crumbling because of pollution. If and
when a rebuilding occurs, maybe this problem will now be addressed in a way not
previously possible.
Christians see Jesus’ tragic death
as bad news that points to our sin, but also as good news concerning the love
of God. When He died, Jesus willingly laid
down His life down to pay for the sins of the world, to pay for our sin.
As Jesus taught, 11 "I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . 17 The reason my Father
loves me is that I lay down my life-- only to take it up again. 18 No one takes
it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down
and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my
Father." (John 11:11, 17-18) What a tragedy and burden of guilt. Our sin is so grievous that the Son of
God had to die to pay what we owed!
Therefore, what unbelievably good
news for the people of the earth, for us sinners, that Jesus did not stay dead,
but He rose again that first Easter!
What good news, what a reversal of fortune, that the tragedy of Jesus’
death, is overcome by His rising to life!
What victory that Jesus’ rising overcomes the consequences of our sin,
which caused even the Son of God Himself to die! Because Jesus rose, as we trust in Him as our
Savior, we now have the promise of new life in heaven where God promises, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed away." The destruction caused by our sin and our weakness
has been overcome by the sacrificial love and the victorious rising of Jesus.
The loss of the Notre Dame Cathedral will continue to
cause downcast hearts and spirits. But,
hope is rising that perhaps a new cathedral will take its place, one built of
even better materials.
In order to understand the good news of Easter, we need
to first understand the depth of our lost-ness and sin. But, when our sin hits us on Good Friday,
Jesus’ Easter victory lifts us. I pray
that you can join your heart in the joyful chants of Easter victory from Christians
around the world again this year. “He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!!
A Child of God, Finding Truth in Jesus’ death, and Life
in His Easter Rising!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. It is worth also
considering what a friend of mine reminded me this week. God never commanded His people to build a
temple or a church. In 2 Samuel when
David told the prophet Nathan that he wanted to build a house, a temple, for
the Lord, God responded in the following way.
“Would you build me a house to
dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of
Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my
dwelling” (2 Samuel 7:5-6). In fact,
God did not allow David to build the temple.
David’s son, Solomon, built the temple for worship of God, with these
words in his prayer. “Will God indeed dwell on the earth?
Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this
house that I have built! Have regard to the prayer of your servant…that your
eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have
said, ‘My name shall be there’” (1 Kings 8:27-29). God’s people on earth construct buildings,
temples, churches, cathedrals, because they serve as practical tools for
worshiping God and equipping for living out the Christian faith. But, our real treasure is the God and Savior
we worship, not the building in which we worship.
P.P.S
It has been a busy week – I have LOTS of pictures to share
·
From April 14, Palm Sunday, Confirmation day;
o Here
is a picture from the baptism of Freya Ann Kopperud, April 14, 2019. https://photos.app.goo.gl/CPwHjKHYf3MsmPWa8
o
Here are some pictures from Confirmation Day, April 14, 2019. https://photos.app.goo.gl/L5KJsLsFH8BgSkHn7
·
Here is a picture from the last day of Confirmation Classes on April 10. MOST of our 6-8 grade confirmation students
for 2018-2019 are present. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6w5tZyhhz4jecddn8
·
Here are some pictures events last week with
food.
o Here
are pictures from our Little Mermaid Outing and Meal, April 13, 2019 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/frV1w4tM5rZdN24Z8
WHEW!!
· FINALLY
- I actually put my boat in the water
at Finger Lake to try it out on Monday,
April 15. That is the earliest ever for
me! https://photos.app.goo.gl/QD7Cwmanyvd9Lxa58.
· Of course, this was followed
by snow
on Wednesday. https://photos.app.goo.gl/jwq8Jv3km2jeg8xr9
******
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 do not 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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