Dear
Fellow Children of God,
When you were young, did you ever hurt yourself and go to
your mom or your dad crying? If so, did
they take you in their arms as your tears flowed and assure you, “Don’t
worry. It will be alright.”? Maybe you even believed them. Perhaps they were right. Childhood hurts often heal with time and
love.
But, as an adult did you ever experience trouble which caused
you worry, despair, possibly even tears? It could be an important relationship
was irreparably broken. Possibly, a
dearly loved one died, and you know you’ll never have their companionship again
in this life. Financial problems, or legal
troubles can and do steal our sleep. A
doctor’s diagnosis can take our breath away. In these, or other times of trial,
if someone tried to assure you, “Don’t worry.
It will be alright,” would you believe them? Or would you just think they are trying to calm
you down, yet their words carry no truth?
Do you feel words of hope and comfort are just empty wishes, the “opiate
of the masses?”
If there is any biblical truth which can be proven, it is
the truth of sin and evil. All we have
to do is look around us to see the evidence.
On the one hand we see people who are willing to do anything to get what
they want; we see hearts and actions of evil.
Unfortunately, on the other hand, even when people try to do good, in
politics, in relationships, in their own families, or elsewhere in this life, sometimes
even the best intentions lead to failure and disappointment. No wonder our
lives are full of pain and disappointment and death. The truth of sin and of evil lead us to cynicism
which causes us to doubt that words of assurance, such as “Don’t worry. It will be alright,” can never be true.
That is why the holy days of this week, Good Friday and Easter
Sunday, are so important in this world and in our lives.
Good Friday, when Jesus was unjustly executed for crimes
others committed, proves that evil is strong.
After all, didn’t even the Son of God, Himself, die? But, the events of Easter morning, turn our cynicism
and our defeat upside down. Jesus died. Jesus took on the sin of the world. But death did not have the final say. Neither sin, nor evil, nor Satan are more
powerful than the loving arms of God. Jesus
did die, but THEN, when Jesus rose, He blew the sin and the evil of this world out
of the water. He not only defeated
the devil, the world, and our flesh for Himself. Jesus defeated our enemies and offers love,
forgiveness, hope, joy, and eternal life to us, simply through faith in His sacrificial
death and His saving life.
This Sunday, Easter, I am preaching on Mark 16:1-8, the
assigned Gospel lesson. I believe these
words of God are exactly what our doubting world needs to hear. But, the assigned Epistle lesson is taken
from 1 Corinthians 15. The last verses
of this chapter might seem even more powerful.
“51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the
imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When
the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality,
then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
‘Death is swallowed
up in victory.’
55 ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’
56 The sting of death is sin, and
the power of sin is the law. 57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians
15:51-58)
The sin and evil of this world are unfortunately ugly truth,
the fruit of which we experience daily.
But, on His cross Jesus faced sin, death, and evil head on. He took all they
could give. In His resurrection Jesus overcame
the sin and evil which are the source of life’s pain. In His resurrection Jesus
won God’s love and forgiveness and life for all who believe in Him.
Many pictures of Jesus’ crucifixion show Him on the cross
with His arms extended. As you face the
broken relationships, the pain, defeat, the evil and death of this world and of
your life, I encourage you to see Jesus’ outstretched arms waiting to hug you
and assure, “Don’t worry. It will be alright.” Because of Jesus’ death, and especially
because of the empty tomb, Jesus’ assurance and love and promises are not empty
hope, but the REAL truth of God.
I encourage you celebrate this victory over sin and evil
and to worship our Lord this Easter. Let
our Savior speak words of love and assurance to you. “Don’t worry.
I died for your sins. I rose to
win you forgiveness and life. As you
believe in me, it really will be alright.”
A
Child of God, Living in the Assurance, the Peace, and the Victory of Jesus’ Resurrection!
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S.
NEWS CONCERNING FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH - Gainesville.
Palm
Sunday–
We celebrated Palm Sunday on March 24.
Included in worship was singing from our Open Arms pre-school children,
and a baptism of Lucy Sykes! Here is a
baptism picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ch9yzR65h5wGxPJDA
HOLY
WEEK SCHEDULE – Here
is the Holy Week Schedule for First Lutheran in 2024.
· Maundy Thursday
o Maundy Thursday Noon
worship with Communion gives us a chance to “Do this
in Remembrance of Jesus”, who instituted the Lord’s Supper on this day
o PASSOVER MEAL – We will celebrate
a PASSOVER MEAL of lamb, green salad, charoseth (apple and raisin relish), unleavened
bread, and wine or grape juice at 6:00 p.m. (This time gives
people a chance to arrive from work.) There is a ceremony with this meal which
helps us understand Jesus’ Passion and Easter victory. The Recommended Donation is $15.00 for adults
and $5.00 for children.
o 7:30 Maundy
Thursday Evening Worship – This service, following the Passover Meal,
should carry extra meaning. In addition,
2 confirmation student, Ryland and Kennon Brown will receive their first
communion.
·
Good Friday Worship
o Good Friday
Noon - We remember Jesus’ ultimate
sacrifice with a noon service.
o Good Friday
Evening - We also remember the events of Good Friday with a worship service at
7:00 p.m.
·
Easter Sunday Celebration!
o 8:30 a.m. Easter
Worship -
First Lutheran celebrates Easter on Sunday, March 31, first of all at 8:30 on
Easter morning.
o EASTER BREAKFAST – will take place
after early worship, probably around 9:30 or 9:45 a.m.
o An EASTER
EGG HUNT will be offered for children on Easter morning at 10:00 a.m.
o 11:00 Easter
Worship gives a second chance to celebrate Jesus’ Easter victory for
us.
A
STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS continues on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall. Last week we started book 2 of the Acts study, chapter
13, the beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys
WE
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s
Light Devotional Bible. As of March 30
we will finish Numbers, and start Deuteronomy.
SUNDAY
SCHOOL IS HELD EACH SUNDAY DURING WORSHIP. PLEASE bring your children
and grandchildren!
BASIC
TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE / NEW MEMBER CLASSS –This class began on February
11th, after worship in the Besalski Fellowship
Hall. But, we have only just begun. There is still time to join the
class. This is also a good way to refresh you knowledge of God’s
Word. PLEASE NOTE, JUST BECAUSE A PERSON ATTENDS THE
CLASS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE COMMITTED TO JOINING FIRST LUTHERAN.
If you are interested in learning and growing, we would love to have you join
us. THIS CLASS WILL RESUME ON APRIL 7!
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
· I WENT FISHING three times this past week
o On Friday, March 22, after a busy morning, I went fishing at
a local lake. I caught 4 nice bass, but
lost a BIG ONE. Here are some
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/PYkGb3N4q8J9pEqc9
o On Saturday, March 23, I fished on the Wacassassa
River. I only had 3 bites – mudfish. But, I saw a REALLY BIG gator! Here is a picture taken from a distance. https://photos.app.goo.gl/NqJUbJx7eSZhjFY4A
o Monday, March 25,
was the only day of Holy Week I might have a whole day off. So, I golfed at 8:00 a.m., and then fished in
the afternoon and evening. I caught 6
fish, but kept 4. Here are some pictures
from fishing. https://photos.app.goo.gl/nUU6ghFsn58U6Utz7
*******
ABOUT
THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time
senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a
weekly devotion previously entitled, "Thoughts from the
Pastor." When I retired many asked me to continue writing these
devotions. So I have continued writing. However, with life's
changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys Through Life as a Child
of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor at St. John, I felt it
right to only send this message to those who asked to receive it.
(Currently I am serving as Vacancy Pastor for First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville, FL.)
So, if you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you
understand. And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish
to receive them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my
distribution list. My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our
Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan
Rockey
Child
of God
Husband,
Father, Son, Grandfather
Vacancy
Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
Pastor
Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
How
great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
