Merry Christmas!
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas with you family. After this year of twists and turns, it is even more important to cherish time with your loved ones, sharing the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. In this season of Christmas, let's get back to the simple joys of life, such as friendship, food, and time together. There is beauty in simplicity. And we desire that we all are able to find the joy and hope of the assurance we have in Jesus.
Merry Christmas!
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Sermon by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: November 8, 2020 Scripture: Esther 4:14, Psalm 78 The World We Know 2020…what a year we have had! The year of 2020 seems to be one problem after another. The news and social media are full of anger or hate, over this issue or that policy. All of the catastrophic and horrible things all over the world can be overwhelming when we get such a steady stream of it from major news and media outlets as well as social media. Just this last week, there is so much uncertainty surrounding the election. And the year is not over yet. Our world is changing. Just in the last year or so, we have seen changes in technology, in how we do school, in how we are doing church, in the economy, and so on. Some of these changes are for the good, and some are not. But with so much change at once, it can just seem like the world is spiraling out of control sometimes, and you feel helpless against such deep hurts. This is the world we know. It’s not always sunshine and daisies. God I have been teaching science this year, and I tell my students that science is always changing as we learn more and more about how our world works. There is one thing that we have that never changes: God. God and His Word are unchanging. He is consistent and trustworthy. His message is the same as it has always been. God desires a relationship with us. Since the Fall of Man from the Garden of Eden, God has pursued us. And God does not waiver in His purpose. If you read the Old Testament, a pattern starts to emerge. God is consistently saying, “Hey, if you follow me, you will be my people. I will bless you and take care of you. There will be none that can stand against you. However, if you don’t follow me, then you will be cursed or punished.” Throughout the days of the judges of Israel and then, thereafter, throughout the days of the kings of Israel, this cycle begins. The people follow God, and they are a strong nation, even feared by other nations. The other nations know the people of Israel and the reputation of their one true God. God blesses His people and provides for their needs. But then, Israel would turn away from God. God would withdraw His presence and blessings from them. He would allow them to be taken over by other nations. Then, the people cry to God to save them, and from their midst, God would raise up a person, a redeemer, to help save them or free them from oppression. And the cycle would begin again. Haman’s Plot During one of these cycles, the Israelites fell under the Persian Empire and the rule of King Xerxes. Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin, Mordecai, became the wife of King Xerxes about 480 B.C. However, the king did not know at first that Esther was Jewish. After he had banished his first queen, Queen Vashti, King Xerxes had held a contest and finally chose Esther as his next queen. He was very pleased with her and all seemed well, except for his second in command, Haman, who also did not know that Esther’s Jewish heritage. Haman was a very ambitious and prideful man. He definitely sought honor for himself as he rose in the ranks of the king’s palace. He expected everyone to bow down to him, and, when Mordecai refused, he became angry and vengeful. Mordecai was a devout Jew, and he would not bow down to anyone except God. Now, Haman did not lay hands on Mordecai himself. He wasn’t dumb. Rather, he sought out to extinguish and destroy all of the Jews. Now, it seems a bit of an extreme overreaction to someone not bowing down. He probably figured if one guy didn’t bow down to him, and the only reasons he gave was being a Jew, then the other Jews probably wouldn’t either. They were persecuted simply because of the actions of one person, simply for being Jews. It’s all in the name. Haman allowed hate and anger to consume him. Mordecai discovered the plot and pleaded with Esther to go to the king. Even though she could be killed going before the king without the king calling for her, she agreed to speak to the king on behalf of her people. She made her decision, and the first thing she did was pray to God and fast. She prayed before she acted. We all need to remember that, especially in turbulent times. Praying to God should be the first and primary action we take. For Such a Time as This The thing that finally convinced her to step up and help her people was something that Mordecai told her. Esther 4:13-14 says: 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” For such a time as this…God places us where He wants us to be. He works through our lives with purpose. Esther’s act of faith and courage led her to helping her people. Just as in the many cycles of the history of Israel, God raised Esther as the one to redeem her people. A Time of Preparation The Israelites had endured 11 months of a death sentence hanging over their head. Now, I don’t know what I would have done during those 11 months, but I probably would have seen it as a time of preparation. That is the sense that I have had for the past year: that as Christians, we need to be prepared. We need to spend time in praying and reading the Bible. We need to gird ourselves with God’s truth and embody God’s love. We cannot forget our purpose and mission. Our purpose is to glorify God, and our mission is to spread the gospel. The Psalm for today comes from Psalm 78:1-8, which says: Psalm 78:1-8 ESV 1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. We have been given the task to share the deeds and commandments of God with generations that follow us. And we need to feel that sense of urgency for such a task. Psalm 90:12 ESV says: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” We do not know when Jesus Christ will return again. But we need to be ready. Going Forward Lately, I have been thinking about the Old Testament prophets. They did not always have a message that people wanted to hear. But the message they shared was the same: if the people followed God, then they would be His people. He would bless them and take care of them. However, if they didn’t, then they would face punishment, separation from God. To some people this message is dangerous. They don’t want to change. They hated and feared the messengers. But to others, it was a message of hope and salvation, and they repented, turning back to God. Throughout the Old Testament and the messages of the prophets was the hope of redemption, the promise of a redeemer. In the New Testament, that promise was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ, our Ultimate Redeemer. Just over a year ago, a pastor friend and I were talking about the state of the 21st century church. He made a statement that stuck with me. He said that he thought the Church would go underground within our lifetime. I dismissed it and said no, that I didn’t think that would happen. Then, 2020 happened, and look where we are a just a year later. The Church isn’t underground. However, we are unable to meet like we normally would. There have been limitations throughout the country on where and how we worship. The world is changing. The Church is changing. But God doesn’t change. He still pursues us. We are His children, and He wants a relationship with us. The message is the same: God desires us to be His people, His children. Not everyone will want to hear the message, but that doesn’t mean that we stop saying it. People are in desperate need of the hope that the Gospel provides. Roman Oppression The early Christians lived under a time of oppression. The Romans were polytheistic, worshipping many gods. To them, Jesus was just another god to add to their collection. I am reading a book called Resilient Faith by Gerald Sittser, and it is about those early Christians and how Christianity survived in those early days. In the book, he points out that in the year AD 40, shortly after the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, there were estimated to be about 5,000 Christians. By 300 AD, there were about 5 million Christians worshipping in about 65,000 house churches. These Christians did not have the state support or cultural privilege that we have had in our lifetime. In fact, they faced a great amount of hostility. However, under such an anti-Christian government and culture, Christianity, not only survived, but it thrived. How did they do that? Here is a quote from the book: “Christians had to guard the newness of the message without isolating themselves from the culture or accommodating themselves to the culture, which required them to form people in the faith and thus grow a movement of genuine disciples who could survive, and even thrive, in such a world. Rome would have ignored Christianity if Christians had been too isolated; it would have absorbed it if they had become too accommodating. For the most part it did neither.” They chose a Third Way, and they became known as the Third Way movement. They retained their identity as God’s children as they shaped the culture around it by engaging it. The early Christians did not set out to create a new way of life for themselves. Rather, this new way was a by-product of what it meant to keep Jesus Christ at the center of their lives. Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world. The kingdom of God transcends this world, yet has everything to do with this world. What does that mean for us? We are facing shifts in our culture, specifically our government this year. This world is changing. But God and His Word never change. We need to keep Jesus Christ as our center. Our identity is found in being followers of Jesus Christ and children of God. Our purpose is still to glorify God, and our mission is still to proclaim the Gospel. Not everyone will be receptive to our message. But we are still called to share it. Our world, maybe even the very concept of Church, is changing. But God has always promised to be with us and provided us the gift of the Holy Spirit to comfort us and to empower us. We have been blessed with gifts and talents by God in order to do His will. Perhaps God has created you for such a time as this. May 3, 2020 –Salvation Sermon by Rev. Jessica Johnson Salvation – 1 Peter 1:3-12 Lectionary Readings for May 3, 2020
Introduction The Apostle Peter wrote 1 Peter to those who were socially marginalized for both their social situation and their spiritual beliefs. However, it was primarily their Christian beliefs that kept them on the fringes of society. A life spent obediently following Jesus Christ will eventually put someone at odds with their culture. In some places, this happens more than others, and social marginalization can go from subtle persecution to full outright persecution. When Peter wrote this, Nero was emperor. Nero, especially after a fire burnt down a good bit of Rome, persecuted Christians and had them executed. He used this new sect of believers as a scapegoat for the fire. Nero was known for both his extravagance, especially his building projects, and for his tyranny. During his reign, it is believed that both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul were martyred for their faith, but it was a few years after 1 Peter was written. Peter writes to the Christians to remind them that no matter what is going on in the world that they were children of God. He wanted to encourage them in their faith during a time of persecution and social ostracization. Peter did that by first reminding them of where it all began, the source of their salvation in Jesus Christ. I would love for you to read with me as I read 1 Peter 1:3-12 ESV. As I read, I will warn you that this is basically written as one very long run-on sentence, however, it is elegantly written. 1 Peter 1:3-12 ESV Born Again to a Living Hope 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. Hope of Salvation – 1 Peter 1:3-5 In verses 3-5, Peter writes of the hope of salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, and this is the source of our hope. We are promised an inheritance simply because we are God’s children. This inheritance cannot be diminished or destroyed or revoked. It is there waiting for us. These words from Peter remind me of Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans. Romans 8:18 ESV states: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We can hope in the future despite whatever sufferings and troubles we are having now. There is always hope in God. Peter also assures us of God’s mercy and power in the resurrection of Christ. Jesus died so that we wouldn’t have to. The death of Jesus Christ was an act of justice, because the price of sin is death. God is just and our sins, the sins of all people, needed to be accounted for. But the death of Christ was also an act of mercy, because God allowed Jesus to die in our place. The resurrection of Jesus is demonstrates mercy as well, because Jesus defeated death and rose again. In that act, we are given hope. We are given hope of life after death. We are also given hope, because the resurrection demonstrates the power of God. Peter encourages them (and us) by pointing out that they are shielded and protected by God and His power, the same power that He used by resurrecting Jesus Christ. Expectation of Salvation – 1 Peter 1:6-7 Peter frames the rest of his message with these assurances of hope and God’s power protecting them, because he knows that they are facing all kinds of grief, suffering, and trials for their faith. In verses 6-7, Peter tells them that even in their suffering that they can be encouraged and rejoice in it. The faith of the people is being refined and purified under this time of testing. The Church may even experience a bit of pruning where those who have an authentic faith will remain standing, but those with only a nominal faith may drift away. Christianity by its very nature is counter-cultural. There will always be times when it comes head to head with culture. Our faith and belief system will rub people the wrong way. Peter points out certain expectations that come with salvation. First, there will be times of suffering for our faith. Second, we can expect Jesus Christ to return again. His coming was promised before, and He came. He has promised to come again, and Jesus will come again. Peter once again entwines a message of hope within his thoughts on suffering. There is always hope, and it is an assured hope. A third expectation is that our faith will be refined and strengthened in the face of opposition. It is possible that people will fall away from the faith during this refinement. However, I know that every time my faith has been challenged by someone or something that it has grown stronger. I have had to research the issue at hand, dig deep into what it is I really believe, and my faith has been stronger for it. My theology has been become more refined not just during times when someone opposes my beliefs, but also during times of tragedy in my life. When commitment to holy living, obediently following Jesus Christ encounters the unbelief in the gospel and permissiveness or tolerance in our culture, then sparks are bound to happen. However, the church does not always act as a boiling point. For example, Western society has tried to reduce Christianity to a mere system of morals and ethics, or it has turned into a system of ethics based on so-called “tolerant love”. But both of those views minimize what Christianity is. It will always find its foundation in the message of salvation. Everything points back to Christ. Source of Salvation – 1 Peter 1:8-9 And that is Peter’s next point in verses 8-9: Jesus Christ is the source of salvation. In our relationship with Jesus, we rejoice at His existence. We believe in Jesus and follow Him. We love Him. Yet, we do not see Him. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is based upon our faith, and our faith is based upon Jesus Christ. Faith is believing without seeing, but that does not mean that it is blind. While I have not seen Jesus Christ in person, there is proof and witness of His existence. While I do not see Him in bodily, physical form, I have felt His presence in my life. We live in a pluralistic society. The people of the New Testament did as well. There were competing worldviews, philosophies, and ways of thought. But there is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. John 10:1-10 talk about Jesus as the shepherd and gatekeeper. Look specifically at John 10:7-10 which states: 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus came so that we may have life. Jesus came so that we may have salvation. Fulfillment of the Prophecy of Salvation – 1 Peter 1:10-12 Looking back at 1 Peter 1:10-12, Peter points out that this route of salvation through Jesus Christ was just as the Old Testament prophets foretold. Jesus was the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies. He came to save us all. Salvation is the foundation for all we do. Social works are important, but not the most important. Salvation must be central. We cannot forget our purpose (to glorify God) and our mission (to spread the Gospel) amidst “doing good”. Just like the Old Testament prophets were serving current and future generations, we must continue to spread the good news for our current generation as well as future generations. The good news that Jesus came and died and then rose again, defeating death, all for our salvation. All so we could have life and a future. Listen to the sermon on Walking the Ancient podcast. Click the button below.
April 26, 2020 –1 Peter 1:1-2 Sermon by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Introduction to 1 Peter Lectionary Readings for April 26, 2020
Sermon – 1 Peter 1:1-2 Are you alone? Let me rephrase that. Are you lonely? Because there is a difference between solitude and loneliness. One is by choice, but the other may not be. Now, in this time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, some of us may be finding the loneliness to be a bit more overwhelming than usual. But I am not just talking about being apart from friends or not having any. Do you feel like an outcast or have you ever? Have you ever felt socially excluded for one reason or another? And there is a myriad of reasons that you could have felt socially excluded or marginalized. SOCIAL It could have been for social reasons. You don’t hang out with the cool kids or have questionable associates. You are judged by the friends and people you hang out with, the activities that you participate in, and the places you go. Perhaps you are marginalized because of who your related to, like when a younger sibling is compared to an older sibling or your parents are known for doing something. IDENTITY Or maybe people just think you are the weird one. Perhaps you have been excluded because of your own identity. You have felt or have been marginalized because of who you are or who people think you are, whether it is your race, appearance, gender, behavior, successes, failures, etc. Maybe you have been left out of things because of a physical limitation or some other disability. ECONOMIC Maybe you have been socially excluded or felt marginalized due to economic reasons. You and your family don’t make enough money, or you make too much money. Maybe you have been excluded because of where you live, whether that be the neighborhood, the county, the state, and so on. You may feel excluded when you can’t go on trips or participate in activities that others can. POLITICAL We have seen incredible divisions in our country over politics. Perhaps you have felt socially excluded or marginalized due to your political views. Perhaps you have felt pressure to keep quiet about your political views. Or you have lost friends over them. RELIGIOUS Maybe you have experienced social exclusion or marginalization due to your religious beliefs. Have you felt like an outcast in society because of your religion? Have you lost friends or not been invited to things because of your faith? Maybe you didn’t get a certain job because of what you believe. This may not be as common in Western societies as in other places. But it can happen. PERSECUTION In fact, many believe that religious persecution, especially persecution of Christians, doesn’t even happen in Western societies. I have gotten into arguments over this topic actually. They believe that because we don’t face death for our beliefs in this country that persecution of Christians just doesn’t happen. But persecution doesn’t necessarily mean death. There are all forms of persecution. Webster’s defines persecution as “harassment or bad treatment based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation”. The Oxford Dictionary defines persecution as “hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs”. Neither of these things say that you have to die in order for it to be persecution. In fact, neither of them even says that it has to be something physical that happens to you. Persecution of Christians does happen in this country, and it is happening now. I have experienced it. Part of the reason it does occur in the Western world is due to our complacency, but that is sermon for another day. Today, I want to keep the focus on social exclusion and social marginalization due to our faith. SOCIAL EXCLUSION Social exclusion and social marginalization can be forms of persecution. And “it is rare for Christians to live obediently even in the Western world without experiencing some kind of social exclusion at some point in their lives or at some level of existence – even if it does not go as far as outright persecution.” 1 PETER And that is exactly who Peter was writing to in 1 Peter: those who were socially disenfranchised for their Christian faith. Read with me the opening of 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NIV). Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Now the opening of Peter’s letter had the typical 3 elements of an ancient letter: the sender, the addressee, and a bit about the purpose. So, let’s examine this a bit. THE ADDRESSEE Now, I already told you that the people that Peter was writing to were excluded, because they were Christians. It would have been a mixture of both Jewish and Gentile converts, though mostly Gentile converts. Because Peter freely uses the Old Testament, it is thought that these Gentile converts would have been trained in the Torah as well, perhaps Jewish proselytes that converted to Christianity. However, they were actually socially excluded on two levels. Peter was writing to people who were outcasts because of both their social situation as well as their spiritual beliefs. They were exiles, a people without a country, scattered throughout the land that we know of today as Turkey. They were aliens who did not have the full rights and protections of citizenship. They belonged already to the lower social and economic classes, not because of their religious beliefs, but simply because of their social situation. They were poor but hardworking people that just had a tough lot in life. THE SENDER Peter is the writer of this letter. Peter really doesn’t need much of an introduction. He was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. He was part of the inner circle, a close friend of Jesus. Peter does not have to defend his authority like Paul does in his letters. Peter is well-known as an associate of Jesus and a leader of the Christian church in Jerusalem. He is known to be outspoken and brash. Peter was the preacher on the Day of Pentecost. He also had a vibrant ministry in Rome that had such a lasting impact to today. The entire Roman Catholic church is founded on Peter’s ministry to Rome. It is just a few simple words, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” but there is such power and authority behind those words. Could you imagine the reaction those simple words would have caused? Here I am, someone who is the lowest of the low in society getting a letter from Peter! He wasn’t writing about them. He wasn’t writing to other Christians to help them. He was writing directly to them. THE PURPOSE That brings us to the purpose. Why was Peter writing to them? Peter is reaching out to these scattered exiles to remind them of three things. First, Peter is reminding the Christians of their identity. They are “God’s elect” who were “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” Basically, the Christians are God’s people, called by God. Their primary identity is being a part of God’s family. It is not whatever race, nationality, gender, or class they are. They are a child of God, made in God’s image, chosen by God. Second, Peter is reminding the Christians of their sanctification through the work of the Holy Spirit. Some people teach that sanctification only occurs after conversion or justification, but that is not biblical. Peter speaks of the sanctifying work as something already in progress and still in progress. It is an on-going, lifelong process. Sanctification involves the initial repentance and separation from sin, spiritual formation and spiritual growth of becoming more holy and righteous throughout life, and the final act of God when God brings His people into complete holiness for all of eternity. It is an all-encompassing process. Third, Peter is reminding the Christians of their purpose. They called to follow Jesus Christ. They are called to a life of obedience to live for Him. Jesus gave His life, His blood so that they could have life. We are called to be children of God, which brings it full circle back to their identity. LIFE TODAY Peter’s words still ring true today. As Christians, our primary identity is found in God. We are made in His image, and we are His children. Our sanctification through the Holy Spirit is still an on-going process. The Holy Spirit is still actively working on our hearts, souls, and minds today. And finally, our purpose is found in following Jesus Christ. We need to be engaging constantly and consistently with building our relationship with Jesus and living according to His will. Whenever we are feeling alone, excluded, or like an outcast, we need to remember who we are. We need to act as Christians in a Christian manner, understanding that our identity is found in God, not our social groups or situations. And no matter what happens in our social, economic, or political situations, we can remember that we are in God’s hands. God is above it all. STAY TUNED… Over the next several weeks, we will be exploring the rest of Peter’s letter. 1 Peter has 3 major themes running throughout it: salvation, the Church, and Christian life. I hope that you join us. Take some time to read through 1 Peter Chapter 1 this week. Next week, I will be focusing on 1 Peter 1:3-12. I hope that you have a wonderful week! April 12, 2020 –Resurrection Sunday Sermon by Rev. Jessica Johnson
The Gospel Story Lectionary Readings for Resurrection Sunday 2020 Easter Morning
Easter Evening
Sermon – Matthew 28 (See also Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21.) In the beginning, God separated the light from the dark. God, the Ultimate Creator, created the world and all that is in it. God is the Creator of all existence, not just our little world. As part of His creative efforts, God created mankind. He created us. God created a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden for humans to live in, but then the serpent tricked the first people, Adam and Eve, into questioning God. Sin entered the world and corrupted God’s beautiful Creation. People were cast out of the Garden of Eden as they fell into sinful behavior, following their ways rather than God’s ways. This struggle with sin continues today. But God’s love never ends. And even though there are consequences to the bad, sinful choices that Adam and Eve made, to the choices that we make, God still loves us no matter what. Ever since, the Fall from grace of the first people, God has pursued us to return to Him. The entire story of the Bible documents God reaching out to us, waiting patiently for us to reach back to Him. God is eternal, and His patience is long. God loves us and wants us as His children. He wants you and me. Even when we ignore His presence, God is working in our lives and is with us, watching over us. Some people have turned to Him, but some people have rejected God. In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites the Law. The Law was given in order to teach the people how to be in relationship with God and how to be righteous. But time and time again, people would fail and fall back into sinful ways. Some people turned to God, but some people rejected God. God promised a Savior that would bring salvation for all. God’s love and grace continued to shine through as He promised redemption for mankind. The New Testament opens with the words, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” in Matthew 1:1 (ESV). Jesus Christ is that promised Messiah. He is the Savior that came to save us all. The Gospel is His story, and it is the greatest story ever told. Do you know that Gospel? Could you tell it to someone else clearly and concisely? For the first century Christians, they knew the Gospel by heart with powerful accuracy. Throughout the four Gospels of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we find the essential Gospel. God’s kingdom is at hand. Jesus is the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. Jesus is the Son of God who came to this earth in pursuit of us, in accordance with the Hebrew Scriptures, and He is fully God and fully man. Jesus died for our sins so that we could be restored to God. Jesus defeated death and rose from the dead. He appeared to others and gave final instructions in the Great Commission. Jesus calls us to repent, believe, and FOLLOW HIM. Following Jesus is not the end; it is merely the beginning of a life with God. Today, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Read with me as I read about the Resurrection from Matthew 28:1-10 ESV. The Resurrection 28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Most people look to the Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus as the central point of the Gospel. However, His Resurrection is the core of Christianity. The truth of Christianity rests solely on the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. Because He defeated death and rose again, that is what makes Christianity true. And there is evidence of it, specifically through Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances. Jesus spent another 40 days on the earth where He appeared to individuals as well as groups and to friends as well as enemies. These events are recorded by more than one source in the Bible as well as writings outside of the Bible. Jesus’s first appearance was to a woman, Mary Magadalene. At that time, her testimony would not have been admissible in a court of law. Therefore, she would not have been ideal if it were some grand cover-up. There was actually a cover-up recorded. But it was not a cover-up by Jesus and His followers. Rather, the Roman soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went to the Jewish religious leaders and told them what had happened. The Jewish leaders, men who knew the Messianic prophecies and the teachings of Jesus well, still rejected the truth. The religious leaders paid off the soldiers and conspired with them to attempt to cover up that Jesus had risen from the dead. The cover up is still believed by some to this day. Let’s read about it together in Matthew 28:11-15 ESV. The Report of the Guard 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. But for the disciples and other followers of Christ, there was no conspiracy of cover up. They were no longer in mourning, because their friend and teacher, Jesus, had come back to them from the dead. They were excited and empowered by the truth of what had occurred. They wanted to tell the world which was good, because that is exactly what Jesus commanded them to do. Throughout His 3-year ministry, Jesus had mostly attempted to keep His ministry quiet. He told people not to speak of what He had done or of who He was. But the time for silence had passed into the grave. Now was the time for speaking. In His final instructions, Jesus told the disciples and followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV) And that is exactly what the disciples did until the end of their lives: they preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They shared the story of the life, ministry, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and they shared of His promise to be with us always and His promise to return to us again. If someone asked you, “What is the Gospel?” Could you tell them? Could you tell them in a brief, clear way what Jesus had done for all of us and why we need Jesus? When God began to create, the first thing He did was to bring light into the darkness. The Gospel continues to do that today. It is the light into the darkness. By sharing the Gospel story written on our hearts, that is how we spread the light into the darkness. We have to actually speak the words of truth. We are called to be storytellers. I said earlier this week that we all have a story to share, and as Christians, we have the opportunity to tell the greatest story ever told. Ecclesiastes 3:7b (ESV) states: “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…” Now is the time to SPEAK. Bring light into the darkness and calm into the panic. Bring hope into the misery and love into the isolation. As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, let’s also remember to share what He did with others. His final words to us were just that: to speak of Jesus. Happy Resurrection Sunday! April 11, 2020 –Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil Devotion by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Resting in Hope Lectionary Readings for Holy Saturday 2020
Devotion – Matthew 27:57-66 Matthew 27:57-66 (ESV) states: The Guard at the Tomb62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. Even in death, Jesus held such power and authority that the Jewish religious leaders were still afraid. They were remembering the teachings of Jesus and what He had prophesied about Himself: that He would rise after 3 days. They knew that Jesus had risen others from the dead. They also knew that in death, as a martyr, Jesus’s teachings could still hold sway over His followers. Perhaps they had begun to doubt themselves, doubt what they had done, or perhaps they feared the consequences of what they had just “gotten away with”. According the world standards, the Jewish religious leaders had “won” and their competition was dead and buried. But they were still afraid. The priests and Pharisees were still afraid of Jesus and went to Pilate to request that the tomb be made secure. They did not want the disciples or anyone to steal the body of Jesus. However, by doing that, they furthered the will of God and provided further proof of His death and resurrection. Truthfully, the Jewish religious leaders did not have to worry much about the disciples at this time. The disciples of Jesus had scattered during the trial and crucifixion. During this day on the Sabbath, they were in mourning and didn’t know what to do next. When Mary discovered Jesus had risen and went to tell the disciples, they were just a bit of a mess as they mourned the loss of their friend and teacher. Closing When you hear about the death and crucifixion of Jesus, how do you feel? Even though I know the ending, even though I know He returns to life, whenever I read those passages in Scripture, I get a catch in my chest. To have such a light go out of the world after having it for 3 years, it must have been stifling and felt like such hopelessness. Thankfully, we don’t have to feel that. I know that many people feel hopeless and wander about this world lost. But you don’t have to. We know that Jesus defeated death and returns to life. We know that He is coming again to get us in the end days. We know that God claims us as His children. We have hope and love. We know that ending of the darkest chapter in human history, because the greatest story ever told did not end with the death of Jesus and His body in a tomb sealed behind a great rock. No, that story did not end, just a chapter of it did. It is still occurring. The kingdom of God that Jesus preached about is at hand, and we can all be a part of it. There is real love and real hope to be found in Jesus. Today is the Sabbath day, a day of rest. I pray that you rest today in the hope of salvation that only can be found in Jesus Christ. Our world is going through a lot right now, and we all could use just a bit of a break right now. Turn off the news. Take a break from social media. Do or read something that has nothing to do with politics, news, the corona virus, or anything stressing you out about the world. Maybe take a break from household chores and work. Just spend time with God and loved ones. I encourage you to just rest today. It is the Sabbath after all. April 10, 2020 –Good Friday Devotion by Rev. Jessica Johnson
The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Lectionary Readings for Good Friday 2020
Devotion – Matthew 27:1-61 Today is Good Friday, and it commemorates the day the Jesus Christ, an innocent man, was executed on the Cross for the sins of all mankind. The best way to study about this day is to simply read what the Bible has to say about it. Therefore, today, I simply want you to read Matthew 27:1-61. You can also read about it in Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 18-19. Matthew 27 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus Delivered to Pilate 27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. Judas Hangs Himself 3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.” Jesus Before Pilate 11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. The Crowd Chooses Barabbas 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified 24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Jesus Is Mocked 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. The Crucifixion 32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. The Death of Jesus 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Jesus Is Buried 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. Closing We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death. God is a just God, but He is also a merciful God, who is full of grace and goodness. He sent His one and only Son, an innocent man, to die in our place. Jesus died so that we might live. This is the greatest story of all ages, and we get to be a part of it, because it is a love story about us. Since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, God has pursued us out of love to bring us back home to Him. It is through Jesus Christ that we can find the way. April 9, 2020 –Maundy Thursday Devotion by Rev. Jessica Johnson
United in Jesus Christ Lectionary Readings for Maundy Thursday 2020
Devotion – Hebrews 12:1-2 Today is Maundy Thursday, and it commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus had with the disciples. There He showed humility and service by washing their feet. Jesus told them to remember Him with the wine and the bread, which we now celebrate as the Eucharist or Communion. Jesus also warned them of the betrayal of Judas and that Peter would deny Him. Jesus tries to explain to the disciples that He would not be with them much longer. Later that night, Jesus asks Peter, James, and John to come and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. However, they don’t turn out to be the greatest of company, because they keep falling asleep. In the meantime, Jesus is experiencing sorrow and distress. If ever He needed His friends, it was that night. Then, Judas came with the priests and elders, and Jesus was arrested. It is no doubt that Jesus probably felt very alone in the Garden of Gethsemane that night. Maybe you feel alone now? But even in this time of social distancing, we are never alone. God is always with us, and Jesus promised the help of the Holy Spirit. Beyond that, we have Christians all over the world. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) states: Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Our unity in Christ binds us together even if physical distance keeps us apart. Jesus died on the Cross, so that we may live. It is in Jesus that we can rest all our hopes. We are bonded with other Christians through our unity of faith in Jesus Christ. So, even if you may feel alone right now, just know that you are not. Closing I encourage you to keep building one another up. Some of Jesus’s final words to the disciples at the Last Supper are found in John 13:31-35. In that passage, Jesus commands them to love one another. He gives them this command immediately after telling them of Judas’s betrayal. Even though His friend is betraying Him, Jesus is encouraging them to continue to love. Jesus has one of His worst nights ever where He probably feels very alone, but He is encouraging His followers to show love to one another. How can you speak life and love into others right now? How can you assure others that they are not alone? What are some ways in these times of social distancing can we still demonstrate unity in our faith in Christ? Trust God and know that you are not alone. April 8, 2020 –Holy Wednesday Devotion by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Silence Lectionary Readings for Holy Wednesday 2020
Devotion – Psalm 62 The Bible does not make reference to the events of that Wednesday before Good Friday. It is known as a day of silence, because the Bible is silent on it. However, it was a day of preparation. Judas was making plans with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus. Jesus and the other disciples were preparing for their Passover meal, the Last Supper. It was day of preparation for final moments. Only Jesus knew what was coming. If you only had one more day or one more meal with your friends, how would you spend it? What would you tell them? The Last Supper, which takes place on Thursday, was that last moment for Jesus of just being with His friends. While I encourage you to read all of Psalm 62, I want to highlight Psalm 62:5-8 ESV, which states: 5For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. 8Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. When was the last time you sat in silence with God? When was the last time you sat in silence at all? We are not always comfortable in the silence. Often, we have to have music or television on as background noise. But I encourage you to spend some time in silence before God. In the silence, God can speak to us. In the silence, we can organize our thoughts. In the silence, we can find peace. When we went to Yellowstone years ago, one of the rangers told us that the number one commodity Yellowstone had was silence. People would go there just for the silence, to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. In the silence, we can take refuge in God. All of us experience troubled times at some point in our lives. Many people are troubled by what is going on in the world today. Our salvation, our hope, and our glory, all comes from God. We can place our trust in God, because He has taken care of us before, and He will again. God is always there watching out for us. Sometimes, we need to take action. But sometimes, we need to be patient and wait upon the Lord. God is always active, always working in our lives through the good and the bad. And sometimes, we just need to rest in the silence. Closing I pray that you are able to find peace and refuge in God. God is the source of all our hope and salvation. May God grant you peace in these troubled times, and may you find rest and renewal in God’s presence. April 7, 2020 –Holy Tuesday Devotion by Rev. Jessica Johnson
God’s Wisdom Lectionary Readings for Holy Tuesday 2020
Devotion – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” This is 1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV. How many times have you seen people question the power of prayer? Or how many times have people said why on earth would a ‘god’ allow Himself to be crucified on a cross? According to the world’s wisdom, praying about something or believing that someone like Christ would allow themselves to be executed like that does not make a lot of sense. For them, it just does not appear logical at all. But they are seeing these things with the eyes of the world, not the eyes of God. However, to those of us that have been called by God, it makes perfect sense. Prayer is powerful. Prayer allows you go grow closer to God, and in that relationship, you can develop your understanding of how God sees things. I encourage you to spend time reading the Bible and praying, learning God’s wisdom. His wisdom far outweighs the wisdom of any man. Also, God’s justice had to be satisfied, because He is a just God. But God is also a compassionate, merciful God, who offers us grace. Christ met the demand of payment required by true justice, but Christ paid that price in our place. Jesus died on the cross, so that we didn’t have to. Through Christ, God is offering us the grace of a second chance. Closing I pray that your eyes are open to the wisdom and heart of God. May God grant you the eyes to see the opportunity of a second chance in front of you, and may you have the wisdom to take it. May your hearts open in genuine prayer to God, so that you may grow in your relationship with and understanding of Him. Amen. |
Rev. Jessica Johnson
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