May 16-18, 2015 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: John 17:11b-17 “SEE HOW JESUS LOVES YOU!”

CONFIRMATION

May 16-18, 2015

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: John 17:11b-17

“SEE HOW JESUS LOVES YOU!”

1.     He prays for your safety.

2.     He prays for your joy.

John 17:11-17 (NIV 1984) “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ¹³ "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

          Eavesdropping generally is frowned upon. Yet we all know how easy it is if a word or phrase catches your attention to start listening in on someone else’s conversation. Today in God’s Word we find ourselves eavesdropping on a conversation. It’s between Jesus, God the Son, and God the Father. It’s actually OK. He wants us to listen in to get comfort and strength. Jesus spoke these words when He was with His disciples in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday. With all that was happening and all that Jesus knew would happen what will He talk to the Father about? What is He concerned about? You! Jesus was with disciples who would need to stay faithful to Him once He was visibly gone, just like you need to stay faithful to Him though you cannot see Him. He loves you. Let’s eavesdrop and see what Jesus talks to His Father about.

          “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” As we listen to Jesus talk we can’t help but notice how much He loves those who follow Him. He shows that He loves by praying. What does He pray for? Not for Himself  but for the safety of his followers. This is the night before Jesus has to suffer the agony of the cross and  the punishment for the sins of the world. Yet His concern is for the safety of those who follow Him. Jesus points out that He did the protecting of His disciples while with them. The only one lost was the one who doomed himself to destruction. He’s talking about Judas who coddled his love for money instead of repenting of it, whose greed led him to betray Jesus and then despair of forgiveness. Why would followers of Jesus need protection once Jesus visibly left? He tells us. “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

          Here is the reason those who follow Jesus need protection. They’re different. As Jesus puts it “not of the world.” You know when we are here in our safe place we may not feel like we are different but when you are away from it you can most certainly tell. What happened is Jesus gave us God’s word. By the blessing of the Holy Spirit we know and believe this word of God to be true. That puts us at odds with the unbelieving world and the unbelieving world at odds with us. The world has hated them it says. History shows us how those who have stuck to the Bible have been hated but we’ll skip the history lesson. Let’s talk about now. Talk to some of our recent grads who have gone on to secular colleges and universities. They will tell you that someone who believes that God created the world like the Bible says isn’t exactly praised for being smart. As our country continues to embrace sexual immorality those who hold to what God says, that sex is to be reserved for man and woman only when they are husband and wife are going to start feeling the heat, yes they already do. You’ve felt it at work where co-workers talk and you realize I am not like them. You watch people interviewed on the news and realize I don’t think like they do. We’re different and those who are different because of faith in Jesus the Devil, the evil one seeks to destroy.

          How many grandpas and grandmas, moms and dads here wonder what kind of world will our children and grandchildren live in. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!  No. No worries. God is in control and Jesus has already prayed to Him on our behalf. He doesn’t want us out of this world. He doesn’t want us hunkered down in our bunkers. As He sent the disciples out with His words to be His witnesses, He sends you and me. He has prayed for our protection from the evil one and as our ascended High Priest keeps praying for us.

          He also has prayed for our joy. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” Jesus wants us to have joy while we live in this world. Think of the many Scriptures that tell us that. Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Be joyful always. I will say it again, rejoice. This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. It’s fair to say that Christians have the right and the reasons to be the happiest people on the planet.

          But we are not always, why not?  Do any of you remember the country song by Johnny Lee? “Looking for love in all the wrong places” was the title and refrain. It’s easy for people to do that with joy too. People want to be happy and to have joy but they look in the wrong places. They look to things and we all know that buying things might give you a little happiness, especially if you get a good deal, but how many of last year’s must have things do you really even care about any more? They look to a big bank account and I think we would think we would be happier with more money but is that reality? Google what happens to most big lottery jackpot winners. Watch the lives of the rich and famous in Hollywood and sports. Happy? Doesn’t look like it. Looking for joy in all the wrong places.

          Jesus prays for your joy, He wants you to have joy and He’s made it possible. He prays, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” The key word here is “sanctify.” Not a word we commonly use. The general meaning is to “set apart as holy.” Confirmation class students know we use that word in two different ways. Sometimes it refers to how the Holy Spirit brings us to faith through word and Sacrament. Sometimes it’s used to describe how the Holy Spirit helps us live our faith. That’s the way it’s used here. Jesus prays that His followers be set apart for service. Brothers and sisters, this is where joy is found on earth. It’s serving others, not serving self. If you could keep a journal of your happy days and your sad days you will find that on those days that you were most concerned about yourself and  how things affected you were the days  you had the least happiness. But on those days when you served the needs of another you felt good. Find a brother or sister who appears to be happy and you will find a servant. I can’t tell you how many times it has happened that I have thanked a brother or sister for what they have done and the happily replied, “It’s my privilege. Happy to do so. It gives me joy.” Jesus prays for you to have joy.

          But He doesn’t just pray. He does. Did you notice anything in what Jesus said that tied things together? It’s God’s word. “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. I say these things so their joy may be complete. I have given them your word.” It just keeps coming back to God’s Word. He puts His power in the Word. Jesus is called the Word. He creates the universe with His word. Having the word and holding to the word sets us apart. On this Confirmation weekend I call on here all who have been confirmed to honestly analyze your attitude toward God’s Word. Is it really God’s words for you? I call on you to honestly analyze your use of God’s Words. How many days out of the week do you let Him speak to you? See how Jesus loves you? Love describes an emotion. Actions prove the love to be true. Jesus loves you. He prays for you. After this prayer, the next day, Jesus suffered Hell for you. See how He loves you! Then cling to His words and you will stay faithful to Him. Amen.

May 2-4, 2015 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Acts 16:11-15 “OPEN!”

EASTER 5

May 2-4, 2015

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Acts 16:11-15

“OPEN!”

1.     The Lord opens hearts to believe.

2.     Believers open hearts to serve.

Acts  16:11-15  (NIV 1984) “From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.”

          “Open Sesame!” I sure hope kids today are still reading classics like Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, probably more likely, seeing an animated version or adaption of it. What a great story as a kid. I remember hearing how that secret magical phrase opened the cave filled with riches. I remember going with brothers and friends and trying it out on everything from make believe caves to actual locked doors. Open Sesame! Nothing really ever happened but the thought of having the power to open what was closed certainly was appealing. Today in God’s word we see some power to open what is closed put into play.

          It starts with what only God open. We are joining the Apostle Paul on what’s known as his second missionary journey. Starting from Jerusalem Paul and his companions made their way north  through modern day Turkey and Greece then back to Jerusalem. They arrive at the city of Philippi. Paul followed a familiar pattern. He looked for a gathering place to speak God’s word to any who might listen. Here it was outside the city gate at the river. Some women had gathered there. Paul and his companions began talking to them. What do you think they said? How’s the weather been? Do you know any good Greek restaurants? How do you think the Philippian Flyers will do this season? NO! They spoke the word of God to these women. They told the women about Jesus of Nazareth who was the Messiah. If there were Jewish ladies there they pointed to the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and connected the dots to Jesus’ fulfillment. And then? Open Sesame!

          The Lord opened hearts to believe. “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.”  Look closely at what this word of God says and learn to give glory to God. The Lord opened her heart. The Lord enabled her to respond. Without the Lord she would have stayed a closed book ever hearing but never understanding, ever seeing but never perceiving. Scripture is so clear on this truth. Give glory to God! The sinful mind is hostile to God it does not accept the things that come from God indeed it cannot do so. The man without the Spirit cannot understand the things that come from the Spirit they must be spiritually discerned. No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. Give glory to God. Only the Lord can open hearts to believe. Why then do some believers act like they did it? I accepted Christ into my heart. Foolishness! Give glory to God. Why do we find it so easy to look down on the unbelieving world? Do we not understand that if the Lord had not opened our hearts we would be just like them? It’s grace alone.     

          But it wasn’t just Lydia’s heart that got opened. “She and the members of her household were baptized.” There is no waiting period. She and her whole household are baptized. Paul no doubt had told her what Jesus said, “Go and make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father and  of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and so everyone she had influence over, her whole household was baptized. The Lord was opening hearts to believe. When is the last time you thought of your own Baptism? Were you awed to think of the fact that Lord Himself was working in you? When we see a Baptism use your eyes of faith and see God at work opening hearts to believe. God’s power is not limited to adults.  He works in babies and children just as well. The Lord opens hearts to believe.

          And then believers open their hearts to serve. Did you notice that connection in our Scripture readings today? Those whose hearts the Lord has opened respond. Believers are like the branches connected to the grapevine. As long as they stay connected they bear much fruit. They hear “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth,” and they say, “Yes. That is so. I will show love with actions and truth.”

          Listen and learn from Lydia who teaches us. “She invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.” Ah what a master she is! Do you see how she traps Paul? Clearly she understands that it is a privilege to be a believer. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” What is he going to say? No you are not! He’s stuck. But what was Lydia fighting for here? Come and stay at my house. She was bargaining for the privilege of supporting Paul and his companions in their work of spreading the Gospel. She was begging for the opportunity to spend of what God had given her so that Paul and his companions could proclaim the Gospel without worrying about where their next meal would come from or where they would lay their head at night. Lydia opened her heart to serve the Lord who had opened her heart to believe.

          That’s the way it works. To be clear there is nothing we can do to earn the right to be a believer in Jesus. We can’t turn our hearts to faith. That is the work of God and God alone. Give God the glory. But having been brought to faith, being born again of water and the Spirit we have new life. We are temples of the Holy Spirit. We have Christ living in us and now we can respond to God’s word and open our hearts to serve Him not because He can’t live without us or get His work done without us but because it is a privilege and an honor. If you consider us believers, Lord, let us…make sure your lambs are taught. Let us support the missionary in Japan. Let us.

          It’s a privilege. It doesn’t always feel that way does it? Sometimes the thought of giving what we have for others is hard to do. That’s because even though we are believers we still have a sinful nature. It is selfish. It is more concerned with things for me for right now than storing up treasures in heaven and using worldly wealth to gain heavenly friends. We need to rebuke that part of us. If giving your offerings isn’t fun, if volunteering at St Jacobi doesn’t give you joy, if living for Christ is a have to and not a want to, the wrong you is in the driver seat of your heart. It’s time to have Christ living in you trade places. Now what do you want to do? What would you go to the Lord and say, “If you consider me a believer let me…”

          We have been having what we would call a good spring here in Wisconsin. Yes it could be warmer but remember last year? God is sending the sunshine. God is sending the rain. There is a purpose and a plan. God is expecting and causing things to grow. God does that because He likes to hide behind nature to provide for His creation the food it needs to survive. Why does God give you and me the abilities He has? Why has he given us more time than we need to just survive, more money than we need? He likes to hide behind us to get His work done, His gospel of Jesus Christ spread. He’s got countless angels at His bidding but He reserves that privilege  for believers whose hearts He has opened to believe so that they open their hearts to serve. We don’t have to go looking for pretend caves filled with treasure. Opportunities to find treasures by serving Jesus will come to us in simple ways like the needs of a child, family member or a neighbor. They will come through appeals to carry out Christ’s work here or through missions. Because God has opened your heart to believe you can open yours to serve. Out of love for Christ, Open says me! Amen.

April11-13, 2015 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: John 20:24-31 “YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED!”

EASTER 2

April11-13, 2015

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: John 20:24-31

“YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED!”

John 20:24-31 (NIV1984)  “Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." ²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." ²⁸ Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." ³⁰ Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

          For the record I do not recommend getting your theology from Rolling Stones lyrics. However even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. It was hard not to notice all the buzz and hype, billboard hints and news coverage about this old rock band coming to Summerfest. Not really a fan. Don’t know many of their songs. But there is that one that keeps repeating this truth: You get what you need. I don’t know where their songwriters got that from, if it was a bit of the natural knowledge of God poking through because that statement is true. God gives us what we need in so many different ways and certainly when it comes to the faith we need to serve as seen in the always reliable word of God before us today.

          Now I don’t know how you feel but I kind of think Jesus’ disciple Thomas kind of gets a bum rap. What’s he known as? Doubting Thomas, right? Because of what he did here. Yet when Jesus went to raise Lazarus from the dead and was warned that that would put Him right back with the folks who had tried to stone Him, Thomas is the one who said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go that we may die with him.” Think of some of the other disciples. We don’t call Peter, Denying Peter, or the brothers, Selfish James and John! Perhaps there is something else here that should grab our attention instead of Thomas’ doubt. Let’s find out.

          In the Gospel lesson you heard about the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples. It was the evening of Easter. The disciples were scared. Thomas was not there. Jesus appeared! Jesus showed those 10 disciples the proof that He was not a ghost or their imagination but Jesus Himself. He showed them his hands that had been pierced with nails, His side that had been pierced by a spear. They got what they needed. They were overjoyed. Of course they would share that news. “Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" We don’t know exactly when this news was shared with Thomas but can you imagine being him? With every fiber of your being you would want this news to be true but it can’t possibly be true. In fact isn’t it true that every one of the people from the Emmaus disciples to Mary Magdalene at first doubted they were really seeing Jesus alive? And isn’t it also true that when you and I hear something that sounds too good to be true we greet it with a healthy dose of skepticism? I think Thomas’ reaction is kind of normal.” But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

          That sets the stage for Jesus’ second visit.  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." I would have loved to have seen the faces of the disciples and especially Thomas. The exact words that Thomas had used, the exact proof the Thomas had asked for he got. You get what you need. Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Thomas confessed his faith beautifully. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is God. Confessing Thomas! Then Thomas also lived his faith beautifully. All of these 11 disciples went on to serve Jesus by telling others and serving as founders of the Christian church. While we are not told  in the Bible what Thomas did or where he went, according to tradition, Thomas travelled all the way to India to proclaim Jesus as Savior to people who had not heard. That’s a long way to go when travel was not easy like it is now. Maybe he should be known as Missionary Thomas. According to tradition India was where Thomas died as a martyr. Faithful Thomas. Why was he able to do all of this? The Lord gave him what he needed, the very proof he had demanded.  It’s true. You get what you need.

          It’s true for us too. Jesus went on to say,  "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Have you ever found yourself wishing you could have been one of those men or women who was alive when Jesus walked the earth? Have you thought about how neat it would have been to see Him do miracles and all the rest? Have you ever in some dilemma prayed, “Lord, just give me a sign. Let me see!” Do you want to rethink that? Listen again to what Jesus said. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

          He’s talking to us. He’s telling us that you are more blessed when you believe without seeing. That’s the Bible’s definition of faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. But Jesus doesn’t demand faith without providing. You get what you need! Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” You get what you need. As Jesus provided Thomas what he needed to serve He has done the same for you and me. We have His word or rather His words. John the Gospel writer reminds us that Jesus did many miracles that are not recorded in the Bible. While our curiosity might wonder what they were we don’t need to know them. What we need to know is written down so that we can believe without seeing. And through this belief, this faith in Jesus we have life. Yes, we will have life eternal but we have life now too. Lives where we can serve.

          You get what you need. The Lord may not be planning for you to become a world missionary but for you younger brothers and sisters that may happen in many different ways but what about that family member? What about the guy across the street? The lost soul misfit at work.? Like with Thomas our good old skepticism can set in there. Why bother telling him why I have hope. It won’t do any good any way. Stop doubting and believe. You get what you need. I don’t have the right words to say. I tried before but nothing has happened. Stop doubting and believe. You get what you need. The Lord has equipped you by making you, you! Be yourself. Perhaps telling someone else about your hope in Jesus is the last thing on your mind right now. Your life is a mess. You are just trying to hold on. You are at the “Lord I can’t take any more of this” point. You get what you need. It may not feel like it at times but Jesus is with you. He is in control. He will keep the promise to work all things for good. You can believe this without seeing the end just yet. You will be blessed through that believe. Jesus says so and you get what you need!

          While I can’t recommend getting your theology, your beliefs from Rolling Stones song lyrics I can whole heartedly recommend getting them from the Bible, God’s true and holy word. This word of God is not about a doubting Thomas but a providing Jesus.  Jesus asked Thomas and the other disciples to do a lot, all except John dying the martyr’s death. He gave them what they needed to do that. Of this you can be sure, whatever Jesus asks you to do or go through for Him, He will provide. So while you can’t always get what you want with Jesus you’ll find you get what you need! Amen.

April 5-6, 2015 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Mark 16:1-8 “THE TRUTH IS: JESUS LIVES!”

EASTER

April 5-6, 2015

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Mark 16:1-8

“THE TRUTH IS: JESUS LIVES!”

1.     Good Friday’s Truth.

2.     The women’s Truth.

3.     The angel’s Truth.

4.     Your truth!

Mark 16:1-8 (NIV 1984) “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" ⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ⁶ "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' " ⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”

          Those of  you who have been with us the entire Lenten season know that we looked at the “I tell you the truth,” statements of Jesus that were tied to His passion. Today we look at the truth of Easter.  Now there are some times when figuring out the truth isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Teachers will tell you that. When something happens between students in the classroom or on the playground and they talk with the students each has his own truth. And while the stories don’t exactly match up the kids aren’t necessarily lying. They are telling the event as they saw it and felt it. They are telling their truth. The teacher then has to figure out what the truth is. Police will tell you something similar. When a crime has been committed and they interview the eyewitnesses the accounts of what happened aren’t exactly the same. If they are exactly the same the police know there has been collusion because normally people tell what happened from their perspective and their feelings. Their truth. Then the police have to figure out what the real truth is. What’s the truth of Easter? Let’s find out by looking again at what God has told us about Easter in the Gospel of Mark.

          We actually have to start with the truth of Good Friday. What happened there? Mark tells us in the 15^th chapter of his Gospel.  “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" 40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.”  The truth of Good Friday is clear. Jesus died. The Roman centurion saw it. The Marys and Salome saw it. Jesus’ body was buried. The Marys saw where that was. Now some deaths are understandable—when someone we consider old dies. Some deaths are hard to understand—when someone young dies. Some deaths we describe as senseless—like the 150 who died as the co-pilot committed suicide. Although Jesus was only 33 His death was not senseless but planned and on purpose and understandable because He died to pay for sin. That is Good Friday’s truth.

          Now let’s listen to the women’s truth. “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" The women’s truth was they were going to Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday morning expecting to find Jesus’ dead body and properly prepare it for burial. There’s more. “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.” The women’s truth is that they saw an angel and just like if you or I really saw an angel we’d be alarmed and scared so were they. There’s more. “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” Even though the angel had given them a message the women were just overcome. They were having a hard time grasping what they had heard and seen. Can we blame them?

          That takes us to the angel’s truth. What had he said that puzzled these ladies so much? "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' " Now friends, when you read your Bibles you will find that angels don’t appear to people very often. God only does that when there are important messages to deliver. Messages that are important for salvation. After this angel rolled the stone away from the tomb, he waited for the women. He told them that the one they were looking for, Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified, died and buried was not there. He had risen from the dead. He showed them the proof and told them to tell others. The angel’s truth.

          There you have it. You’ve heard the different reports. Now what? You have to do something with it. After teachers hear student A’s truth and student B’s truth they have to figure out the truth and whether someone is in trouble or not. When the police hear all the truths of all the different witnesses they have to decide whether or not to press charges against someone. We’ve heard the truths. What will we do with them? How about believe and rejoice! The truth is Jesus lives! Here’s why that matters. The Bible tells us that Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins but was raised to life for our justification. Justification here is actually a courtroom term. In a courtroom someone who is justified is declared innocent. So the truth is that Jesus died to pay for our sins and was raised to life as proof that our sins are paid for, all of them. How about those dumb ones you did in the past, the ones that you hope your kids or grandkids won’t find out about? How about those ones that you know if you did them in these days with video recording everywhere and videos going viral would shame you and probably change the course of your future? Yes. Paid for. Jesus is living proof. How about last week’s sins the ones that are still searing your conscience? Yes. Paid in full. Jesus lives. There’s more. Before He died Jesus said, “Because I live you too will live.” He does so we will. We all know that life here isn’t always the most fun. Senior saints will sometimes tell you getting old doesn’t feel good. The body runs down as we slowly move to death. But death isn’t the end for those who believe in Jesus. It’s the beginning of real life with Jesus. And when He raises our bodies on the last day they will be glorious and never fail us again. There’s more. When Jesus told his disciples what was about to happen to Him, that He would be betrayed, arrested, crucified, die, that they would not see Him for a bit, but then would later, He also told them their grief would turn to joy. Yours will too. Easter is fun to celebrate. It’s filled with joy. But the rest of life isn’t always like that. We have griefs. We have grief when we bury our loved ones. We have grief in our relationships with other people. We have grief when we run into life’s unfairness. All these and many more. But the truth of Easter is that grief won’t last. Grief will turn to joy. Jesus lives. He will make that happen. When you run into those griefs, hang on, hold on to Jesus. At the right time he’ll turn those griefs to Joy.

          Jesus lives. That’s the truth of Easter. It was true for the angel. It was true for the women. It’s true for you and me too. Christ is risen! Amen.