Sermon Notes for April 16th
April 16, 2006 – Easter Sunday
Acts 10:34-43
“He is the Lord of All”
1. Easter Sunday – It’s Here Again! Another year and another Easter to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Only last year it was a little earlier in the year – March 27th to be exact. Lot’s of things were going on at that time – a year ago.
The Pope was dieing (if you remember) and did die only
a few days later on April 2nd And, then, we had
that huge funeral and all the rest.
Terri Schiavo was dieing, too, or was already brain dead
(depending on how you choose to look at it). What
a scene that was! Even Congress got involved as
a national debate raged about the ethics, politics and spiritual significance of her life and death a year ago now.
And then there was the shooting at Red Lake which
occurred just a week earlier on March 21st. Who can forget that terrible event?
And if that wasn’t enough, we also had the big controversial
Mel Gibson movie about the crucifixion going on
at the same time. Seems like a long time ago.
Fortunately things are a little quieter, I think, this Easter. About
the only thing that is really still with us is the War in Iraq
which began on March 15th in 2003 and is now
into its fourth year. (About which we will offer prayers
later on …)
2. And now today it is – Easter 2006 - and we are all still here – at least most of us. Pretty Amazing! Although, of course, several
of our members have died in the past year … and few have moved away …But, in the meantime, others for whom we are thankful, have joined, too, and – so – our church continues to thrive. And we are most grateful for that. Thank you, God!
Well, in way, I guess I see Easter as a kind of benchmark … where have we been, how are we doing, where are we going. Not just as a Church – but also as individuals and families.
Back in the very early church, Easter was a time for new members to join the congregation … and to be baptized. Often these were pagan converts to a new faith – which emphasized a rebirth to new life in Christ Jesus.
Prior to the fourth century, Christians observed Pascha, the Christian Passover, in the Spring of the year. It was adapted from the Jewish Passover. Pascha was a festival of redemption and commemorated both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as the vehicle for God’s grace. While historical records are not clear, it is likely that early Jewish Christians observed both the Jewish Passover (Pesach) and the Christian Pascha. However, many Gentile converts were hesitant to adopt the Jewish festival, especially since the Jerusalem Council had decided that Gentile converts to Christianity did not have to observe Jewish religious practices. This is recorded in Acts 15 in the story of the early church council in Jerusalem.
1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch who were saying "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders.
5Then some of the believers (who belonged to the party of the Pharisees) stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses."
6So, the apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them and this is what he said:
"Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
3. And there you have it. The Apostle Paul said the very same thing when he wrote in his Letter to the church in Galatia:
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And that is the way it is here today in this church. All of us … everyone of us who is here today – and those who cannot be here today – we are all one in Jesus Christ …for no one is better than anyone else in the eyes of God. Is that not true?
So, gradually by the fourth century, with an increasing emphasis on Holy Week and Good Friday, Easter moved into a distinctively Christian celebration of the Resurrection, with Good Friday commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion and death as we have done this past week, as well.
And now it is Easter.
4. So how is it with you this Easter? Or, as John Wesley used to ask, “How is it with your soul?”
Now I have a very good friend who I have known for many many years … ever since I was four years old. And every few months I call him up on the phone since I don’t see him very often because he lives in Louisville, Kentucky and doesn’t get back here very often.
And, since he usually isn’t expecting me to call at any specific time … he always answers as if he is surprised and He always says
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
He is, I guess, still kind of 1960’s guy … when that phrase first became popular as in “WHAT’S HAPPENING, MAN.”
So, that is my question for you today … on this Easter …
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE?
5. Are you glad to be here today?
Have you moved forward in your spiritual life this past year?
Or, have you gone backward? Or, are things pretty much the same? What is happening in your spiritual life?
What have you celebrated this past year? What are you celebrating this morning – anything?
Or, has there been some kind of misfortune or loss … which has or is weighing you down? Has this grief brought you closer to God … as it sometimes does … or not? What are you praying for or about mostly these days? What do you think God is trying to do in your life right now – today?
What’s happening in your life?
6. Now, for a moment, let’s use our imaginations and suppose that Jesus just happened to drop into church today – for Easter - no, not the physical Jesus who was crucified – but the risen Jesus who was resurrected. Still very real, of course.
And suppose Jesus has just sat down next to you in the pew. And, at first you don’t recognize Him. Which is because He looks pretty much like anyone else, really. And then he turns to you here is what he says:
Are you ready for this?
He asks you…
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
And, now, all of a sudden, you realize who it is … it's, it's … it's Jesus! And he is pretty hip besides!
A little scary, maybe at first, but then NOT SO SCARY.
So, now, what are you going to answer?
HOW IS IT GOING WITH YOU TODAY - REALLY?
7. Does this sound a little farfetched? Are you having a little trouble getting into this little scenario? Well, consider this account of Jesus resurrection from Luke – Chapter 24 (from the Eugene Peterson translation):
13That same day two of the disciples were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. 14They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. 15In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. 16But they were not able to recognize who he was.
17So Jesus asked them, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"
KIND OF LIKE SAYING … HEY! WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Well, it goes on, the two men just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. 18Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"
19And Jesus said, "No, tell me, what has happened?"
And they told him about the things that had happened to Jesus the Nazarene. They said that he was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. 20And then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. 21And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened.
22But, if that wasn’t enough, now some of our women have completely confused us. Because early this morning they were at the tomb 23and couldn't find his body. Then they came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24After that some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."
25Now, at this point, Jesus said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? 26Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" 27And, as they were walking along, Jesus started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.
28Finally, they came to the edge of the village where they were headed. At this point Jesus acted as if he were going on his way 29but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. 30And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. 31At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
32This really got them going and back and forth they discussed what had happened. "Didn't we feel on fire, they said, as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"
After that they immediately got up and were on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, 34talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up--Simon saw him!"
8. Now, I know what you are all thinking – this didn’t really happen!
And, to be honest, I, too, find this very hard to explain.
And we have good reason, no doubt, to be careful and even skeptical about such things. Particularly, I think, because people often try to manipulate others by telling about certain religious experiences they say they have had. In fact, throughout history, religion has been riddled with charlatans and smooth talkers and people claiming that God was spoken to them … all done, of course, for the purpose of personal power, money, and prestige.
And, yet, some things do happen which defy explanation.
Now, as you know I have long been interested in dreams and the interpretation of dreams … and there is little doubt, in my mind, that they can have significant meaning in our lives. And also, that many accounts in the Bible – particularly the dreams of Jacob about the Stairway to Heaven and about wrestling with the angel are clearly very spiritual dreams. And, in fact, the ancient people all believed that some dreams were truly God-given. The big problem nowadays for most of us, of course, is that our dreams are often very hard to interpret.
9. So, as I mentioned recently, I just finished reading a new book called Dreaming beyond Death which came out last year and was written up in Newsweek magazine.
Briefly the Newsweek story tells how as a hospice chaplain for 10 years, the Rev. Patricia Bulkley, an ordained Presbyterian minister, confronted the raw emotions of the dying-their terror at the approaching end, their unresolved family problems, their crises of faith.
They were people like Charles Rasmussen, a retired merchant-marine captain in his mid-80s who was dying of cancer. He was consumed by fear until, in a dream one night, he saw himself sailing in uncharted waters. Once again, he felt the thrill of adventure as he pushed through a vast, dark, empty sea, knowing he was on course. "Strangely enough, I'm not afraid to die anymore," he told Bulkley after that dream. Death was no longer an end, but a journey.
This rather small easy to read book has in it a number of truly amazing and truly true stories like this – which really make you wonder if there isn’t more to it than we realize.
10. Well, this past week, I was having coffee at the hospital with my friend Mark Papke Larson. We like to check in ever once in while just to talk about things and since I hadn’t really seen him for quite a long time - it was another case of
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
And, so I starting telling him about this book about dreams and dieing patients because I knew that he would be interested and also because he deals with these kind of situations on a regular basis – much much more than I do.
Well, before I finished, he said, you know this happens a lot. And he went on to describe a number of cases of people having visions and dreams and all sorts of things which happened in the midst of illness and even death. And he hadn’t even read the book!
11. One story I will share with you … in a rather abbreviated form.
Mark told me that he had become acquainted with a quite elderly woman who was facing some very difficult and unwanted surgery that would change her life forever. Naturally, she was very apprehensive. And nothing seemed to make her feel at ease … even though she had been a life-long faithful church-goer – she seemed to feel that God was not really there for her – or so it appeared.
Her negative and depressed state continued after the surgery. Mark visited with her, prayed with her … the medical people tried anti-depressants …all to no avail.
Then one day mark came to see her and she was actually right back to her old self. It was a remarkable transformation.
Mark finally said to her – “Can you tell me what happened. We thought you were never going to get better and might even die.”
And she motioned for him to come over and when he did she whispered, “I saw Jesus! Right there … at the end of my bed.”
Now while this could have been a dream it may also have been a wide awake vision. But, whatever, the case, it was very real for this woman and she was literally transformed back into her regular self … for the fear and the depression were miraculously lifted.
And, then, she told Mark not to tell anyone because they might think there was something mentally wrong with her …!
Which to my mind is really the real clincher. Because when God really happens in someone’s life – it is very personal – and very unexplainable – and we really don’t care to share it with everyone we meet. And it is not something to be bragged about or used to impress others as to how religious we are. It’s not that at all.
12. Now, like most of us who went to seminary back in the 1960s and 70s, this is not something we were trained to deal with in pastoral care. Like myself, Mark was and is trained to be skeptical and analytical in his work – and yet he told me … because of what I have seen and experienced – it has changed his whole way of looking at his own spirituality.
So what are we to think, to believe, to understand about things of this nature? For myself, I can definitely say that (while I can’t explain them rationally) there are and have been moments when I have experienced things in my own life that are very clearly “spiritual in nature” (whatever that means) – or I wouldn’t be up here this morning.
In fact, I sometimes think it is some kind of miracle that I ended up being a minister at all. No, let me say IT IS A MIRACLE that I am a minister today – that is for sure.
And, even more, it is quite an extraordinary miracle that we are all here in the first place! Let us all say… Amen! to that.
13. And this is, in fact, what the resurrection is all about. It is about life itself. And it is also about the thing we fear most – which is death. For the resurrection is about life overcoming death. Love driving out fear. Forgiveness replacing sin with goodness. Wholeness bringing together our broken parts of our soul.
And it is about Jesus miraculously coming into our lives somehow through whatever means God can find to use … dreams, prayers, worship, scripture reading, singing, nature, visions, meditation, art, poetry, and the love of other people – perhaps most of all.
So, let us be reminded that the Risen Christ is actually present here today in each one of us … that’s right … for there is a little bit of Jesus in every one of us. And our job is to keep that spirit alive and well and working through us … not only for our own wellbeing but for those around us whom we love (or should love).
So, maybe the person next to you in a way really is Jesus who asks you now …today …
14. What’s happening in your life? For instance …
How has God come into your life this past year? What does Easter really mean to you? How is God at work in this church throughout the year? How does all the hard work and financial commitment, the many gifts of all our people, the love and caring for one another bring a sense of purpose and joy to our lives.
What’s happened in your life this past year?
Have your shared your faith with someone recently. With your children, perhaps …. Or parent or grandparent … or a neighbor or friend … or another church member or a husband or wife?
Have you volunteered some time to help someone in need through our church or a community program?
Have you visited someone who is ill or in the hospital or nursing home?
Have you taken time for prayer or meditation and thought about how we are all part of the Body of Christ … the community of the faithful … whether we are aware of it or not most of the time?
Have you given thanks to God for our church, and for your blessings in life, and for Jesus Christ who is our Lord and Savior?
15. These are all benchmarks … as I have said … by which we judge and measure our life in faith …from year to year.
The other thing we measure our faith by is the message of the Gospel which is laid out for us …in Acts 10:34-43 which we read this morning.
34Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, he said, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! 35It makes no difference who you are or where you're from--if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. 36The Message he sent to the children of Israel--that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again--well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone. 37"You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. 38Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him. 39"And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. 40But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. 41Not everyone saw him--he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand--us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. 42He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. 43But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets."
16. Unfortunately, in much of later church theology and preaching Christians have often made the mistake of thinking in terms of an angry God who had to be pacified by something gentle Jesus did. But, as the great biblical commentator William Barclay says, the early preachers never preached that. To them, the coming of Jesus was due to the love of God.
What this means is that despite the tendencies in human beings to lie, and cheat, and steal, and create all manner of injustice and oppression – all of which led to Jesus’ death … and more …
The power that was in Jesus – God’s power – could not be defeated. The force that was in Jesus could not be put to death.
And that force is the love of God in Christ … which is still with us … a living presence and power … that nothing can overcome.
That is what Easter is all about. And we celebrate it especially today … but also every day of the year.
Let us pray … page 879 – Prayers of the People.
Acts 10:34-43
“He is the Lord of All”
1. Easter Sunday – It’s Here Again! Another year and another Easter to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Only last year it was a little earlier in the year – March 27th to be exact. Lot’s of things were going on at that time – a year ago.
The Pope was dieing (if you remember) and did die only
a few days later on April 2nd And, then, we had
that huge funeral and all the rest.
Terri Schiavo was dieing, too, or was already brain dead
(depending on how you choose to look at it). What
a scene that was! Even Congress got involved as
a national debate raged about the ethics, politics and spiritual significance of her life and death a year ago now.
And then there was the shooting at Red Lake which
occurred just a week earlier on March 21st. Who can forget that terrible event?
And if that wasn’t enough, we also had the big controversial
Mel Gibson movie about the crucifixion going on
at the same time. Seems like a long time ago.
Fortunately things are a little quieter, I think, this Easter. About
the only thing that is really still with us is the War in Iraq
which began on March 15th in 2003 and is now
into its fourth year. (About which we will offer prayers
later on …)
2. And now today it is – Easter 2006 - and we are all still here – at least most of us. Pretty Amazing! Although, of course, several
of our members have died in the past year … and few have moved away …But, in the meantime, others for whom we are thankful, have joined, too, and – so – our church continues to thrive. And we are most grateful for that. Thank you, God!
Well, in way, I guess I see Easter as a kind of benchmark … where have we been, how are we doing, where are we going. Not just as a Church – but also as individuals and families.
Back in the very early church, Easter was a time for new members to join the congregation … and to be baptized. Often these were pagan converts to a new faith – which emphasized a rebirth to new life in Christ Jesus.
Prior to the fourth century, Christians observed Pascha, the Christian Passover, in the Spring of the year. It was adapted from the Jewish Passover. Pascha was a festival of redemption and commemorated both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as the vehicle for God’s grace. While historical records are not clear, it is likely that early Jewish Christians observed both the Jewish Passover (Pesach) and the Christian Pascha. However, many Gentile converts were hesitant to adopt the Jewish festival, especially since the Jerusalem Council had decided that Gentile converts to Christianity did not have to observe Jewish religious practices. This is recorded in Acts 15 in the story of the early church council in Jerusalem.
1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch who were saying "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders.
5Then some of the believers (who belonged to the party of the Pharisees) stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses."
6So, the apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them and this is what he said:
"Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
3. And there you have it. The Apostle Paul said the very same thing when he wrote in his Letter to the church in Galatia:
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And that is the way it is here today in this church. All of us … everyone of us who is here today – and those who cannot be here today – we are all one in Jesus Christ …for no one is better than anyone else in the eyes of God. Is that not true?
So, gradually by the fourth century, with an increasing emphasis on Holy Week and Good Friday, Easter moved into a distinctively Christian celebration of the Resurrection, with Good Friday commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion and death as we have done this past week, as well.
And now it is Easter.
4. So how is it with you this Easter? Or, as John Wesley used to ask, “How is it with your soul?”
Now I have a very good friend who I have known for many many years … ever since I was four years old. And every few months I call him up on the phone since I don’t see him very often because he lives in Louisville, Kentucky and doesn’t get back here very often.
And, since he usually isn’t expecting me to call at any specific time … he always answers as if he is surprised and He always says
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
He is, I guess, still kind of 1960’s guy … when that phrase first became popular as in “WHAT’S HAPPENING, MAN.”
So, that is my question for you today … on this Easter …
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE?
5. Are you glad to be here today?
Have you moved forward in your spiritual life this past year?
Or, have you gone backward? Or, are things pretty much the same? What is happening in your spiritual life?
What have you celebrated this past year? What are you celebrating this morning – anything?
Or, has there been some kind of misfortune or loss … which has or is weighing you down? Has this grief brought you closer to God … as it sometimes does … or not? What are you praying for or about mostly these days? What do you think God is trying to do in your life right now – today?
What’s happening in your life?
6. Now, for a moment, let’s use our imaginations and suppose that Jesus just happened to drop into church today – for Easter - no, not the physical Jesus who was crucified – but the risen Jesus who was resurrected. Still very real, of course.
And suppose Jesus has just sat down next to you in the pew. And, at first you don’t recognize Him. Which is because He looks pretty much like anyone else, really. And then he turns to you here is what he says:
Are you ready for this?
He asks you…
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
And, now, all of a sudden, you realize who it is … it's, it's … it's Jesus! And he is pretty hip besides!
A little scary, maybe at first, but then NOT SO SCARY.
So, now, what are you going to answer?
HOW IS IT GOING WITH YOU TODAY - REALLY?
7. Does this sound a little farfetched? Are you having a little trouble getting into this little scenario? Well, consider this account of Jesus resurrection from Luke – Chapter 24 (from the Eugene Peterson translation):
13That same day two of the disciples were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. 14They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. 15In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. 16But they were not able to recognize who he was.
17So Jesus asked them, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"
KIND OF LIKE SAYING … HEY! WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Well, it goes on, the two men just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. 18Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"
19And Jesus said, "No, tell me, what has happened?"
And they told him about the things that had happened to Jesus the Nazarene. They said that he was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. 20And then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. 21And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened.
22But, if that wasn’t enough, now some of our women have completely confused us. Because early this morning they were at the tomb 23and couldn't find his body. Then they came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24After that some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."
25Now, at this point, Jesus said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? 26Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" 27And, as they were walking along, Jesus started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.
28Finally, they came to the edge of the village where they were headed. At this point Jesus acted as if he were going on his way 29but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. 30And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. 31At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
32This really got them going and back and forth they discussed what had happened. "Didn't we feel on fire, they said, as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"
After that they immediately got up and were on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, 34talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up--Simon saw him!"
8. Now, I know what you are all thinking – this didn’t really happen!
And, to be honest, I, too, find this very hard to explain.
And we have good reason, no doubt, to be careful and even skeptical about such things. Particularly, I think, because people often try to manipulate others by telling about certain religious experiences they say they have had. In fact, throughout history, religion has been riddled with charlatans and smooth talkers and people claiming that God was spoken to them … all done, of course, for the purpose of personal power, money, and prestige.
And, yet, some things do happen which defy explanation.
Now, as you know I have long been interested in dreams and the interpretation of dreams … and there is little doubt, in my mind, that they can have significant meaning in our lives. And also, that many accounts in the Bible – particularly the dreams of Jacob about the Stairway to Heaven and about wrestling with the angel are clearly very spiritual dreams. And, in fact, the ancient people all believed that some dreams were truly God-given. The big problem nowadays for most of us, of course, is that our dreams are often very hard to interpret.
9. So, as I mentioned recently, I just finished reading a new book called Dreaming beyond Death which came out last year and was written up in Newsweek magazine.
Briefly the Newsweek story tells how as a hospice chaplain for 10 years, the Rev. Patricia Bulkley, an ordained Presbyterian minister, confronted the raw emotions of the dying-their terror at the approaching end, their unresolved family problems, their crises of faith.
They were people like Charles Rasmussen, a retired merchant-marine captain in his mid-80s who was dying of cancer. He was consumed by fear until, in a dream one night, he saw himself sailing in uncharted waters. Once again, he felt the thrill of adventure as he pushed through a vast, dark, empty sea, knowing he was on course. "Strangely enough, I'm not afraid to die anymore," he told Bulkley after that dream. Death was no longer an end, but a journey.
This rather small easy to read book has in it a number of truly amazing and truly true stories like this – which really make you wonder if there isn’t more to it than we realize.
10. Well, this past week, I was having coffee at the hospital with my friend Mark Papke Larson. We like to check in ever once in while just to talk about things and since I hadn’t really seen him for quite a long time - it was another case of
HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENING?
And, so I starting telling him about this book about dreams and dieing patients because I knew that he would be interested and also because he deals with these kind of situations on a regular basis – much much more than I do.
Well, before I finished, he said, you know this happens a lot. And he went on to describe a number of cases of people having visions and dreams and all sorts of things which happened in the midst of illness and even death. And he hadn’t even read the book!
11. One story I will share with you … in a rather abbreviated form.
Mark told me that he had become acquainted with a quite elderly woman who was facing some very difficult and unwanted surgery that would change her life forever. Naturally, she was very apprehensive. And nothing seemed to make her feel at ease … even though she had been a life-long faithful church-goer – she seemed to feel that God was not really there for her – or so it appeared.
Her negative and depressed state continued after the surgery. Mark visited with her, prayed with her … the medical people tried anti-depressants …all to no avail.
Then one day mark came to see her and she was actually right back to her old self. It was a remarkable transformation.
Mark finally said to her – “Can you tell me what happened. We thought you were never going to get better and might even die.”
And she motioned for him to come over and when he did she whispered, “I saw Jesus! Right there … at the end of my bed.”
Now while this could have been a dream it may also have been a wide awake vision. But, whatever, the case, it was very real for this woman and she was literally transformed back into her regular self … for the fear and the depression were miraculously lifted.
And, then, she told Mark not to tell anyone because they might think there was something mentally wrong with her …!
Which to my mind is really the real clincher. Because when God really happens in someone’s life – it is very personal – and very unexplainable – and we really don’t care to share it with everyone we meet. And it is not something to be bragged about or used to impress others as to how religious we are. It’s not that at all.
12. Now, like most of us who went to seminary back in the 1960s and 70s, this is not something we were trained to deal with in pastoral care. Like myself, Mark was and is trained to be skeptical and analytical in his work – and yet he told me … because of what I have seen and experienced – it has changed his whole way of looking at his own spirituality.
So what are we to think, to believe, to understand about things of this nature? For myself, I can definitely say that (while I can’t explain them rationally) there are and have been moments when I have experienced things in my own life that are very clearly “spiritual in nature” (whatever that means) – or I wouldn’t be up here this morning.
In fact, I sometimes think it is some kind of miracle that I ended up being a minister at all. No, let me say IT IS A MIRACLE that I am a minister today – that is for sure.
And, even more, it is quite an extraordinary miracle that we are all here in the first place! Let us all say… Amen! to that.
13. And this is, in fact, what the resurrection is all about. It is about life itself. And it is also about the thing we fear most – which is death. For the resurrection is about life overcoming death. Love driving out fear. Forgiveness replacing sin with goodness. Wholeness bringing together our broken parts of our soul.
And it is about Jesus miraculously coming into our lives somehow through whatever means God can find to use … dreams, prayers, worship, scripture reading, singing, nature, visions, meditation, art, poetry, and the love of other people – perhaps most of all.
So, let us be reminded that the Risen Christ is actually present here today in each one of us … that’s right … for there is a little bit of Jesus in every one of us. And our job is to keep that spirit alive and well and working through us … not only for our own wellbeing but for those around us whom we love (or should love).
So, maybe the person next to you in a way really is Jesus who asks you now …today …
14. What’s happening in your life? For instance …
How has God come into your life this past year? What does Easter really mean to you? How is God at work in this church throughout the year? How does all the hard work and financial commitment, the many gifts of all our people, the love and caring for one another bring a sense of purpose and joy to our lives.
What’s happened in your life this past year?
Have your shared your faith with someone recently. With your children, perhaps …. Or parent or grandparent … or a neighbor or friend … or another church member or a husband or wife?
Have you volunteered some time to help someone in need through our church or a community program?
Have you visited someone who is ill or in the hospital or nursing home?
Have you taken time for prayer or meditation and thought about how we are all part of the Body of Christ … the community of the faithful … whether we are aware of it or not most of the time?
Have you given thanks to God for our church, and for your blessings in life, and for Jesus Christ who is our Lord and Savior?
15. These are all benchmarks … as I have said … by which we judge and measure our life in faith …from year to year.
The other thing we measure our faith by is the message of the Gospel which is laid out for us …in Acts 10:34-43 which we read this morning.
34Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, he said, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! 35It makes no difference who you are or where you're from--if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. 36The Message he sent to the children of Israel--that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again--well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone. 37"You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. 38Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him. 39"And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. 40But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. 41Not everyone saw him--he wasn't put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand--us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. 42He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. 43But we're not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets."
16. Unfortunately, in much of later church theology and preaching Christians have often made the mistake of thinking in terms of an angry God who had to be pacified by something gentle Jesus did. But, as the great biblical commentator William Barclay says, the early preachers never preached that. To them, the coming of Jesus was due to the love of God.
What this means is that despite the tendencies in human beings to lie, and cheat, and steal, and create all manner of injustice and oppression – all of which led to Jesus’ death … and more …
The power that was in Jesus – God’s power – could not be defeated. The force that was in Jesus could not be put to death.
And that force is the love of God in Christ … which is still with us … a living presence and power … that nothing can overcome.
That is what Easter is all about. And we celebrate it especially today … but also every day of the year.
Let us pray … page 879 – Prayers of the People.
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