Jesus is Alive, Surprise!

Sermon Matthew 28:1-10 April 16, 2017 Easter Sunday

                                                Sermon: Jesus is Alive, Surprise!

A friend of mine (Jo Ann Staebler) said,

“The Easter gospel begins with great grief.”

At first I thought, “No way. Easter is a time of joy. There is no grief.” And then I realized, “Just a minute-of course it begins with great grief.’

The women were on their way to the tomb where Jesus lay. And these women were deep in grief. The women have gone into muscle memory mode. They are going through the motions of grief that all do when tragedy, death, destruction or trauma strike.

And it is also true that it is darkest before the dawn.

And our greatest fears rise up in those darkest hours.

Everyone was in shock and they did not know what to do without their Lord.

Their faith had been crushed, beaten, and dismantled by the death of the Savior. And they were very afraid of what would happen next.

In our journey of faith we too have faced times when everything we believed was crushed, beaten, and dismantled.

We have been in dark hours where we did not know what to do or what to say.

We too were functioning in muscle memory mode.

We too were going through the motions just to get through the day only to have to repeat those motions for more days than we could remember.

The gospel lesson of Easter pulls us into all the

grief and drama of the power of loss.

And then while we are still caught in the challenge of grief,

God astounds us with the BIG SURPRISE!

Jesus is not here.

He is ALIVE!

It is a surprise beyond our imagination.

It is a surprise that once again startles our faith!

He is alive shocks us as much as his death did.

It is too much to bear.

Now what do we do? He is ALIVE!

How do we act? He is ALIVE!

And how do we share this news? He is ALIVE!

Jesus said he would return again, but how many really believed it would happen like this?

He said it over and over again.

But how well did they listen?

I know my husband is always trying to get me to listen-to really hear what he is saying.

I know I’m told things for my own good over and over again-but I don’t seem to hear it-even when my life depends on it.

Jesus spoke in riddles. Some we can give the disciples a break-maybe not judge them so harshly. The parables of Jesus were hard to follow…

Remember the one when he was telling Nicodemus about being born again. We, like the disciples, scratched our heads wondering how this renewal of life can actually happen. We know our bodies don’t go through the birth process more than once. So how can new life be born in us?

Jesus was full of surprises alright.

He had a way of making food appear out of a couple slices of bread. He touched people and they were healed. He taught the leaders of the synagogue things about God no one had ever known. He walked on water.

He raised Lazarus from the dead…wow, he really was full of surprises.

He really did do things beyond anyone’s imagination.

He really did do miracles.

Perhaps, then his rising from the dead is true too.

And if this surprise is true then we can remember all the things he did.

We can talk about them to people.

Jesus didn’t do all these surprising things to entertain us.

He did them to transform us; to change us; to make us new.

Just as the caterpillar crawled into the tomb of its chrysalis and rose from it as a magnificent butterfly; so Jesus has risen-magnificent from the depths of his tomb. Transformed. And so he declares we are too.

You see, in dying, God is making sure there is rising!

For if God goes down to the dead and rises to new life;

rest assured God has made the way for us who die

                                              to rise to new life!

We can be assured and raised up with strength as we witness the surprise and wonder of the Resurrection;

of new life;

of a new creation!

This is our hope!

Believing in this surprise, this miracle of God, fills us with new life.

We rise up today filled with joy and wonder.

God makes all things new through the power of the resurrection born in us.

Jesus has risen to new life so we too rise to new life.

It is the miracle that grants us the power to change not only who we are but the world around us.

SO we wonder again,

what do we do?

How do we act?

What news do we share?

We go out from here today rejoicing in the strength and courage of the Savior born anew in us.

We go out from this place nourished and fed at Table so we can do the things Jesus did.

We can make the abundance of food appear from two slices of bread. We have the capacity to offer our extras to others in need.

We can share the abundance of our joy with our neighbors.

We can take the abundance of our knowledge and offer to help others learn and live. Just like those who volunteer with the literacy council, we offer the abundance of our knowledge through tutoring, mentoring, teaching.

We can take the abundance of our courage and stand in the gap for those who can’t.

The list goes on and on of what we can do.

And how can we share this great surprise?

Through sheer faith in believing. We may not understand it, and we may not be able to explain it, but, we can believe it by the evidence of God’s love within us. It is real because God’s love is real.

Friends let the warmth of love flow through you today.

Let the love you cannot imagine surprise you.

Let the power of the resurrection surprise rise up in you.

Go now and live. Go now and give.

Jesus is alive-surprise! Amen.

This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared first to the women, then to Peter, and to the twelve, and then to many faithful witnesses. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is our Lord and our God

“It is Finished”

Sermon John 19:29-30 April 14, 2017 Good Friday Ecumenical Worship ‘7 Last Words’ My ‘word’ “It is Finished”

Title: Gone Down to the Dead

When the vinegar had brought to the mouth of Jesus, He said. “It is finished”, and bowed his head and dismissed his spirit.

We are all here today kneeling at the foot of the cross, present with the dying Jesus, hearing his final words,

we sit stunned.

Jesus takes his last breath.

Could it really happen?

Did it really happen?

Was it a hoax, or a sick joke?

What was our Savior, our Messiah doing nailed to that tree?

This day… as a matter of fact, this week…these past Lenten weeks we are in real time with Jesus.

We move with him through the throngs of people, through streets of Nazareth and Galilee.

We stand in awe as he tells us things beyond our comprehension.

We run alongside him as he enters the city of Jerusalem.

We wave and shout along with the crowd.

We are amazed at Jesus. He knows about everything.

It all happens just as he said.

We found the room for our meal together just as Jesus said.

We ate with him alongside the disciples.

He washed our feet as he washed the disciples’ feet.

He broke bread for us as he broke bread for the twelve.

We slept with the disciples in the garden as Jesus prayed;

and…we ran away…just as they did when Jesus was arrested.

Today, we are sitting beside Mary, crying with her and all those who dared to be at the foot of the cross.

 

We are crying on this Good Friday,

on this day Jesus has died.  

If we are in real time…

We have lost our hope.

We have lost our cause.

We have lost our understanding.

Who was Jesus?

How is our Messiah going to save us now?

He is dying…he is dead!

But, wait!

Wait, just a moment.

Back up a minute…

What just happened?

Oh, yes…

 After Jesus had tasted the vinegar, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Greek for what Jesus says is Tetelestai. Which literal is “It has been finished-it has been accomplished, it has been completed.” It is not a defeatist statement! It is not a sad overture of the end of all things!

It is the words of a project manager saying the job is complete and now it’s time to get paid.

“Tout est accompli,” is how it’s written in the French Bible.

All is accomplished.

All is completed.

For people who are grammar gurus, this is valuable understanding of the context of the work of Jesus, the work of God.

The literal translation could be viewed as, it has been finished.

This then could be a progressive perfect present tense which describes an action that    began in the past,

                          continues in the present,

                                              and may continue into the future.

So, if I understand Jesus, as he formed these words on his lips, he is giving all of us seated at the foot of his cross, hope!

We have hope because this project that God the Father had for his Son has been completed. And now we can live into the future in the next phase of the kingdom project.

Jesus has gone down to the dead.

Flesh dies.

God knew that sending his Son into the world as God incarnate-Immanuel-God with us-meant taking on flesh.

And since Eden we have lived outside the gates of Paradise.

God knew Jesus would die, that he would have to die, because all flesh dies.

Our hope is knowing that God knows fully the extent to which flesh takes us-to the dead.

Our hope is knowing that God is intimately aware of our suffering.

In dying, God is making sure there is rising!

For if God goes down to the dead and rises to new life;

rest assured God has made the way for us who die

                                              to rise to new life!

Today, in this day of death, we know that resurrection is coming.

We know that the joy and celebration is moments away.

But, for today, we can rest in death.

We can find comfort in death.

We can be reassured in death.

Jesus went down to the dead.

When our flesh dies,

we go down to the dead.

We live in the promise that Jesus has already been there.

Jesus has paved that path,

done that project,

and all will be well.

We are safe in the arms of Jesus as he cries out, “it is finished” and sends his spirit out into the world.

We can say and sing, “It is Well with My Soul!”

Amen. 

The Service of Shadows-The Tenebrae service of light to darkness 2017

The Service of Shadows-The Tenebrae service of light to darkness 2017

A dramatic reading based on a harmony of the Gospels.

Readers:

Narrator, Jesus, Disciples, Pharisee, Judas, Chief Priests, Peter, Pilate, Crowd

Opening: It was the week we now call Holy Week. It was the week that Jesus, who had turned his face toward Jerusalem, entered the city. It was the week of the Passover feast and the city was swollen with people. The faithful followers of God had come to worship. Jesus, also faithful to God, entered with his disciples. We too enter with him into this fateful week as witnesses. Who will we be? How will we see Jesus? What will we say? Why will we still follow? Or will we walk away? “Stay with me…watch with me…will you too abandon me?”

Narrator:

1.      Sunday                                Jesus Enters Jerusalem

Narrator: When they were approaching Jerusalem at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said…

Jesus: Go into the village ahead of you there you will find a colt. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks why you are doing this; tell them, ‘the Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’”

Narrator: The disciples did just as Jesus had asked and it came to pass just as Jesus had said. They brought the colt to Jesus and he sat on it. As the entered Jerusalem, many people spread their cloaks along the road. They cut down leafy branches and were shouting Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming of our kingdom David. Hosanna in the highest heaven! Jesus entered the city and straight way went to the Temple. As it was late he went with his disciples to Bethany. And so ended the first day.

Extinguish 1^st candle

2.     Monday                                Jesus Enters the Temple

Narrator: Now Jesus wandered to the city the next day and came to the Temple. He began driving out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves and he would not allow anyone to carry anything into the temple.

Jesus: Have you not heard. DO you not know. Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But, you have made it a den of robbers.”

Narrator: Now the chief priests and the scribes heard about what happened at the temple. They had been looking for a way to kill Jesus because they were afraid of him. They were angry at his teachings. They were frustrated with his followers. Jesus was a nuisance and he had to go.

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Hymn                              Ah Holy Jesus, How have you offended. v.1,2              #93

3.     Tuesday                            Jesus Teaches his Disciples

Narrator: A new day dawned and Jesus and his disciples again traveled around and through the city. Along the way, Jesus was questioned about his authority to teach and speak the things he does. He spoke in parables about vineyards and taxes. Each time the authorities listened to Jesus speak they wanted to arrest him. They didn’t because they were afraid of the crowds. Jesus came to the Temple and began teaching. He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many people came putting money into the treasury. The rich put in large sums of money. A poor woman came and put in two copper coins. Jesus called his disciples over to tell them…

Jesus: Truly, I tell you this poor widow has put in more than all those other people have done. All of those have given out their abundance; but she has given out of her poverty using all she had to live on. Let us go now.

Disciples: Look at these large stones of the temple!

Jesus: Not one of these will be left upon another. All will be thrown down.

Disciples: When will this be Lord?

Jesus: Beware no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am He.’ Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom and kingdom. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs. As for yourselves, beware. They will hand you over to the councils and you will be beaten in the synagogues. The good news must first be proclaimed to the nations. When they bring you to trial, do not worry. Say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you to speak, but the Holy Spirit…Be alert. I have told you everything.

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Hymn                                     Go to Dark Gethsemane v. 1,2                             #97

4.    Wednesday                      Judas Decides to Betray Jesus

Narrator: This day was the day that the fate of Jesus was set in motion. It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus and kill him.

Pharisee: Not during the festival. There is a crowd here and they might riot if we act now.

Narrator: Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus. Judas chose to betray the best friend he ever had. He made the decision that Jesus was no longer the one he expected him to be.

Judas: Jesus has failed me. Jesus is useless. Jesus is never going to be king. Jesus will never overthrow the government. Jesus is letting money go to waste by letting a woman pour expensive oil all over him. Jesus is not doing his job. Jesus is betraying his promise to the people. It is time for him to go!

Narrator: He was turning his back on the son of man and no one could change his mind. He had no idea that his plan would lead to the cross. He just wanted him out of the way. It was time for another to fight for the kingdom.

Chief Priest: Judas you are such a fine man to come to us today. You will be greatly rewarded for your efforts. We are quite pleased you have made the right decision to bring Jesus to us and turn him over to the rules of the Law.

Narrator: From that moment forwarded Judas began to look for a way to betray Jesus.

Extinguish 4^th candle

5.     Thursday                  Jesus has his Last Meal with the Disciples

Narrator: This was the first day of Unleavened Bread; the day when the Passover lamb was slaughtered.

Disciples: Where do you want us to go to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?

Narrator: Jesus gave them instructions to follow as they entered the city. The disciples set out and found everything the way Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. In the evening they all gathered. Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,

Peter: “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus: “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Peter:  No! You shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Peter: Lord, then, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!

Jesus: Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.

Narrator: Jesus knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When the disciples heard Jesus say one of them would betray him. Jesus said it would be the one who he gives bread to after he has dipped it. They began to be distressed.

Disciples: Surely it isn’t I?

Judas: Surely, not I, Rabbi?

Jesus: You have said so.

Narrator: And Judas immediately got up and went out. And it was night.
Extinguish 5^th candle

Anthem Adult Choir                          Face the Cross             Scott & Ruth Elaine Schram

Narrator: After the meal was finished they went out to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus prayed while the others were not far off. 

Jesus: My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.

Narrator: Three times when he came back he found his disciples asleep.

Jesus: Are you still sleeping? Look the hour is and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer.

Judas: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.

Narrator: A crowd had come carrying swords and clubs. With Judas were the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the temple. The men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested him. The disciples deserted him and fled.

~~

While Jesus was being questioned, and accused of blasphemy at the home of the High Priest, Peter was in the courtyard not far off. Three times he was recognized. First by a servant woman and then by two of the bystanders. “Surely you are one of them,” they said. Each time Peter denied he was with Jesus. And on the third time he began to curse and he swore an oath. At that moment, the cock crowed for the second time and Peter remembered the words of Jesus, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” And, he broke down and wept.

6.    Friday                Jesus is Crucified

Narrator: On Friday Jesus was brought before Pilate, the governor, by the entire council. The council accused Jesus in front of the governor saying,

Chief Priests: This fellow has been leading our people to ruin by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is our Messiah-their king.

Pilate: are you the King, the Messiah?

Jesus: It is as you say.

Pilate: This is not a crime.

Chief Priests: He is causing riots against the government everywhere he goes.

Narrator: It was the custom of the governor at this time of the Festival to release a prisoner of the choice of the crowd.

Pilate: I ask you people who would you want released, Jesus or Barabbas?

Crowd: Barabbas

Pilate: What should I do with Jesus?

Crowd: Crucify him!

Pilate: Why, what crime has he commited.

Crowd: Crucify him! Crucify him!

Narrator: Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.    
Extinguish 6^th candle

Solo Were you there When they Crucified My Lord?  Ed Satterfield.

Narrator: The soldiers took Jesus and mocked him. They dressed him in a purple robe. They spat on him. They gave him a scepter and yelled at him and spat on him. They struck him and whipped him. They placed a crown of thorns on his head. Then they led him out to the place of the skull; also known as Golgotha. Jesus stumbled and fell along the path as he carried his cross.

They nailed Jesus to the cross and lifted him up. Alongside him were two prisoners, one on his right and one on his left. Darkness covered the land. The curtain of the temple tore in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. Jesus cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama, sabachthani?” which means, My God, My God why have you forsaken me? Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, “It is finished.” and he breathed his last.

Loud Slam-7^th candle extinguished-lights out abruptly.

Return to Light

Return to light

L: The true light that enlightens everyone came into the world through Christ

P: Though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

L: In him was life, and his life was the light of all.

P: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

*Closing Hymn                Love Divine, All Loves Excelling v. 1,2,4                  #376

*All:  Truly he was the Son of God

Leave quietly…

The sanctuary is stripped bare

Wave the Palms

Sermon Matthew 21:1-11 April 9, 2017 Palm Sunday

Wave the Palms

Our anthem begins with Wave the Palms and throw the branches at his feet, Wave the Palms.

Palm Sunday is our chance to shout and sing and dance in church.

It is our loudest Sunday of the year.

No other Sunday in our church calendar calls for as much festivity as this one.

So, let us get together and begin our celebration, our joy, and our party!

Let’s see what do we need for a parade and for a celebration?

Oh, I know we need noise makers,

and we need decorations,

and we need lots of color,

and we need a reason to celebrate.

For two years now our churches have marched in the St Patrick’s Day parade as the Makemie Marchers. It has been our purpose to march for fun. We like being part of the parade and we like being together to celebrate the day with the other parade goers.

We also march to let others know about us.We want people to know about our church and to join in the fun we have together. Think about what those things are for you, should someone ask you. 😊

There is something very special about a parade.

It has a special energy that seems to build among those in the parade and with the parade watchers. It begins slowly and then as the event gets closer the excitement grows and the enthusiasm is contagious! And everywhere you look you see a smile on people’s faces.

And isn’t that what we hope for, strive for, live for?

We seek a life of smiles and joy.

We seek a life where trouble does not exist.

We seek a life where peace is at every turn,

where the hungry are fed,

where disease is a myth,

where war and hatred are long gone,

and the world is in full bloom.

That’s why we have this Sunday of celebration.

So, we do not forget what we hope for.

When around the world children are dying a horrible death

and in our own neighborhood houses are being robbed,

and where disease is at our doorstep,

and discord is in our homes-

                                    we need a moment like this to find our hope again.

Some might get angry at us for taking a day to rejoice.

Some might say to us, “but there are poor around us how can we pause and shout, sing and dance?”

And our response is to say, “we have not forgotten the suffering that surrounds us. The suffering is here and we are well aware.”  “Yet, this day is for us to receive our strength for the journey of the week ahead. That is why we wave palms today.”

You see, if we fully invest ourselves in the events of Holy Week

we cannot go through it unless we have gained the strength

that comes from the rejoicing together today.

Today, we recall the story of Jesus entering into Jerusalem on a donkey.

The crowds were crying out to him, “Save Us!” They were recalling the words of the prophet Zechariah. Jesus was to be the new king!

The crowds were filled with hope

for a new beginning,

a new way of life,

one without oppression.

They were seeking freedom from the realities of the harshness of their lives.

Jesus was the one to make that happen.

As we raise our voices in song today, we still believe that.

Jesus is the one who must save,

who must bring peace to all.

Jesus is the one who has filled our hearts with promise and with hope

                                                    and today we expect those dreams to become real!

But, what about tomorrow,

when the streets have been

 swept clean from all the

confetti and the banners?

Will we still be chasing

after Jesus with hope?

Or will the reality of

his journey through Jerusalem

dash our dreams and

our expectations of who he really is?

Why didn’t Jesus accept a political crown and fix the problems and heal everyone?

Why did Jesus let things keep happening?

Why didn’t Jesus fight?

Why didn’t Jesus do what I expected him to do?

Isn’t he my Lord and shouldn’t he fulfill what I believe are his promises?

This is where the faith of the crowd suffered. When Jesus no longer acted like the king they expected, they lost hope and they not only turned away but turned against him.

Maybe, just maybe, we do that to Jesus too?

When Jesus doesn’t get the job done that I expect: Jesus, you were supposed to get my best friend the job of her dreams and you didn’t do that. I prayed every day, three times a day, and I gave you plenty of advance notice of when she would be interviewing, and you blew it Jesus!

 You didn’t answer my prayer like you promised you would.

I’m done!

I’m walking away from this believing in Jesus stuff!

I’m walking away from this church stuff!

It’s all fake!

None of it is real!

How can anybody believe that junk anyway?

We cannot remake Jesus into the God we want him to be. 

We can only share the news of the God he is. 

He is not a super star. He is not an earthly king. 

He is not a money tree. He is not a magic man. 

He is not a genie in a bottle or a fairy godmother fulfilling all our wishes. 

And if this is the Jesus to whom we wave our palms today, 

then we will be like the crowd and we will turn away from him and also against him tomorrow.

Today, we wave the palms and lay the branches at his feet and we see his face.

Today we recognize the Jesus who has saved us and has given us new life. Today we feel his touch as he reaches out to us and calls our name. We hear him say we belong. We hear him say we are his children. We are claimed as children of God and he does not let us go-ever! Today we recognize his voice and at the sound of his voice we believe.

We believe because somewhere along the path of our life the miracle of faith has been born.

We believe because even though the one we call Lord and Savior

goes down to the grave, we witness his rising in the end.

We believe because we know that even if we

go down to the grave, we too will rise.

We believe this because this is our hope and this is our promise.

The one whom God sent to walk this world walks with us today. Friends, his words are true-“My peace I leave you, my peace I give you…do not let your hearts be troubled, do not let them be afraid.” “I am with you always even unto the end of the age.”

We wave the palms and we celebrate for today we rejoice in our king

and tomorrow we will continue to sing.

Hosanna, Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Amen. 

At the Crossroads-John

Sermon Matthew 26:36-46 April 2, 2017 5^th Sunday in Lent

At the Crossroads-John

We are at our final week of conversations with people we have met at the crossroads of their life. It has been an interesting journey learning about the different stages people have entered into their decisions to follow Jesus.

Today, we heard the Scripture read from the gospel of Matthew. In these final hours of the life of Jesus he goes once again to pray to his Father in heaven.

It is a most powerful scene.

The tension and the drama of Jesus caught in the struggle of obedience to continue movement toward the cross and his desire to remain on earth demonstrate the real struggle of the power of love.

Jesus shows the depth of his relationship with his disciples as he begs them

           to stay with him,

                     to watch with him,

                                 to remain with him.

Jesus hangs on to his love for them and their love for him.

The scene points to the essential need for relationship especially in dire times.

The Garden of Gethsemane is a place of choice.

It is a place where will and desire are put to the ultimate test.

The Garden is a place where what must be battles with what wants to be.

In the Garden of Eden in Genesis, human will for the ‘want to be’ was great

and it won over

       the will

           to remain with God,

                        to be with God,

                                to watch with God.

The Garden in Eden was the place where relationship and the fullness of life with God was lost.

We recognize sin

             as the willful disobedience of humanity.

Adam and Eve were fully aware and fully in control of their decision to disobey,

            no matter who they tried to blame.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Father brings around the restoration of God’s relationship to the people through the willful obedience of Jesus.

Jesus was fully in control of his decision as he reached the end of his prayers.

Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him as he moves further in the garden to pray. He keeps his closest companions with him. They fall asleep and Jesus wakes them begging them to support him in his efforts to reconcile himself with his fate.

Yet, the hour is late and they still fall asleep.

The human anxiety that Jesus faces because he is fully aware of what is about to happen, contrasts with the sleep of the disciples because they are not yet fully aware of what awaits Jesus. This points again to imperative of relationships of one with another.

It’s really hard to be supportive and present when we still can’t grasp the gravity of a situation.

I know as followers on this side of Easter we judge those disciples for not understanding Jesus and his predictions of his death.

But, I know when I want to deny the truth that is right before me because it brings me too much pain, I am like the disciples and I lack understanding even if the truth is staring me in the face.

We have all had those times.

We do not want to believe a diagnosis;

                                     or a termination notice;

                                                         or a break up, or…

We would rather crawl under the covers,

                                       fall asleep,

                                           turn the other way,

                                                   than witness the struggle before us.

John and his brother James were known as the sons of thunder. They were close to Jesus. These two and Peter are always at Jesus’ side. John is credited with the authorship of the gospel of John, Revelation and the letters that bear his name. John is also praised by the apostle Paul as one of the pillars of the Jerusalem church.

The fourth gospel is written in a way that it draws the reader into the stories as a participant. The prologue identifies the theology of the author. Jesus is more than his death on the cross. For the writer of the fourth gospel the power of God’s love for the world begins with the incarnation.

God’s love and desire for the restoration of creation begins with the birth of Jesus.

The importance of joy and light and life are prominent in this gospel.

In the life of Jesus, the first miracle that takes place is at the wedding of Cana. The abundance of wine demonstrates the abundance of all that God has for God’s people.

In the fourth gospel Jesus proclaims he is sent by the Father more than 100 times. It is essential for John to make clear that Jesus is the one who has completed what is needed for the salvation of the world.

Jesus is the great I AM.

He is the bread of life.

He is the living bread.

He is the light of the world.

He is good shepherd.

He is the resurrection and the life.

He is the way, the truth and the life.

In this fourth gospel, John has sought to clarify that the decisive measure of one’s relationship with God is one’s faith in Jesus. The coming of Jesus into the world is what has given the world access to the light and love of God.

In the fourth gospel, Jesus talks to his disciples about the power of God’s presence with them. He prepares them for the time when he will no longer be with them. He talks to them about the Holy Spirit.

He seeks to prepare them for the comfort of his presence through the presence of the Spirit to come. It is this Spirit that dwells with us at our crossroads of life. Jesus said. “Abide in me, as I abide in you.”

It is his invitation to us to allow the fullness of his presence always.

The Garden of Gethsemane was the place where we witnessed the restoration of God’s relationship with God’s people through the willful obedience of Jesus. Jesus went to the cross, he rose again, he fulfilled the promise of God.

Let us recognize the transforming power of God’s love in us. Let us say yes, to following Jesus. Amen.