“Leave You Death Cloths Behind!!…”

April 16, 2017

Stetson Memorial UMC

Resurrection Sunday!

Psalm 113

John 20:1-18 NLT

Acts 10:34-48 MSG

Isaiah 25:6-9 NLT

 

“Leave You Death Cloths Behind!!…”

 

The Lord be with you, and also with you…let us pray…(Prayer of illumination….)

 

Please stand as you are able from the reading of the Gospel according to John, chapter 10, verses 1-8…

 

It was a morning like no other. Mary trembled as she made her way to the tomb of her teach and friend. “How could all of this had happened” she thought. “How could they have called for Barabbas instead of Jesus?” She continued on her way to the place she never thought she would have to go…at least not this early in Jesus’ life. All of the sudden the earth shook with a violent convulsion. It knocked her to the ground. She got up wondering what could have caused such a ruckus.

 

She began to think about the events of the past 3 days and how she stood with Jesus’ mother by the cross as her world was torn apart by the last breath of her teacher. “How could have the others ran away and leave Him to be alone…let alone Peter’s actions?” Then she remembered the stone in front of the tomb. “How am I going to be able to give Jesus a proper burial? I can’t move the stone away myself. But I must try. It is the least I could to for the one who saved me from the demons inside.”

 

As she neared the tomb she couldn’t believe what she saw. The stone had rolled been rolled away. Then she thought “Oh no…His body!” She ran to the tomb and it was as she had feared. Jesus body was missing. Everything else was there…the death cloths and the cloth that wrapped His head. But the body…it was missing… What was she to do…where on earth could they have taken Him…?

 

Good morning! Happy Resurrection morning! We have come to the end of our Lenten journey and now here we stand at the empty tomb. This is the foundation of our belief. Without resurrection morning, there is no faith…without resurrection morning, there is no forgiveness of sins…without resurrection morning, there is no victory over sin and death…without resurrection morning, Jesus’ life didn’t matter. This is probably my favorite day in the Christian calendar as well as Pentecost Sunday…but don’t let me get started on that…

 

When I think about the empty tomb I just want to shout from the mountain tops…Christ has Risen…Christ has Risen indeed! I love this day because it is the day that humanity was given the chance to come out of their tomb, remove their death cloths and come into the glorious light of our God in and through the Light of the world, our RISEN, Lord Jesus Christ

 

In Isaiah 25:6-9…the prophet Isaiah talks about the day that God will remove the gloom and gloom of death and bring joy and hope. The gloom of death hung over all of humanity and there was no end in sight. But God, in His infinite love, could not leave humanity in the pit it was and is in. He alone brings salvation in and through the frailty of His Son. We now are invited to the banquet with the best of everything we can think of… Death no longer has a grip upon us and we are set free in and through the empty tomb. If we choose to come out and leave behind our death clothes…

 

When I think about the John scripture from this morning, what stood out for me are these facts:

1. Jesus death clothes were left in the tomb…
2. Reminded me of Lazareth being raised…
3. It represents victory over sin and death…
4. People are like Mary…not know where He is…
5. Jesus calls our name as He did Mary’s (she was blinded by the world and what she saw that was temporal)
6. We are to go and give the message to those who are waiting…as Mary did…

 

In Acts Peter…the Rock…proclaims the resurrection…read Acts 10:34-48. What can we see from Peter’s reaction that is also for us today?

• He proclaimed Christ’s ministry of healing and peacemaking (36-39)
• Proclaimed that God raised Christ from the dead (39-40)
• Proclaimed that they ate and drank with the Risen Christ (41)
• Proclaimed Christ is the judge of the living and the dead but there is forgiveness in and through His name…

 

Resurrection Sunday is not just the end of the Lenten journey but only the beginning of the story, the beginning of the new life…the beginning of a new age. Christ went to the cross not just to save you and me but to save all of humanity and there is so many who need the hope and forgiveness of the cross I just can’t imagine Jesus wanting us to keep it for ourselves. God wants all of humanity to be saved and we are here to share the good news so that it is. That’s part of mine and your mission here…part of the purpose of why we were created…to love, to share, to be Christ for the world. But how can we bring the Good News if we are still in the tomb wearing our death shroud?

 

Resurrection people. It is resurrection morn and we are now given a new life. We have come from the ashes of Wednesday and have come up from those same ashes as a phoenix into the glorious light of the Son. We are being called from our tombs to a new and redeemed life. We are given the robe of righteousness for the death cloths sin had us wrapped in. The question is…will you come out?

 

Amen…

God’s Standards…

No Condemnation (John 3:17)
We often go through the day feeling as if someone is looking over our shoulder ready to judge our actions. My husband probably wonders why I bought that dress . . . My boss is thinking I’m taking too long with that project . . . The elders don’t understand why I can’t take on that committee . . . This isn’t how Mom would have done it . . . And perhaps the voice we hear the most is our own: Why aren’t you good enough?

Even if others praise us, the pressure we put on ourselves can drown out the latest acclaim. We put pressure on ourselves to do more—and do it better and quicker. How could God be pleased with us, we wonder, when we feel so weak?

Listen to the words in this chapter of John’s Gospel. God wants a relationship with us—not to condemn us, but to free us. He offers redemption through Jesus—not because we have done something to deserve it, but because he loves us.

Though we may read those words again and again, they can be hard to believe. But try to wrap your brain around this truth: God does not condemn you. None of the pressure you feel throughout the day is from God. In truth, you may be trying to please others or achieve your own goals more than you are trying to please God. You may feel guilty because you keep changing the standard.

Richard Foster writes, “The less we are manipulated by the expectations of others, the more we are open to the expectations of God.” Yes, we are weak. Yes, we often fail to meet our own expectations. But what does God expect of us today? To believe in his Son who set us free from sin. To believe that he is stronger than our doubts, fears, pride and ambition. To believe that he does not condemn us for who we were before we met his Son. To discover who we are in the light of his love, freedom and grace.

We may not feel “qualified” but…our God “qualifies the called…”

The GPS of my Soul

Loving God, full of grace and mercy. Thank you that You are always with me. Even in those “dark night’s of the soul” You are there to comfort me and bring me into Your light. Thank you that You are my guide who leads the way even in the darkest of desert places. Thank you that I never walk alone. Lead me out of the darkness and into the light of Your love those times when I can’t seem to see the dawn. Show me the way to Your heart. Thank you that You are the GPS of my life…

Amazing Grace…how sweet the sound…

Amazing God, full of compassion and love. It is mind boggling to think of the grace you so freely give me. To think that you pour out your grace on me even though I don’t deserve it is truly a one of your miracles to me. I can’t earn it…Jesus already did the work for me. I can’t pay for it…Jesus already paid the price. I can’t steal it…it is your free gift to humanity through Jesus’ sacrifice. All that I can do is accept it. Lord…I accept your gift of grace this day and forever more. May I share that gift with those whom you put in my path. May they too accept the gift of grace from you because of my actions, may words and my love. I praise you and thank you…you truly are the God above all gods.

As This Day Begins

Awesome God, full of peace and hope! Thank you for this day that you have given me. May I use it for your glory. May you be seen in my words and actions. May my words speak life and not death. May I speak of the life you offer to all of humanity. Empty me of myself and fill me with your Spirit of hope, love and salvation. May I bring healing and wholeness to all that you put in my path this day. Thank you…

Blessed Beyond Measure

Oh Great God, thank you for loving me so much! To think of all the wondrous things I survey that was fashioned by your hand and to know that I am cherished above all of these is very humbling to me. TO think that you breathed the breathe of life into me is too marvelous for words. To know that I am your beloved child is incomprehensible to me. May I never forget your promises to me that I may stand firm in my devotion to you. May I never forget that you have a purpose for my life…even when I don’t see it. I will ever sing your praise for the life I now have in Christ Jesus… I am blessed beyond measure…

By Faith

Sometimes it is hard to walk by faith. Everything around you seems to be falling apart…It seems as if nothing will ever change for the better. You may even cry out “How long Lord will I have to endure this…how long?!”

It is during these times that we need to drawer closer to the heart of God. By focusing on God we refocus our vision to the One who gave sight to the blind. The distractions of the world seem to disappear. It is within these times that we are invited by God into the throne room of grace and to drawer nearer to His heart of love, compassion, joy and peace.

The journey to God’s heart is God’s journey for us…He will lead us. During this journey there will be ups and downs but we need to trust the Lord’s “Higher Purpose” even as we see and face tragedy. At times we will see God use and redeem our affliction…sometimes we won’t. It is in those times that our faith and trust will be stretched…grown.

We have a choice to make…are we going to trust int he heart of God or what we see and hear in/from the world around us? When God changes our “itinerary”, will we trust in His plan? Are we going to actively search for God’s heart or just give up when the road becomes a little unfamiliar?

What and adventurous life we lead when we give up control to God and let Him weave us into the tapestry of life…life in/at the center of God’s heart…seek to draw near and come away renewed…

Even when we don’t see it

Drawing Nearer To the Heart of God

As we drawer nearer to the heart of God we grow in our faith and trust in Elohim…the Maker of heaven and earth. We come to realize that God is in control even if it doesn’t seem like it. Our eyes only may see the temporal things that are going on…we may fail to see the Eternal God acting on behalf of His vision for the world… As we drawer near to Abba’s heart we are given a new set of eyes…

To be like my namesake…

To be like Ruth in the Bible…

• She gave up everything …
• Went on a trip that she would not return from but went anyway…
• Will to go where God is…
• Willing to do anything…endure anything to survive.
• Did it all for God so that she could rest under Abba’s wings…seeking refuge…
• Did all God needed…did what was needed…to draw closer to Yahweh’s Heart
• Went even though others discouraged her…

Oh to be like Ruth…to be like my namesake…

Servant of the Lord

Ebed-Servant

Ebed Yahweh-Servant of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-4 Names of God Bible (NOG)

The Lord’s Servant Will Bring Righteousness to the World

42 Here is my Ebed, whom I support.
    Here is my chosen one, with whom I am pleased.
    I have put my Ruach on him.
    He will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry out or raise his voice.
    He will not make his voice heard in the streets.
3 He will not break off a damaged cattail.
    He will not even put out a smoking wick.
    He will faithfully bring about justice.
4 He will not be discouraged or crushed
    until he has set up justice on the earth.
    The coastlands will wait for his teachings.

Ebed=The one who does the transforming work of God. Jesus-Now His Followers…

We can feel like the bruised reed or the wick about to go out but we are powered by God’s Spirit (Ruach Elohim) to bring about the Justice of God but we do it in gentleness and kindness…