Dresden United Methodist Church

May 11, 2008

Pastor Ellen Knight

Dresden United Methodist Church 

Scripture:  Acts 2:1-13 (New International Version)

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

 ⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹(both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" ¹²Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"  ¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

 ¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

 ¹⁷" 'In the last days, God says,
      I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
   Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
      your young men will see visions,
      your old men will dream dreams.
 ¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women,
      I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
      and they will prophesy.
 ¹⁹I will show wonders in the heaven above
      and signs on the earth below,
      blood and fire and billows of smoke.
 ²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness
      and the moon to blood
      before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
 ²¹And everyone who calls
      on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Sleeping Through a Storm

Back in 1999 on Labor Day, we had one great storm across this part of New York State. Do you remember it? It came in the middle of the night, totally unexpected. There was a huge rush of wind that came roaring down from the North. It tore up trees by the roots and leveled at least four huge maples on my street. In fact, one large tree fell down right in my side yard, missing my new Dodge Neon without a scratch, thank God. It sounded like a huge freight train was barreling through at top speed. Or at least that’s what I was told. You see, I slept right through it. I didn’t wake up until I realized the fan was off and I heard people calling to each other outside in the street.

Jesus Christ’s disciples were caught up in something very much like a tornado on that amazing day – except this wind was not destructive; it was transforming. And, it wasn’t a ploy of nature; it a promise fulfilled by God.

These past several weeks since we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection, we have traveled together, going East of Easter, and examining the changes that took place in the lives of the disciples in those first amazing weeks. We were there, in a sense, when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and then to the two travelers on the Road to Emmaus. We see many of his disciples in a great room when Jesus first appears to them, talks with them, and eats with them. And, then he appeared again to Thomas and silenced the doubting forever. Jesus appeared to his friends after his Resurrection. He healed people and taught his disciples again what it would all mean. We learned that he walked the earth again after his death for several weeks. Then, as we explored last week, he ascended to Heaven, right before their eyes.

But, before he left, he told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. He told them that the Holy Spirit would come on them and they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And they did what he told them.

And early one morning, while they were all together in Jerusalem, they heard a sound unlike anything they had ever heard before. It sounded like the blowing of a violent wind. Now the disciples had experienced storms many times while fishing, but this sound was much bigger than that. The sound they heard was, "like the rush of a violent wind from Heaven." And the sound filled the entire house. But wait, there’s more. . .

They looked up and saw giant tongues of fire descending upon them. . . giant tongues of fire coming down on them. That paints a fearful picture, doesn’t it? We would probably be terrified. . .and they might have too – if they had any time to react in fear. But, you see, they were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit simply took control of the situation. And, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit came to dwell inside of them, in their hearts and souls. And then something truly amazing happened: the disciples immediately began speaking in other languages. The old scriptures say, they began speaking in tongues. Why? What is the importance of this bit of information? Why did they begin to speak other languages? We will get to that in a second.

The disciples weren't the only ones to hear the sound of that rushing wind. The sound had filled the house they were in, but was so amazingly loud that others nearby heard it and wondered what it was. And a crowd was gathering at what seemed to be the center of the disturbance and the disciples began emerging from the house. Can you imagine the commotion, confusion and wonderment?

Jerusalem was a cosmopolitan city, filled with people from all over the known world who spoke a variety of languages. And every person in that crowd heard the disciples speaking in their own tongue. Isn’t that amazing?! They hadn't a clue as to what this meant or who these strange men were. Some were mocking the disciples, saying they were drunk. And, amidst all of the confusion Peter stood and addressed the crowd. He spoke boldly and in a loud voice. Realize that his was the same Peter who had denied even knowing Jesus. This was the same Peter who was hiding behind locked doors after Jesus' death, afraid for his very life. Suddenly, however, Peter was a new person. The Holy Spirit had accomplished a huge transformation!!

SIMON PETER WAS TRANSFORMED WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON HIM. And, he stood up to give a sermon. . . and I have to include here because it is SO important!

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. King David said about him:
  

 " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

   " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies  a footstool for your feet."

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

One of Simon Peter's friends probably came up to him after that first sermon and slapped him on the back and said, "I didn't know you had it in you." And Peter probably replied, "It wasn't me; it was the Holy Spirit." Peter was a new person: he had been transformed by the Holy Spirit. He went from being an impulsive fisherman into a fearless evangelist. The Spirit came upon him and he was transformed.

Notice something else, though. SIMON PETER WAS TRANSFORMED TO SERVE. Some people who have an experience of the Spirit in their lives focus on the experience, and not on the call of God to service.

The Holy Spirit did not come on the believers so they could sit around and congratulate themselves on their piety. The Holy Spirit did not come on them so they could form an exclusive club where only those who had the same experience would be welcome. The Holy Spirit came to them so that they could continue the work that Jesus had begun. And we are to do the same, aren’t we?. We are not called here to share in some special privilege through the presence of the Holy Spirit, but to serve. The real sign of the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit in a person is the service they give to others.

Simon Peter served by telling the crowd about Jesus in the hope that they too would become believers. And as Peter addressed them, three thousand people were converted. Three thousand in one day! And that brings us to our final point today.

BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SIMON PETER BECAME A CHANNEL OF BLESSING TO OTHERS. That's a great privilege: to become a channel of blessing to others. And that is a privilege that you and I can have as well. We can be a channel of blessings.

 There is a small group of islands in the South Pacific known as the kingdom of Tonga. On July 3, 1834, a miracle happened in a small Tongan village which would have an impact on the entire region. A group of Christians gathered in a field near the village to pray and fast. During this meeting, the Holy Spirit came upon the people with such power that the entire community was transformed. The experience was much like the first Pentecost. People were filled with a new zeal to spread the gospel throughout the entire kingdom. New churches were established, and all the churches multiplied their membership several times.

In the next year, 1835, Tongans climbed into canoes and sailed 500 miles to the west to share the gospel with their neighbors on Fiji. A year later they journeyed another 300 miles north by sea to Samoa to witness the gospel to their former bitter enemies. The believers in this small village in Tonga had been transformed by the power of the Spirit. They had been transformed for service and they became a channel of blessing to others.

Such was the experience of Simon Peter. And the same thing can happen to you and me, if we let it. Some of us have been sleeping through a tornado or the Labor Day storm. Pentecost is a time of praying for the Spirit to fall on each of us and on our church afresh so that we, too, may be transformed, and so that we may be a blessing to others.

May 4, 2008

Pastor Ellen Knight

Dresden United Methodist Church 

Scripture:  Acts 1:1-11 (New International Version)

¹In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ²until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

 ⁶So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"  ⁷He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  ⁹9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. ¹⁰They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Jesus Gives Us Tomorrow

There is a story of a conversation that took place many years ago on New Year’s Eve on the battle line of the war zone in Korea. The temperature that night was forty-two degrees below zero. Eighteen-hundred American Marines were facing one-hundred thousand Communist troops. The situation for every man was, to say the least, precarious. At midnight a supper was served to the troops, but it was only cold beans, to be eaten out of the can as the men stood beside their tanks. The newspaper correspondents assigned to the men were standing around trying to keep warm. One of them became philosophical. He noticed a large Marine whose clothes had frozen on him as hard as a board. His beard was encrusted with mud, his hands were blue from the cold. He was eating his beans with a trench knife - cold beans at 42 degrees below 0! The correspondent said to the Marine, "If I were God and could give you one thing you’d rather have more than anything else in the world right now, what would you ask for?" The Marine mulled it over in his mind for awhile, and finally said, "I would ask you to give me tomorrow."

It is time for Jesus to ascend back to the Father, and "tomorrow" is just what he offers his disciples. Let us look at some of he details. We owe so much to Luke for some of the specifics of Jesus’ leave-taking from this planet. The picture is given partly at the end of his Gospel, and more of it at the beginning of the book of Acts, which is the sequel to Luke’s Gospel.

Reading both of these accounts, we learn from where it was that the Ascension took place. "Then He led them out as far as Bethany." That means the Bethany district or area and on the brow of Olivet.

Have you ever considered what it must have been like for Jesus as he stood there that day? Resurrected . . . soon-to-be-ascended-and-reunited-with-His-Father. . . Many thoughts must have gone through his mind as he prepared for his departure.

This is the area where he had known deep pain and great joy. Here he had met with cruel treachery from his foes. But here he also had known abiding, true, and loving friendships. It was in these parts that he had been accepted, welcomed, and surrounded by love, but also here he had been betrayed and forsaken. He had enjoyed the hours he had spent in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus at Bethany. His heart must have saddened to recall the agony of the Garden of Gethsemane, his weakness, the bloody sweat, and the betrayal of a friend. But it was also from Bethany’s district that the crowds had begun the march with "Hosannas" to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

Jesus must have smiled as he remembered his triumph when he called Lazarus from the dead and back to life. And not far away, just outside the Jerusalem walls, he had died in pain, shame, and darkness. Jerusalem, Bethany, Calvary - and now Olivet. Here on Olivet he prepares to leave those he loves so dearly, those who love him so imperfectly, but still the best they can.

Jesus leaves, but before he leaves them, he gives . . . The Promise of the Spirit (Acts 1:8)

Before Jesus leaves these eleven men - faithless, but learning to be faithful - he gives them the promise of the Holy Spirit. How like him! Knowing their loss, loneliness, and weakness when he is gone, he promises them power. Next week, we will celebrate this great event – Pentecost Sunday.

When a person cannot be present at an event, he/she sometimes says, "I’ll be with you in spirit." It doesn’t do much good to say it, but it does express good intentions. Jesus says the same thing, "I’ll be with you by the Spirit," but when Jesus says it, it means something, for he says "Spirit" with a capital "S"!

Each disciple must have felt that day, "I cannot live without you." And Jesus says, in effect, "You won’t have to!"  Even though his physical presence was gone, they would still be led, guided, comforted, encouraged, and empowered. Christ was not abandoning them to a hostile world. He was promising them the Holy Spirit who would be a living grace for the days ahead. Someone once asked Dwight L. Moody, "Have you enough grace to be burned at the stake?" "No," was his reply." "Do you wish you had?" Moody said, "No, I don’t need it. What I need now is grace to live in Milwaukee for three days and hold a mission."

The disciples were being promised grace sufficient for each day and each task. They were being left, but not without comfort, hope, and help. In fact, the One who had been with them would now be the Spirit in them! And what a difference it would make in their lives.

Peter, who was such a weak and dogmatic activist, who spoke before he thought and acted before he considered, would, because of the Spirit, become a man possessed! He would be possessed of power to heal, power to raise the dead. He would be given wisdom to preach, and 3,000 souls would be added to the church in one day; his wisdom in his letters would remain the heritage of the church to this day. And this transformation happened to Peter because of the Spirit living in him.

Before he left, Jesus gave them ... A Blessing (Luke 24:50)

What seemed like the disaster of their lives to the disciples was going to turn into a blessing. Victor Hugo once exclaimed, "Why was I not exiled before?" This was about 20 years after Napoleon III banished him from France. Hugo had been France’s most popular literary figure when the Emperor took exception to some of his political beliefs and sent him into what everybody thought would be oblivion. In his exile, he wrote his most famous and successful novels, including Les Miserables. He returned to France more famous than when he left.

Jesus is about to turn their disaster into blessing. We read in Luke, "... and lifting up his hands he blessed them." What do you suppose he said in that blessing? Could it or would it have been the Old Testament blessing they knew and that we also love!? "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Do you know that a blessing is what we call a benediction? Think of it like this: When the pastor, at the close of the worship service, lifts his arms and gives the benediction, it is not really the pastor who is blessing you, but he/she, in Christ’s stead, is warming your heart one more time with his blessing. Before you go out into a cold, hard, sinful world, Jesus wraps his arms around you, leaving you with his blessing: "The love of God the Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be upon you, now and forever." What strength for fighting the battles of life! What comfort for our grief! What solace for our fears and hurts and pain! The blessing of God is upon us! We are going to make it after all!

And, still blessing them, Jesus parts from them. Their awed, tear-filled eyes follow him up - and up - and up - and up, until their sight of his blessed form is obscured by a cloud which hides him from view. He is out of sight. But still they strain to see him just one more time, maybe just a glimpse, but when they do not see him again, they begin to comprehend that his physical presence is no more.

Yes he is gone - but not really. His bodily form is denied them, but his presence will always be theirs, for had he not said, "Lo, I am with you always!"?

In ten day’s time, he would be nearer to them than he had ever been before. The Spirit would mean they could have closeness that physical being could never allow. How sensitive in our relationship is the Holy Spirit to the believer. Abiding in him, God is nearer than tongue can describe.

And, Jesus gave them ... The Promise of the Second Coming (Acts 1:11)

The disciples are still standing there. Can they be hoping for a chance sight of him, even though their best judgment tells them it is impossible? And suddenly they DO see something! It is not the dear, familiar form of Jesus, but they behold two strange men, dressed in white apparel. They appear before their astounded eyes. Who were they? Who knows? Could it have been Moses and Elijah, or maybe Enoch and Daniel? Their identities are not disclosed, but they do have a question for the disciples, "Men of Galilee, why keep gazing up into heaven?"

It’s not a foolish question, though we have all heard absurd queries in our time. I heard about a couple who had been going together for ten years. The fellow just kept hesitating to ask the girl to marry him. Finally, they were sitting together on one of those old-fashioned porch swings that they still have down south. It was a warm summer evening, and the girl said to him, "You know, we really ought to get married." The fellow was silent for a long time, and then he said, "I guess so; but who would have us?"

This was a good question the strangers asked the disciples, "Why stay here looking into heaven?" No answer is given by the disciples, maybe because none was needed.

The men, besides the question, also had a message for the disciples: "This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Could anything be more definite? Jesus made it safely back to the Father in heaven, and one day he will return. So, it’s "good-bye" for now, but not forever!

This is the message of the Ascension. Christ is in heaven, exalted at the Father’s right hand. Christ promised to give his Holy Spirit to all who repent and believe, and that means we need never be without Divine Presence. Christ will one day plant his feet again upon Mount Olivet, for in his ascension is the pledge of his promised return. He’s coming back! He said he would! You can count on it! Just as the Marine in Korea asked for, Jesus gives us tomorrow!

April 27, 2008 (Sixth Sunday of Easter)

Pastor Ellen Knight

Dresden United Methodist Church 

Scripture:  John 21:15-25 (New International Version)

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"  "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. ¹⁸I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"  ²⁰Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") ²¹When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"  ²²Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." ²³Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"  ²⁴This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. ²⁵Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Jesus Restores Peter

We can all get into trouble with the words we say, can’t we? Sometimes we say the wrong things and our words come back to haunt us!

Have you heard about the mother who invited some people to dinner? At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?” The little girl replied, “I don’t know what to say.” The mother insisted. “You can do it, honey. Just say what you hear Mommy say.” The little girl bowed her head, closed her eyes and said, “Lord, what on earth was I thinking when I invited all these people to dinner.”

This is what happened to Peter on the night before Jesus was crucified. His words spoken in haste that fateful night came back to weigh heavily on his heart… and thrust him into despair. Go back with me to that poignant scene.

Jesus and His disciples had just finished the Last Supper in the Upper Room. They sang a hymn and then went out to the Mount of Olives. There, Jesus told his disciples that they were fast approaching the “showdown” and in that crunch moment they would all fall away. They would all deny him, they would all forsake him. But boldly, Peter said to Jesus, “Not me Lord. All the rest of them may fall away but not me. You can count on me. I would never fail you. I would never deny you. I will go with you to prison and even to death. The others may become weak in the crisis, but not me. I will stand tall. “That, you can count on.” And Jesus said, “Peter, Peter I know you mean well, but the truth is that this very night before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

And of course, Jesus was right. That is precisely what happened… and Peter was emotionally and spiritually devastated by his failure to live up to his bold words. How could he face Christ again after falling on his face so completely? How could he be a trusted leader of the disciple group ever again after his colossal collapse? How could he speak ever again about his commitment to Christ and expect anybody to believe him? How could he redeem himself?

Well, the fact is – he couldn’t redeem himself, but Christ could! The Risen Lord could redeem him and forgive him and encourage him and give him a new lease on life… and that is precisely what this wonderful story in John 21 is all about.

Christ resurrects… and then the Risen Lord comes looking for Peter. He knows full well that Peter had failed that night… not once, not twice, but three times… and the Risen Christ knows how heartsick Peter must be. He knows that Peter needs forgiveness, needs reassurance, needs a new chance and a new life. So the Risen Christ comes to meet him where he is and to give him what he needs. This is the good news of Easter for you and me. This great story shows us that Christ not only can conquer evil and death, but He also can resurrect us. He did that for Peter that day. He can do it for you and me this day. That’s what John 21 teaches us.

Who could ever forget that scene? After the Risen Christ serves the disciples breakfast (another Holy Communion), He looks Simon eter square in the eye… and three times He asks him the same question: “Simon, do you love me?” “Oh yes, Lord,” Simon answers, “You know I love you.” “Then, feed my sheep,” the Risen Lord says to him. “Feed my sheep!”

Of course, it’s obvious what’s going on here. Christ is forgiving Peter and giving him a chance to profess his love three times to make up for his earlier three-fold denial. Then the story ends exactly the way it started three years before with Christ saying to Peter at the seashore these two powerful words: “Follow me.” The first thing and the last thing Jesus said to Simon Peter was that simple command: “Follow me.”

Isn’t that a great story? It is jam-packed with the stuff of life… powerful symbols, strong emotions, dramatic lessons. One of the key lessons for us today is to see how the Risen Christ seeks out Simon Peter – and meets his need… and how He does that for us too. He seeks us out; He comes looking for us to meet our needs. In Simon Peter’s experience with Christ back then, we get a practical glimpse at three of the powerful ways the Risen Christ meets us and helps us today. Let me show you what I mean.

I. FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WE MOST NEED LOVE, THE RISEN CHRIST COMES TO LOVE US.

It was a busy morning in the doctor’s office. Just a few minutes after eight, an elderly gentleman in his 80’s showed up to have some stitches removed from his thumb. He told the nurse that he was in a big hurry because he had an important appointment at 9:00 that morning and he must not be late. The nurse took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before anyone would be able to see him. The nurse noticed that the man kept looking at his watch urgently… and she decided to see if she could help the man. She looked at his injured thumb and it looked good. It was healing nicely. She reported this to the doctor and he told her to go ahead and remove his stitches and to re-dress his thumb. As she was doing this, she and the older man got into a nice conversation. “So you have an urgent appointment at 9:00 this morning?” she said. “Yes,” he said, “the same appointment I have every morning. Every morning at 9:00 I go to the nursing home to have breakfast with my wife.” The nurse smiled and said, “You are such a handsome gentleman. I bet that’s the highlight of her day.”

The man blinked and said, “She doesn’t know who I am… She has had Alzheimer’s disease for quite a while. She hasn’t recognized me in the last five years.” The nurse was surprised and she said, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?” The man smiled, patted the nurse’s hand and said, “She doesn’t know who I am, but I know who she is.”

There’s a word for that. It’s called love… unwavering, unshakeable, unconditional love. And that’s the kind of love Jesus Christ had for Peter. He knew who Peter was… and He knew how Peter must be feeling. He knew that Peter the Rock had crumbled and now He felt like dirt! So here came the Risen Lord to give Peter the encouragement, the affirmation, the reassurance, the love he needed so much in that moment. No “I told you so’s”. No stern lectures. No fanning the flames of guilt. No blame-placing or finger-pointing. Just words of love.

In this powerful and touching breakfast scene, Jesus, the Risen Christ, is saying to Peter: “I still love you. I still trust you. I still believe in you. I know you can do it. I want you to lead out. I want you to take up the torch of my ministry. I want you to take care of my sheep. I want you to watch over my flock.” Now, we know that these words of love became the wake-up call Simon Peter needed… and as we read on in the scriptures, we see how he became one of the courageous leaders and martyrs of the early church.

The point for us is obvious. Just as the Risen Christ came to Peter that day with the words and acts of love he so desperately needed… that’s the way he comes to us, with unwavering, unshakeable, unconditional love. That’s number one… when we most need love, the Risen Christ comes to love us.

II. SECOND, WHEN WE MOST NEED FORGIVENESS, THE RISEN CHRIST COMES TO FORGIVE US. Peter needed forgiveness and that is precisely what Christ came to give him.

It happened in the early 70’s. Her name was Teresa. She was 16 years old and having a hard time growing up. One night, she had an ugly fight with her parents. She ran away from home and stayed away for almost two years. Her parents searched desperately for her but no luck. Finally, they hired a detective. The detective brought back a sordid story that I couldn’t even begin to describe in the polite pulpit. Teresa had done everything a girl could do that would break her parents’ hearts – drugs, alcohol, life in a promiscuous commune, participating in all kinds of illicit activity.

Then one morning (it was Good Friday) the phone rang in her pastor’s office. It was a collect call from Teresa. She was calling from San Francisco. She was crying. “I have done everything wrong. I have hurt my parents so much. Now I realize how foolish I have been. I want to come home, but I don’t know if Mom and Dad want me back. I wouldn’t blame them if they didn’t. I don’t know how they could ever forgive me. I’m so sorry… and I want to come home.” The pastor told her to go to the airport and give her name at the airline desk. There would be a ticket home waiting there for her… and someone would be at the local airport to meet her plane.

When she got off the plane on that Good Friday afternoon, she looked pretty rough. Her hair was dirty and matted. Her clothes were rumpled and thread-bare. Her eyes were tired and bloodshot. Her parents rushed to her and hugged her and welcomed her home with love and grace… crying tears of joy and relief.

Two days later on Easter Sunday morning, they were in church together. Teresa sat between her mom and dad. She looked like a new person. She was radiant and beautiful. All through the service, her parents kept touching her, patting her, hugging her. After the service, they came down to speak to the pastor. As Teresa’s mother hugged him tightly, she whispered in my his ear, “I’ve always believed in the resurrection, but never more than right now!” Through the power of God’s amazing grace, we can work miracles when we, in the spirit of the Risen Christ, reach out to others with forgiveness. When we need it most, the Risen Christ comes looking for us with love and forgiveness.

III. THIRD AND FINALLY, WHEN WE MOST NEED DIRECTION, THE RISEN CHRIST COMES TO DIRECT US.

Peter and the other disciples had been waiting around wondering, “What next? What are we supposed to do now?” Then the Risen Christ came to give them a new direction. He said, “If you love me, then feed my sheep.” What He meant was, “take up the torch of my ministry! Go! Be the Church for this needy world!” The world is starving to death for Jesus Christ and we have Him. Our task is to feed His sheep, to share Him with others.

One of the wonderful things about this congregation is that we are huggers. I’m a hugger, and I am so glad that folks here like to hug each other. I think I know why that is. We have so much love for God, so much gratitude, that we want to hug God. But, we there’s no way to really hug God. So, the best way to hug God is to hug his children; the best way to love God is to love his children; the best way to serve God is to serve his children.” And, that’s precisely what the Risen Christ was saying to Peter that day. If you love me, then feed my sheep, take care of my flock. That’s the direction I want you to take. That’s exactly what I want you to do.”

And, you know. . .the Risen Christ is here with us today. He is here right now. He has come to give us the love, the forgiveness, and the direction we so desperately need. You want to thank him, to show him you love him? Then, as we stand for our hymn, take a moment to quietly stand up and hug the person next to you. And, may God bless us all!

April 20, 2008 (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

Pastor Ellen Knight

Dresden United Methodist Church 

Scripture:  John 21:1-14 (New International Version)

 ¹Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ⁵He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"   "No," they answered. ⁶He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." ¹¹Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Breakfast by the Lakeshore

One day many years ago, a fisherman's wife blessed her husband with twin sons. They loved the children very much, but couldn't think of what to name them. Finally, after several days, the fisherman said, "Let's not decide on names right now. If we wait a little while, the names will simply occur to us."

After several weeks had passed, the fisherman and his wife noticed a peculiar fact. When left alone, one of the boys would turn toward the sea, while the other boy would face inland. It didn't matter which way the parents positioned the children, the same child always faced the same direction. "Let's call the boys Towards and Away," suggested the fisherman. His wife agreed, and from that point on, the boys were simply known as TOWARDS and AWAY.

The years passed and the boys grew tall and strong. The day came when the aging fisherman said to his sons, "Boys, it is time that you learned how to make a living from the sea." They provisioned their ship, said their goodbyes, and set sail for a three-month voyage.

Three whole years passed before the grieving woman saw a lone man walking toward her house. She recognized him as her husband. "My goodness! What has happened to my darling boys?" she cried. The ragged fisherman began to tell his story:

"We were just barely one whole day out to sea when Towards hooked into a great fish. Towards fought long and hard, but the fish was more than his equal. For a whole week they wrestled upon the waves without either of them letting up. Eventually the great fish started to win the battle, and Towards was pulled over the side of our ship. He was swallowed whole, and we never saw him again."

"Oh dear, that must have been terrible!" said his wife. "What a huge fish that must of been! What a horrible fish." "Yes, it was," said the fisherman, "but you should have seen the one that got Away. . . ."

Yes, I know that's a groaner. Every good fish story is. There's a really good reason why people look suspiciously on a fisherman's tales. Something about the sport lends itself to big stories.

How do you think people reacted when Simon Peter and the other disciples returned from their fishing trip with tales of seeing the risen Jesus? Don't you imagine that folks just shook their heads and said, "Fishermen! Can't believe a word they say!" But we must take into account that the disciples were just as surprised as everyone else to see Jesus. That's the last thing they expected that night when they headed out to fish.

What was the object of going out fishing that night? Well, most of the disciples were originally fishermen. That was their occupation when Jesus called them to follow him. Let's look back at a similar story in the book of Luke, chapter five. Jesus is preaching and teaching by a lake when he joins a group of fishermen in their boats. After a disappointing night of fishing, the men were heading back to shore. But Jesus challenged them to head into deeper water and try again. They obeyed, and caught so many fish that their nets burst. These simple fishermen became Jesus' first disciples.

Over the next three years, these fishermen saw Jesus preach, teach, perform miracles, and turn the established order upside down. Imagine their sorrow when, at the height of his ministry, Jesus is arrested and crucified. What are they going to do now? Then, just as they were giving in to fear and confusion, Jesus appears to them, undeniably alive and full of power, and announces that he has conquered death! So, after this amazing turn of events, why are the disciples out fishing again?

WHEN OUR WORLD-VIEW HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN, OUR FIRST REACTION IS TO RETREAT INTO OUR COMFORT ZONE. It is not unusual under such circumstances to want to return to the familiar. Maybe the disciples needed time to clear their heads. The soothing rocking of the boat, the briny odor of sea water, the rough feel of the nets in their calloused hands--these things were comforting to Simon Peter and the others. And they needed this time in the comfort zone to sort out their thoughts and emotions. How tempting it is to stay in that comfort zone. As someone said, "The most tiring exercise in the world is carrying yesterday on your back."

That's what the disciples were struggling with: carrying yesterday on their backs. Each one had doubted Jesus' words. Each one had given up hope after Christ's crucifixion. And Simon Peter had to deal with the biggest burden of all: he had denied Jesus three times. So he and his friends had retreated to the comfort zone. But they weren't going to stay there for long. BECAUSE JESUS' CALL TO US IS ALWAYS A CALL TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONE. That's the second thing we need to see this day. Jesus always calls us out of our comfort zone. Jesus calls us it is to head out into deep waters, to get out of our comfort zone, to let down our nets on the other side of the boat, to trust that he's leading us into something greater than the life we used to know.

There is a great story about a young man from Camden, Arkansas named David Pryor. Pryor worked as a teenager in Washington, D.C. as a Congressional page. Pryor loved the job so much he vowed to return to Washington someday as a member of Congress. In fact, David Pryor hid a dime in a crack behind a statue in the U.S. Capitol, with the intention of retrieving it when he achieved his dream. Fifteen years later, as a newly elected member of the House of Representatives, he did just that. Pryor said his experience proves two things. One, that dreams in youth should never be underestimated, and Two, that they don't clean the Capitol very much.

David Pryor had a dream--a dream that required him to give his best. We don't achieve anything significant in life without leaving our comfort zone, without stretching toward high and lofty goals, without giving our all.

AND, AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST, YOU CAN'T JUST GO BACK TO YOUR OLD WAY OF LIFE. That's why many of us are not finding joy in our walk with Christ. We are trying to live the same way we lived before we became conscious of his work in our lives. And it can't be done. When you give your heart to Christ, you seek out new ways to live out Christ's message.

Evangelist Luis Palau once visited the prison where General Manuel Noriega, the brutal, one-time dictator of Panama is being held. Noriega has become a Christian in prison. He talked excitedly with Palau about his faith. Palau asked Noriega what he would do if he were ever released from prison. Noriega explained that for years, he had been commander-in-chief of his country. He made all the major decisions. He was in control. But now he had a new commander-in-chief of his life. When he left prison, testified Manuel Noriega, he would rely on Jesus to make his decisions for him. He was turning over total control to him. Someone once wrote, "We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Jesus' disciples had to learn this lesson. Manuel Noriega had to learn this lesson. We have to learn this lesson. There is the life we have constructed for ourselves, and then there is the life that Jesus is calling us to. And they are rarely the same.

And so, as the disciples drift along on the sea at night, catching nothing, expecting nothing, Jesus appears to them again. This is the disciples' golden hour, even if they did not realize it. This is the hour that will change their lives forever, the hour when everything would begin to fall in place for them. Jesus appears to them and challenges them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat--and the harvest of fish which they reap is beyond their wildest dreams. If there is one totally predictable theme in the Bible, it is this: blessings follow obedience. The disciples obey, and suddenly they catch a boatload of fish.

IN THIS MOMENT, JESUS WAS RE-CALLING HIS DISCIPLES. He was re-commissioning them to go out with renewed commitment and spread the good news. It's decision time for these rugged fishermen. They are on the edge of returning to their old way of life. Now's the time to decide: will they return to fishing, or will they commit to being "fishers of men?"

Management consultant Peter Drucker says there are four kinds of risks. One kind of risk is the risk you simply MUST TAKE. You have no other option. A second kind of risk is one you CAN AFFORD TO TAKE. You calculated the cost, and it's worth it. A third kind of risk is a risk you CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE. The results would be too disastrous. And fourth is a risk you CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO TAKE.

It is a risk to respond to Jesus' call. But obviously it's a risk that the disciples cannot afford not to take. Full of joy, they begin rowing toward shore to greet Jesus. Simon Peter doesn't even wait for the boat; he jumps into the water and rapidly wades in to meet Christ. And, this is it! From this time forward, there would be no turning back for these disciples. No longer would they be fishermen--but now they would be fishers of men.

There is a classic story that comes out of humorist Robert Benchley's college days. For one of Benchley's final examinations, he was to write an essay on fish hatcheries. He hadn't cracked a book all semester. Undaunted, he started his final something like this: "Much wordage has been devoted to fish hatcheries. No one, however, has ever covered this subject from the point of view of the fish." And this he proceeded to do in what is probably the most entertaining final exam in Harvard's history.

We've looked at this Bible passage from the perspective of the disciples. Now let's look at it from the point of view of the fish, because that's who we are. We are the fish. The nets represent the unity of the disciples and of the church. And the fish represent all the people who will be brought to salvation by the witness of the disciples. And that includes you and me. If these disciples had stayed in their comfort zone, you and I would never have heard the Gospel. We are their harvest, their catch, their reward for leaving their boats to teach and preach and lead others to Christ. Are you satisfied to stay in your comfort zone? It's all right if you are. But there is a more satisfying life awaiting you if you are willing to seek something greater -- to be his disciple, to be his follower, to seek to turn the world right-side-up to his glory.

April 13, 2008 (Third Sunday of Easter)

Pastor Ellen Knight

Dresden United Methodist Church 

Scripture:  John 20:24-30 (Contemporary English Version)

²⁴Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. ²⁵So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!" ²⁶A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples ²⁷and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!" ²⁸Thomas replied, "You are my Lord and my God!" ²⁹Jesus said, "Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!" ³⁰Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book.

Jesus Appears to Thomas

As we continue with our East of Easter Sermon Series, we will shift from the Gospel of Luke to the Gospel of John. Today, we will come alongside the disciples again as Jesus reveals himself to Thomas. But before we go to Thomas, I want to share a little nuance in the Scripture between that of Luke and John that I think is worth mentioning. Last week we explored Luke 24:36-49 because it gives more detail than John does about the appearance of Jesus to the disciples in the closed, locked room. Luke tells us that during Jesus’ appearance to the room full of disciples, he “opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Remember that phrase as we look at John 20:22 where John tells us that Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘receive the Holy Spirit.’” Which did he do? Did he open their minds or did he breathe on them and give them the Holy Spirit? Some folks might wrestle with this and wonder which one is true. For folks new to exploring Scripture, it may cause them to scratch their heads and wonder what they can believe. Translating from the original Hebrew texts is a tricky thing because one word or phrase in Hebrew could mean a number of things, closely related, in the English language. I think the important thing here is that whether he “opened their minds” or “breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit,” either way they experienced an internal transformation, a transformation that gave them a new understanding they had not yet had before. That’s the key here. . .to recognize that these people were forever changed, forever transformed, by the resurrected Jesus, the risen Christ.

So far we have learned Jesus’ appearances to Mary Magdalene, Peter, the travelers to Emmaus and a gathering of disciples all took place on Easter Sunday. Unbelievable! That's what it was, unbelievable, and wonderful and awesome. Jesus was there; locked doors could not keep him out. Nothing could. God raised him from death and the world would never be the same as before.

As we begin to explore today’s text, we learn that Thomas (one of the original twelve disciples) missed out on any of these spectacular moments. He was somewhere else. He was not with the rest of them in that locked room on Easter night, so he had not witnessed this appearance of Jesus. We can identify with him on this one; we were not there either! John’s scripture tells us that the disciples told Thomas afterward that they had seen the Lord, and he said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!" Poor Thomas has, since that statement, gone down in the annals of history as the “Doubting Thomas.”

And so, a week later, the disciples were in the house, the same house, with doors locked and Thomas was with them this time. And, Jesus came and stood among them. There was no puff of smoke, none of the magician’s tricks, and no beam of light, such as has been used on "Star Trek" to move people from one place to another. First he was not there; then he was. Jesus turned to Thomas and invited him to touch his wounds on his hands and his side. He told him to stop doubting and believe. And, Thomas acknowledged him, saying “My Lord and my God!” Jesus uses this teachable moment for all time by telling Thomas, “do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!"  And, so, that makes us, those who have faith without seeing him, really blessed, doesn’t it? Awesome!

Do we wonder why John included the "doubting Thomas" episode in his writings? It seems to be addressed to the Church of his own day, which did not have direct evidence of the resurrection. The story, then, is directed, not only at Thomas but also to all subsequent Christians who could learn only through the proclamation, or the telling of stories. For us, hearing it (or, according to v. 31, for us, reading it!) has to be believing it. And, then John finishes this Chapter by telling us that Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples that are not recorded in this book. But, and here’s the point: these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name. “The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!” And that continues to speak to us today, does it not?

We have to take this story and the other stories about the appearances of the resurrected Lord strictly at by faith alone. And when, through the grace of God, we have faith enough to cry out, "My Lord and my God," as Thomas did, perhaps we, too, will take the mission of the church just as seriously as Thomas and the other disciples did after they had seen the Lord. Do you think they were able to blot out from their minds their own weaknesses and sin in their memories of those last days before his death? I doubt very much if any of them ever forgot, and they must have lived for the rest of their lives in that tension between the cross and the empty tomb.

That means that we must take sin seriously, recognizing that sin is responsible for our separation from God and that it made Jesus’ death on the cross necessary to our forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father. And it also means that we will take the resurrection, and all of its implications for new our entire lives now, as seriously as we take the cross during Lent and Holy Week. That’s why Thomas appeals so much to many of us. He wanted to see for himself, to be certain that what his friends claimed they had seen and heard was actually so. Who can fault him for that? He is often called "doubting Thomas," but I like to think of him as "lucky Thomas" because he had the sort of experience with the risen Lord that all of us would like to have but may never have.

You know, Jesus didn’t simply show himself to the disciples and disappear. According to Acts 1, we are told that he stayed with the disciples over a period of 40 days. He stayed there giving them orders for carrying on his mission on earth: In John 20:21 Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." Jesus was not going to allow their relationship to become simply a private matter, a strictly personal relationship between them and himself. They, and we, are to take the message to the world.

The resurrection of Christ holds out hope to a dying and desperate world, not simply to a few friends of Jesus who were fortunate enough to be living in the first century. It reminds us that things can change because people can be transformed by Jesus Christ. The mission that Jesus gave to the disciples, and which we have inherited today, consists of telling people the good news about Jesus Christ and, also, of calling them to repentance and faith. The gospel of the crucified and yet living Lord offers all people forgiveness and new life, and the business of the people who consider themselves Christians in any age is to confront the world with the claims of Christ which insist on a shift of allegiance from selfishness and sin to the righteousness and beauty of the Kingdom of God that he has initiated. Jesus placed the Keys of the Kingdom, in the forgiveness of sins, in their hands when he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. He empowers us through that same Spirit - which we first receive in Holy Baptism - to carry on that same mission in the world. We are the heart and the hands of Jesus Christ. And, we carry them into the world, blessed to be a blessing to others. Amen.

April 6, 2008 (Third Sunday of Easter)

Pastor Ellen Knight

Dresden United Methodist Church 

Scripture:  Luke 24:36-49 (New International Version)

³⁶While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."  ³⁷They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."   ⁴⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence.

 ⁴⁴He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

This week’s text picks up where we left off last Sunday. If you remember, we heard about the two disciples (Cleopas and an unnamed companion) walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus in the afternoon of Easter Sunday. Jesus came to walk beside them and chat with them, but they did not recognize who he was. And, they did not recognize him until they shared a meal together and he broke the bread. Then, their eyes were opened. They immediately rushed back to Jerusalem (a 7-mile walk) to tell the others. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they found the Eleven key disciples (the Twelve minus Judas), with others with them, gathered together.

Can you just hear, see and feel the excitement and awe? Several people, women and men, and perhaps children as well, talking at once, voicing their wonder and perhaps their doubts too? First, we learn that Jesus appeared to Mary early on Easter morning, and she told the others. Then, these two from Emmaus spent time and a meal with him and they came back to tell the others. But before they had a chance to do that, the excited gathering told them, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon!” Do you remember that phrase from last week’s scripture? “The Lord has risen and appeared to Simon.” In 1 Corinthians 15:5 Paul writes that Jesus appeared to Peter alone. This appearance is not further described in the Gospels, but it makes sense to me that Jesus would show individual concern for Peter because Peter felt completely unworthy after denying his Lord. But Peter repented, and Jesus approached him and forgave him. Soon God would use Peter in building Christ’s church as you will see in the first half of the book of Acts.

But back to our story. . . According to both the writings of Luke and John, this appearance occurs on Easter Sunday evening). John adds the detail that it took place "with the doors locked for fear of the Jews." Locked, barred, so no one could enter. So imagine their shock when Jesus appears out of nowhere.

Even while the Emmaus road travelers are still talking about their own encounter with the risen Jesus, he suddenly appears and "stood among them“ - offering the familiar greeting, "Peace be with you." Instead of reacting with joy, jumping up and down, or even showing sheer relief at the return of their beloved master, the disciples are overwhelmed with fear and completely unprepared for this face-to-face encounter. It was one thing for the disciples to hear secondhand reports of Jesus' resurrection - - but it was quite something else again for them to stand in the presence of the living Lord.

The disciples have already confessed a belief in Jesus' resurrection based on the story of Jesus' appearance to Mary and Peter: “It is true!” they said. The said this even before the Emmaus road travelers told their story. The tale relayed by those two witnesses surely must have further strengthened their belief. Why then, does Luke record such a shocked, frightened-rabbit reaction on the part of the disciples when Jesus now appears to all of them?

I belief that at this point the disciples had not yet had time to process everything. They are alarmed, startled, and terrified. They think they are seeing a ghost -- some sort of disembodied spiritual being. We might wonder about the disciples' unbelief. After all, they have just been discussing two appearances of Jesus -- to Peter and to the Emmaus disciples. But they are understandably startled. They haven't quite yet internalized the concept of a dead Messiah now alive and appearing and disappearing at strange times and places. Jesus gently chides them that they are troubled and notes their lingering doubts. He reassures them. He encourages them to touch him, and satisfy themselves that he has flesh and bones – and is not a ghost or phantom. Luke uses the word "showed" in verse 40 as he describes Jesus displaying his wounds. This is not just some kind of vision or hologram, but a phenomenon that can be touched with the hands and probed with the fingers. Jesus' resurrected body has substance. 

But even this is too much, too soon for the disciples to grasp. They are now filled with joy and wonder, but are still afraid that this is too good to be true. So Jesus offers them yet another sign that his body is real and has a physical reality. He asks if they have anything to eat – another indication that his body has physical reality – it needs to be nurtured and fed – so it is real. They respond by giving him a broiled fish which he eats as they watch.

I want to stop here with our story for this week. We are coming back to verses 44 through 50 in the weeks to come. And, next week we will hear about Jesus’ appearance to Thomas. But before we conclude today, let’s review what we have learned in these last two Sundays after Easter:

The disciples were literal eyewitnesses of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. They saw the nails pounded into his hands and feet, the spear thrust into his side. They were there. Some of them removed his body from the cross, tenderly washed it, wrapped with spices, and entombed it. They knew he was dead.

Their disbelief indicates that they had no hope of him being alive. But now they know that Jesus is clearly alive. His body is physical. It bears marks of his suffering, identical with the body of the Jesus they have known and loved. But his body is now more than that. It can relate to space and time -- yes -- but it is no longer bound by space and time. Jesus can now live bodily as easily in the heavenly, spiritual sphere as in the earthly.

My friends, if we are to take seriously the accounts we have of Jesus' resurrection, we must conclude that Jesus' post-resurrection body had continuity with the one that was crucified and buried. This is an astounding, historical reality. Without question, the Gospel writings teach in detail the physical death, cold corpse, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. No other explanation fits the evidence we have.

The disciples were eyewitnesses. And their explicit statements as well as the record of their initial unbelief are written down for later disciples to ponder and believe. We, too, are witnesses -- witnesses of the transcripts of these events made by credible witnesses. And now we, too, are obligated to declare to our generation and the generations after us, this astounding, amazing, overwhelming, world-altering phenomenon. Jesus IS risen from the dead! It is TRUE!

And if this is so -- and we believe it to be so -- then, the only appropriate response is: Wow! Hallelujah! Jesus, you are the Man. Jesus, you are my God! Jesus, I am your obedient and joyful servant. Forever and ever. Amen.

March 30, 2008 (Second Sunday of Easter)

Pastor Ellen Knight

Dresden United Methodist Church 

Scripture:  Luke 24:13-35 (New International Version)

¹³Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.  ¹⁴They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  ¹⁵As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;  ¹⁶but they were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast.  ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"  ¹⁹"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  ²⁰The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²²In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

²⁵ He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

 ²⁸As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³²They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

 ³³They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." ³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

East of Easter Sermon Series

Jesus Appears to Two on the Road to Emmaus

Last week we celebrated Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. But Easter isn’t over. Not by a long shot. There are several weeks following Easter Sunday that are still considered the Easter season. These weeks are full of mystery and excitement that we can share together. And, so we journey yet a bit further, traveling beyond Easter Day, going East of Easter.

But in order to get started, we must go back to the Garden Tomb. We see Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb, bearing intense grief and sorrow. She approaches the tomb and realizes that someone has moved the stone away and she believes someone has removed Jesus’ body from the tomb. Now, in addition to her grief and sorrow, she is shocked and horrified. We watch as she turns and sees a man who she thinks is the gardener and she asks him where Jesus’ body is. She wants to have it so she can take care of it properly. And, then we hear Jesus speak her name and watch as she realizes that the man standing there is Jesus. He has risen from the dead! Her intense feelings of grief, sorrow, shock and horror are swept aside in an instant and she is filled with inexpressible joy.

This is the first of many appearances that Jesus made over a period of weeks. Acts 1:3 tells us he appeared to them over a period of forty days. As we travel East of Easter, my plan is to tell you about some of these wonderful, mysterious moments because the things that happened during this time brought the disciples back together in faith and belief, and a new day dawns in the hearts, minds and souls of God’s Children.

The second appearance happened that very same day to two disciples traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a walk of about seven miles. [First, I want to explain that the term disciple in Scripture refers to all the people who followed Jesus’ and his teachings. The Twelve were disciples who went on to be known as Apostles. So the term disciple is a broad, inclusive word that means many people of all ages, both men and women – both then and now. The term Apostle refers to his chosen ones who went on to establish the church.]

But back to our story: two disciples, one named Cleopas, the other unknown, are walking home that same Easter day. They are talking to one another about all that has happened over the past 3 or 4 days. They want answers to the deep-seated questions they have about the failure of the movement they have given so much to. As they walk, their talking is woven with moments of awkward silences. Then, a stranger joins them and wants to be part of the conversation. “What are you guys talking about?” he asks. The stop and stand still, their faces showing grief and pain. “Are you clueless? You can’t be from around here!” they cry, “You don’t’ know everything that has gone on in the last few days?” “What things?” the man asks.

These sad Jewish folks then re-tell the tragic turn of events that happened to their leader--whom they believed to be the Messiah. And they tell him the startling news about Jesus’ body. . .that it was gone . . .and that Mary has seen Jesus in the Garden. It is just too much for them to take it all in. Something so wonderful has gone so wrong in just the last few days. They can’t get it out of their minds and they are caught in the paralyzing emotions of despair, defeat and death.

And, then the stranger tells them all that was said about the Messiah in the Scriptures beginning with Moses and all the prophets. Although they don’t know the stranger, there is something about his manner that gives them renewed hope and an inner peace. And they become excited about all the things he says.

When they come to the village of Emmaus, these disciples urge the stranger to stay with them. And he sits with them for supper. It is not until the stranger took the bread and blessed it, that they finally recognize him as the Lord Jesus Christ. His presence with them transforms their mood of failure and defeat into renewed hope and a new direction for life. When Jesus breaks bread with the disciples, he is telling them there will be a tomorrow.

Imagine their surprise when they learn that the same disciples who fled from the cross are going to experience a new beginning. The same disciples who failed up to this point are going to be the instruments that God chose to usher in the kingdom that Christ’s death on the cross had guaranteed.

When the two disciples recognized it was the Lord Jesus who shared dinner with them even though they had failed and forsaken him, "they never felt more loved." Their hearts burned with His love. Jesus declared to them that things are not finished. They are to turn around and get back to Jerusalem and await further instructions and a new assignment. Things will go on as planned. Jesus was giving them a chance to change the world. And look how far we’ve come since then!

So far, each time Jesus appeared after Easter, he initially went unrecognized by those who loved Him most. They were bemoaning the fact that the world was going to hell. All seemed lost. They were searching for something dramatic to piece together their broken dreams, but He revealed himself to them in a very ordinary way. And, it took them awhile to see and hear him. But, when they did, it made a huge difference in their lives – a difference that they could carry with them forever.

Jesus knew that his disciples would need his presence forever in their lives. We need him to guide every step of the journey we take, knowing that he has walked every step before us. Christ came not to remove all suffering from our journey, but to let us know there will be a tomorrow. Jesus walks with us and beside us, waiting to be recognized, ready to open our minds, and wanting to make a huge difference in our lives. Let us try to open our eyes and ears to the possibilities that he has in store for us. Amen!