as you go

So if the message that is preached says that Christ has been raised from the dead, then how can some of you say, “There’s no resurrection of the dead”? If there’s no resurrection of the dead, then Christ hasn’t been raised either. If Christ hasn’t been raised, then our preaching is useless and your faith is useless. We are found to be false witnesses about God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, when he didn’t raise him if it’s the case that the dead aren’t raised. If the dead aren’t raised, then Christ hasn’t been raised either. If Christ hasn’t been raised, then your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins, and what’s more, those who have died in Christ are gone forever. If we have a hope in Christ only in this life, then we deserve to be pitied more than anyone else. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died. (1 Corinthians 15:12-20, CEB)

We preach Christ raised from the dead. And if some say there is no resurrection, then our faith is false and our preaching is useless.

And today, have you ever seen a person come back to life? I have heard stories of good friends who were dead, from them. They died but were resuscitated. They were clinically dead, but are alive. So yes people are still resurrected today. We have medical science to explain it today, but it does happen.

Faith in believing Jesus was dead, but then was alive again is what gives us hope. Jesus came to show us how to live, and God showed us that if we love as God loves then death is a step in eternity and not the end.

Hope is believing in the resurrection.

Live in hope. And share love as you go.

Loving People. Loving God.

Unbelieving Thomas

It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.” After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!” Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.” Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name. (John 20:19-31, CEB)

This text for the longest time was known as the doubting Thomas text because what Jesus says to Thomas was translated incorrectly.

In the text above Jesus says, “No more disbelief. Believe!” In the older texts, it said do not doubt but believe. The text in the original Greek is καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. The part that gets translated doubt but believe is the same word only the first has a negation added to the front of it. απιστος and πιστος. The word means faith, trust, or believe. So if you say the translation should be do not doubt but believe, then doubt is the opposite of faith. Is doubt the opposite of faith?

Doubt makes us look for answers or dive into darkness. Faith brings us out of the darkness and could be the answers we are looking for. So in this sense doubt could be the opposite of faith, but I think doubt is more of a helper along the way to faith and not the opposite. Like is the opposite of love hate? I think the opposite of love is indifference. Hate still means there is a connection, indifference is nothing.

Do not be unbelieving but believe. Let your questions point you more to faith.

Loving People. Loving God.

_________

Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her. It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. (John 20:11-20, CEB)

We all give Mary a hard time, or at least I have heard it asked, why didn’t Mary know Jesus?

Have you ever been so filled with grief that you couldn’t remember things?

Have you ever lost a dear family member and didn’t know how you were going to get out of bed or face the day?

Grief is powerful. Mary was overcome with grief. The person she loved who she had spent every waking day with for the past years was brutally killed by the Romans. She was overcome by grief. And through that cloud and not expecting to see Jesus alive she didn’t know who he was. Until he spoke her name.

I can imagine the moment. Probably a lot like the moment I saw my oldest daughter after she was brought home after she ran away. I wasn’t sure I would see her, hear her, or hold her again. The moment I wrapped my arms around her was sweet. And when Mary heard her name roll off the tongue of Jesus, her grief moved over and her mind said, wait a minute, that is Jesus!

When God speaks your name you can feel the love.

When God speaks your name you know you are loved.

When God speaks your name everything may not be right, but you know you are not alone.

Loving People. Loving God.

appeared…

Brothers and sisters, I want to call your attention to the good news that I preached to you, which you also received and in which you stand. You are being saved through it if you hold on to the message I preached to you, unless somehow you believed it for nothing. I passed on to you as most important what I also received: Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, he was buried, and he rose on the third day in line with the scriptures. He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, and then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once—most of them are still alive to this day, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me, as if I were born at the wrong time. I’m the least important of the apostles. I don’t deserve to be called an apostle, because I harassed God’s church. I am what I am by God’s grace, and God’s grace hasn’t been for nothing. In fact, I have worked harder than all the others—that is, it wasn’t me but the grace of God that is with me. So then, whether you heard the message from me or them, this is what we preach and this is what you have believed. (1 Corinthians 15:1-11, CEB)

Paul here writing to the Corinthians about Jesus and his death and resurrection and who saw him after the resurrection.

Paul says Jesus appeared to Cephas, which is Peter, and then to the twelve. The twelve meaning the disciples. But isn’t Cephas a disciple? I know there is the whole thing at the end of the gospel of John where Peter denies Jesus and Jesus restores Peter. But the disciples include Cephas. so shouldn’t Paul have written, Jesus appeared to Cephas and then the eleven? But wait the eleven includes Judas, and didn’t Judas kill himself? So would he be part of the disciples anymore? And Matthias replaced Judas but not until after Jesus ascended which is 50 days after Easter, so that hasn’t happened. Who are the twelve? Now, this is a minor detail, but it is one that shows that maybe the scriptures are not a cohesive unit. It is a gathering of books, letters, and writings that help us understand our faith, but may not always have all the details right.

This doesn’t mean it isn’t useful or inspired. It simply means to me that it isn’t inerrant. That doesn’t mean it’s not holy, or from God, but it might not be completely accurate because man wrote and translated it. Errors can and I am sure did happen.

But the underlying message of the book is love. God so loved us, that God came and showed us how to live, love, and be merciful and gracious to others.

So love.

Loving People. Loving God.

pray

Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray for us also. Pray that God would open a door for the word so we can preach the secret plan of Christ—which is why I’m in chains. Pray that I might be able to make it as clear as I ought to when I preach. Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. (Colossians 4:2-5, CEB)

Pray always for others with thanksgiving.

Pray that those who are messengers of the gospel will have the will to continue sharing.

Pray that those who preach will be clear in their proclamation.

Pray that followers of the way wouldn’t make it hard for others to come to belief.

Pray.

Loving People. Loving God.

Go and tell

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel from the Lord came down from heaven. Coming to the stone, he rolled it away and sat on it. Now his face was like lightning and his clothes as white as snow. The guards were so terrified of him that they shook with fear and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ I’ve given the message to you.” With great fear and excitement, they hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. But Jesus met them and greeted them. They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there.” (Matthew 28:1-10, CEB)

Every gospel has the first witnesses of the resurrection being women.

They were going to the tomb to finish the prep of the body because they rushed to get him off the cross before the Sabbath started. So they went to the tomb early Sunday morning and were told Jesus isn’t here, he is alive.

And they see Jesus and Jesus tells them to go and tell the disciples. Usually, Jesus was telling people not to tell, well now to these women, Jesus says go and tell. Go and tell. Be a witness to me. Jesus empowered women to be messengers, teachers, and prophets!

Why do we say they can’t be leaders? Who are we to say that Jesus got it wrong?

Love People. Loving God.

as God’s choice

Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17, CEB)

as God’s choice…

We are to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient as God’s choice.

We need to forgive as God forgave us as God’s choice.

Live in peace, with thankful hearts, and do everything in the name of the Lord as God’s choice.

You see, it is not your choice to be with God. God chose you. It was and always will be God’s choice.

God chose you and chooses you still today.

No matter what anyone else tells you or the world might say.

God chooses you. So live like it.

Loving People. Loving God.

Don’t

So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things. But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people. (Colossians 3:5-11, CEB)

I read this passage and something jumped off the screen at me.

I thought about how the world around me is so fixated on sex. Several states are in a battle to stop transgender children from getting the care they need to make them healthy because they believe it is sexually immoral to do this. We are so caught up on what others do behind closed doors.

The author of Colossians says to put to death sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed. We are also told to set aside anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. We get stuck here I think. We want to stop people from doing things in their own privacy that we think is bad/wrong/immoral we don’t continue reading or hearing. We let our anger or rage take over because what they are doing is wrong. We miss the next sentence.

Don’t lie to each other.

Don’t lie to each other.

Say why you want to stop the things you want to stop. Most people hide behind their faith, their religion. God calls us to love and lift up, not degrade and hold down.

Don’t lie. Love!

Loving People. Loving God.

Easter!!!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel from the Lord came down from heaven. Coming to the stone, he rolled it away and sat on it. Now his face was like lightning and his clothes as white as snow. The guards were so terrified of him that they shook with fear and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ I’ve given the message to you.” With great fear and excitement, they hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. But Jesus met them and greeted them. They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there.” (Matthew 28:1-10, CEB)

He is not here!

He’s been raised from the dead!

Go and tell his brothers he is going to meet them in Galilee!

All of this to the women, Mary, and the other Mary. Every gospel has women as the first ones to see the empty tomb and to share the gospel.

Without women, we would never have known the Easter story!

Do not be afraid, Jesus is not dead, he is alive.

God loves you and wants you to share the love and know that everyone has a place, not just those you chose, but everyone.

Women, who still aren’t included as leaders everywhere, or even as full people everywhere were the first proclaimers of the good news.

God wants everyone to be a part. God needs everyone to be a part.

Love everyone.

Loving People. Loving God.

Holy Saturday

After this Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus. Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one because he feared the Jewish authorities. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took the body away. Nicodemus, the one who at first had come to Jesus at night, was there too. He brought a mixture of myrrh and aloe, nearly seventy-five pounds in all. Following Jewish burial customs, they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the spices, in linen cloths. There was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish Preparation Day and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus in it. (John 19:38-42, CEB)

Here we see Joseph a secret disciple of Jesus and Nicodemus.

Nicodemus is the person in the Gospel of John that shows us the path of discipleship. He first comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness with questions, he then stands up for Jesus in a meeting of the High Council and here finally in public professing his devotion to Jesus.

Let us learn from Nicodemus and profess our faith in public through our actions.

Loving People. Loving God.