4-5-2016

Good Morning All!!

            Luke 24:8; “And they remembered his words,”

     “Just remember what I told you.”  You have probably said this at one time or another.  A parent will say this to a child in hopes that the child will remember his manners when he attends his first party.  It is what the teacher tells the students as they prepare for the test.  It is what the coach tells his players as they prepare for the start of the game.  It is what a person tells the one they love as if they are going to be separated for a while.  Remember, it is what we are to do when it come to our faith.

    Jesus spent a lot of his time teaching the disciples about the things that were about to occur.  He would tell them and tell them.  He taught and re-taught the disciples.  He taught them so that when the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and finally Easter occurred; He wanted them to remember everything that He taught them.  Unfortunately, they didn’t remember.

    The days we now call Good Friday and Holy Saturday must have been the longest days in the disciples’ lives.  They had dreams and hopes in Jesus.  They had hopes for a new Israel to emerge, free from the bondage of any nation.  They would no longer be slaves to any nation but be great like they were when Solomon or David was king.  They had witnessed such wonders and heard such teachings; they knew Jesus had to be the Christ, The Anointed One.  Now he was dead and they now feared for their lives as well.

    When the women went to the tomb, Jesus was gone and the tomb was empty except for the angels who told the women that Jesus was alive and that they should remember what he said.  Then they remembered and ran and told the other disciples; eventually, everyone came to know that Jesus had arisen from the grave.

    Jesus wants you to remember as well.  Not just the historical event of Easter but what it truly means for you as a believer.  The resurrection of Jesus means that God the Father accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as full payment for your sins.  It means that the teachings of Jesus are the true teachings of God.  Easter means that we now have life, we have hope and we have the reconciliation back to God.  No longer does the devil and death hold us in their grip.  No longer does sin destroy us.  We have a new day to live for we have everything to look forward to and we can live today knowing that God’s promise is certain and secure.

    So when the storm clouds of life gather; remember.  When pain and sorrow overtake you; remember.  When it seems like it is all going wrong; remember.  Remember that because of Jesus, nothing that happens today will separate you from God’s love.  Remember this all of the time.

Father, your love is poured out to give us hope and life.  Lead us to remember that Jesus has already won the victory for us and that by this hope we know that we have overcome the world through Jesus.  Strengthen our faith and enliven our hope.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret