4-16-2017

Good Morning All,

              Philippians 2:10; “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

     We watched a television show a few weeks ago where they were trying to find the “real” Robin Hood.  He is supposedly Robin (or Robert) of Locksley who fought against the usurper to the crown Prince John.  Prince John was collecting exorbitant taxes while claiming to be raising a ransom for King Richard supposedly held hostage by the Muslims in Jerusalem.  In the program they were trying to determine if they had found the grave of Robin Hood.  Of course finding the grave is dependent upon Robin actually existing.  There were many variations of the Robin Hood story but all tend to be about a hero who battles for the people against an evil king/prince/ruler who is not the proper ruler but is someone who has illegally assumed the throne.

    The very common theme is that the true ruler returns to banish the evil ruler and restore peace, harmony and good will to the realm.  We don’t think in these terms often but this is really an Easter theme.  In our life, the devil is the usurper.  He usurps man as the ruler of the world.  He does this by deceiving man into thinking he can be God and thus destroying man’s special relationship with God.  Man even becomes an enemy of God not realizing that all the pain, suffering and evil is the result of the devil being the prince of this world.  The devil claimed to bring about freedom and free will but in actuality he brought about death, despair, corruption, suffering and hopelessness.

    So man suffered, we suffered at the cruelty of the devil.  Yet God had a plan and implemented it with the birth of Jesus and elevated it at the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  With the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, sin, death and the devil were defeated.  No longer does the devil rule.  He continues his lies; he continues to tell us that he is the ruler but he isn’t.  With Jesus’ resurrection, God raised Jesus to be ruler over all things and every knee, EVERY KNEE will bow to Him and acknowledge Him as the true King.  You and I and all believers will do so willingly in love and devotion but the devil and the unbelievers will bow in fear and defeat.

    The Resurrection of Jesus brings about hope for all who trust in His great love and promise.  No longer does the terror of night rule us but rather we are children of the light who live in his grace knowing that our future is certain in his mercy.  God offers this promise to all who hear his Word and believe.  He offers this Word to you today.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  He is risen to destroy the devil and the devil’s cruel reign in your life.  See the open tomb; see the promise of life eternal.  Trust in his mercy and he will deliver you today.

Gracious Lord Jesus, you are our King!  In your rule we have hope, we have comfort, we have your peace.  Keep us in your loving arms.  Drive out our fear and replace it with your great love.  Bring us home to our own resurrection on that great day.  In your loving and precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret