Today’s Scripture

Psalm 139:1-12           Acts 4:8-12      1 John 1:1-2:2             Luke 24:36-49

 

            There is something that brings people to an event or presentation.  Think of those sales promotions that you get in the mail.  Before you read what the promotion is, there is the message, call now to reserve your dinner.  Yes, even amongst us Lutherans, coffee, a donut, a meal with glass of wine or a beer.  We do tend to put food and refreshment high on our list of priorities.  Being fed and refreshed is important

 

            Easter is such a refreshing day!  We rejoice singing hymns and look forward to hearing again the account of Jesus’ resurrection.  All of the other holidays in our lives are special, but Easter just grabs them all in its unique message;

            Christ is risen!

            He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

 

And you will live too!  The new life we look forward to that begins in faith in baptism is what our real hope is all about.

 

            In today’s reading in Acts, we see Peter and John taken into custody for speaking about Easter, about Jesus who once was dead is now living and ascended into heaven.  These two common and ordinary, virtually unschooled guys were publicly and persuasively presenting what they had seen, what they knew, and what they believed.  Members of the ruling council of the temple were amazed and impressed by the presentation by these men who knew their lives and reputation were on the line.

 

            Peter had only a few weeks earlier been afraid to admit he even knew who Jesus was.  Yet he was usually first to step forward and speak on behalf of the other disciples.  John and James, however were affectionately named by Jesus as the “sons of thunder,” [Mark 3;17].  What did either John or Peter do that Thursday night while Jesus was being tried?  They were both there in the midst of the high priest’s courtyard.  On their own strength they could not say a thing.  We also need to remember that was by God’s will in order to suffer and die and rise again to save us.  We also let Scripture interpret Scripture as we read Jesus’ words before that explain beforehand what this is all about, and God’s words tell us today about speaking up in witness of Jesus so others will be saved too.

 

            Peter and John and the other disciples were proclaiming the truth about Jesus in front of groups of thousands and small groups alike.  They were proclaiming the truth about Jesus in front of people who actively denied who Jesus was.  Peter and John spoke and a crippled man became well, only by the power of Jesus’ name.  Peter and John were telling the account that the promised Messiah had come, had fulfilled Psalm 98 by working God’s salvation for his people, and was preparing each believer’s place in heaven to come back and take each one there [John 14].  In Acts 4:4 it is recorded, “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”  In Jerusalem then and in our world today, there is a significant number of believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  In Jerusalem then and in our world today, there is also a significant number of people who would love to quiet this proclamation of Tod’s truth.

 

            And here we are in Des Plaines, Illinois, just short of two thousand years later.  We are surrounded in our community and in our society by a state of mind that makes us think we cannot speak the truth of Jesus Christ who is the narrow gate to heaven, the only way to the father, who is “the way, the truth, and the life.”  To those who know and believe this truth, it is the greatest and most refreshing thing we have in this world.  And you ask the question, “Why can’t I say it out loud?”  But you can.  Let’s take a look at how all of this works.

 

            It is during these weeks between Easter and the Ascension that Jesus, “opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures,” [Luke 24:45].  Even the disciples could not understand this on their own until God allowed them to understand the entire thing.  Paul tells us that this refreshing message of God’s love in Jesus is something the world, in its natural state, does not understand.  “No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began,” [1 Corinthians 2:7].  Adam believed.  Enoch and Noah believed.  Abram believed.  Moses and Joshua and Gideon and Ruth and Samuel and David and Mary and Joseph and countless faithful people believed God was going to send a Savior and were saved.  A hardened criminal on a cross believed and that day was with Jesus in paradise.  They all believed God’s word and that was credited to them as righteousness.  Saving grace works no different today.    

 

            Today, each of us is like Peter and John.  Jesus has called each one.  In baptism, God has made each of you Jesus’ own brothers and sisters as he has adopted you as his dear children.  As with the disciples and so many others like Mary and Martha and the woman at the well, Jesus has instructed each one of you by his word.  Just like blind Bartemaus, you have heard that Jesus is the Son of David, the promised Savior, and you have called out to him to have mercy on you, and he has.  And Jesus has sent each one of us out to tell others the good and refreshing news that sins are forgiven and heavens gates are open to those who believe in Jesus just for that.

 

            Jesus told the disciples before his suffering and death, “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves of what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say,” [Luke 12:11-12].  Those words are comfort and strength to each one of us too.  No one knows when the opportunity for witness will be there.  By knowing God’s word, and that comes from faithful reading, faithful worship, and faithful Bible Study with each other, the Holy Spirit draws that truth we have learned to our lips to bring glory to Jesus and that brings glory to God the Father.

            When you are afraid that someone might ridicule you for professing your faith, remember that Christ has sent you his Holy Spirit to testify about him.  “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Fathe, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.  And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning,” [John 15:26-27].  Jesus has given you his words to say, and the Holy Spirit to be the strength in you to speak his truth and is the strength that brings others who hear this word to saving faith.

            “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you,” John 14:25-26].  It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that you will recall those things you have heard, that you have learned, that you hold in your heart, so that others will hear and come to faith also.

            I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father,” [John 14:12]  Jesus continues to send countless believers out into the world to share his love and his word with uncountable more souls who will find his words refreshing.  You have Jesus’ words in John 3:16 to say.  You have Peter’s words in today’s account also, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved,” [Acts 4:12].

 

            That is the greatest thing that we have, salvation in Jesus Christ.  That is the greatest message we have to give, salvation in Jesus Christ.  That is the purpose you and I are here, to tell someone, believer or non-believer, salvation is in Jesus Christ alone.

 

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!