The Easter Echo

based on John 20:19-31

Pastor Richard Mau

2^nd Sunday of Easter – April 27, 2003

Immanuel Lutheran – Des Plaines, IL

 

Today’s Scripture Readings:

Psalm 148       Acts3:13-15, 17-26     1 John 5:1-6    John 20:19-31

 

            A common trait of us human people is how often we need to be told or reminded about things.  The stick-em pads we use so much are evidence of that.  There is also the story about the person who had strings tied around two different fingers.  When asked about that he explained that one string was to remind him that he had the other string to remind him of what he was afraid of forgetting.

 

            Advertising experts use the “repeat” technique as you hear or see the same product and often the same advertisement multiple times in a short span of time.  It is like hearing an “echo” over and over. 

 

            We know that with a real echo, the sound bounces back and forth, getting weaker each time until it fades away.  The echo methods I have just described are intended to strengthen the signal each time it is heard.  That is God’s intent with the Easter message, that it be repeated louder and stronger to spread further each time it is proclaimed.

 

            In today’s Gospel we see evidence of that.  Jesus death and resurrection had been prophesied throughout the Old Testament.  Jesus had repeated to his disciples that the Son of Man would suffer, die, and rise again.  All who had followed Jesus had certainly heard his message, and so many believed his words, “The kingdom of God is ‘at hand.’”  “At hand” means that you can touch it because it is up close and real to you. 

 

            At the end of this first day of the week, the disciples were huddled together in fear.  They were still afraid of those who had turned Jesus over for crucifixion.  They were not sure what all of this meant when the women returned, and later Peter and John, proclaiming what they had seen at the tomb.  Their hiding in fear reminds us of five different occasions Jesus rebuked the disciples because they had “little faith.”  (Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, 17:20)  Those disciples were so much like you and I as we wonder how many times do they need to be told?  How many times do you and I need to be told before we believe and go forward in the strength and power Jesus gives us in his Word? 

 

            God knows all of his children very well.  He knows you very well.  God loves each one of his children so much.  God loves you so much.  He loves you so much he keeps repeating the message that he loves you, like an ever-growing echo, to keep you as his own dear child in faith until that time Jesus comes to take you to be with him eternally.

 

            On that Easter morning the women witnessed the angels at the tomb.  Then Mary, who lingered in the garden, saw Jesus in person.  Peter and John rushed to the tomb and witnessed the evidence of the resurrection miracle.  Later that afternoon Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  All of these, the women, Peter and John, and the two other disciples reported what they had seen to the disciples.  These are the disciples who had witnessed first hand Jesus marvelous teachings, the countless miracles of healing, over nature, and at least three raisings from the dead.  Now if Jesus has risen and hasshown himself, why are they still hiding behind locked doors? – and note the plural, “doors.” 

 

            So, repeat the message.  Jesus appears in front of them.  He enters the room miraculously. He shows them his pierced hands, feet and side.  Then he shows the completeness of God’s love.  He forgives them saying, “Peace be with you!”  (exclamation point!)  It isn’t a casual way of greeting someone.  It is an impassioned statement.  It is not a rebuke.  It is a joyful, comforting, and emotion filled promise and gift.  It is what Jesus is all about.

 

            Peace means there is no enmity or hostility.  In sin, you are hostile to God.  In sin, you are rebellious against God.  In sin, you have made yourself an enemy to God as you fight against his will and his commands.  Instead of waging war on you the sinner, God waged war on sin.  God waged war on the perpetrator of all sin, Satan.  God waged war on the result of sin, death.  God waged war to rescue you from sin, death, and the power of Satan.  God waged war to reconcile you, the rebellious one, back to him.  God waged war not to beat you down, but to build you up, making you one with him again.  He did it all through his dear son Jesus, who lived and died in your place as the punishment for your sins and the sins of all people of all times.  He did it all through Jesus who, in his resurrection, displayed the victory over death won for you on the cross.

 

            In Jesus’ appearance to his disciples, we hear an echo.  “Peace be with you,” he says two times that first Easter evening.  He repeats the same message, “Peace be with you,” when he appears a week later.  He shows his pierced hands, feet and side that first Easter, and again a week later.  The message is echoed to build up the disciples, even Thomas who most boldly questions the resurrection.  Yes, even Thomas, reassuring him that his denial, just like Peter’s denials, are forgiven.  The message is echoed to you, almost two thousand years later.  The message is echoed to build you up in your faith.  The message comes through Word.  Jesus is the Word.  The Word has power.  In the beginning the Word was power to create.  Throughout time the Word establishes and strengthens faith.  The most important power of the Word is the forgiveness of sins.  That is the peace that Jesus brings.  Forgiveness of all sins makes you one with the Father again. 

 

Jesus’ Word is active, living, and powerful.  Connected with water it washes away all sins and seals one in faith.  Connected with bread and wine it brings Jesus to be with you and in you.  He brings that sacrificed body with the pierced hands, feet and side to you to make you one with him again and again.  It is an echo that builds each time you receive him.

 

The Word spreads, making the church of believers in Christ grow.  We see the evidence in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.  In just a few short years the Good News of Jesus, our risen and ascended Lord and Savior works faith in countless people throughout the Mediterranean world.  We know from early Christian history that within a couple of generations, the Gospel had spread to all corners of the Western and Eastern world.  It accompanied the early explorers in the first voyages to the Western Hemisphere.  The Gospel went with Russian explorers and Scandinavian reindeer herders in the first contacts with Eskimos in the Arctic Tundra’s of Alsaka and Siberia.

 

We see in today’s Gospel that Jesus appeared to the disciples on Easter and again a week later.  They were cowering behind locked doors both times.  He had to repeat the appearances and message a couple of times before they ventured back out into the public arena.  Over the next several weeks we are going to visit those echoing messages from Jesus in John’s Gospel.  Between today and Pentecost we will follow the beginnings of the Christian church in the readings from the first chapters of Acts.  Between today and Pentecost we will be like the disciples, growing in faith and confidence as the message of God’s love is repeated, echoing in our hearts and minds for that purpose.  It is because Easter morning was not a one-time event to be celebrated once a year.  Early followers began worshipping on Sunday as a continuance of Easter, “very early on the first day of the week.”  We celebrate Easter each Sunday for the purpose of growing confident in faith.

 

We will note that the disciples did not remain behind locked doors.  Neither should we remain behind our doors here at Immanuel.  We are planted by God here in Des Plaines to be a witness to the people of Des Plaines.  Although Des Plaines is an intersection of two major interstate highways, several other major highways, train routes and adjacent to one of the world’s busiest airports, it is not the technologies of man that brings us together but the “Peace” that Jesus proclaims.  Rejoicing in the forgiveness of sins that Jesus brings and being made one with God and with each other is what brings us together.  It is also God’s command to all of his dear children to tell others about his great love.

 

Between today and Pentecost each one of us will leave Immanuel after services, Bible Studies, and other activities here, to return to our lives at home, at work, at school, at retirement.  We will continue with our day-to-day activities, much the same as the disciples who returned to Galilee and went out again fishing as was their life before Jesus.

 

Between today and Pentecost, each one of us will also consider the words of our Lord and Savior.  There will be repentance of sins and receiving the pronouncement of forgiveness of sins which you are to receive with full confidence and comfort as if Christ himself were speaking those words.  There will be reminders of your opportunities for stewardship, both with your gifts and with your time and talents.  The church council and boards will continue work on preparing and presenting to you the next fiscal year’s mission activities and budget to consider for the June 6 Voter’s Assembly.  During those days all of us are to gather together and individually in studying God’s word and in prayer to consider what it is each of us individually and as a congregation are to “be about our Father’s business.”  During those days, all of us are to remember those words of Jesus as he entered the locked rooms, “Peace be with you.  As the Father sent me, I am sending you.”  We reflect on that petition our Lord taught us, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”  Forgiving each other, as completely as God forgives, brings true peace to this congregation.  Forgiving the offenses of the present, the past, and the far distant past are key to going as Jesus sends us, to bring that peace to troubled hearts and souls in this community and throughout the world.  During these coming months this congregation will begin analyzing the demographic data of the Des Plaines community.  During these days between now and Pentecost, we rejoice in generous offerings received to promote this work our heavenly Father gives us to do, and we will pray for continued faithfulness in all stewardship so that:

·        leadership and board positions are filled to continue Immanuel’s mission in the congregation and community

·        gifts that are freely given are administered in the sense of good stewardship by leadership in this congregation to maximize mission in this community, our nation, and throughout the world.

·        gifts be given freely and in response to God’s love in Jesus Christ, not as a sense of obligation or perceived need.

·        gifts of time, talents, and riches are given with prayers that all things given and done are to God’s glory to proclaim the love of Christ to others.

·        that we combine our knowledge of God’s grace and the knowledge of the people around us to effectively bring the love of Christ to the numerous souls in Des Plaines who do not trust in Jesus as their Savior

·        that we meet and exceed our pledge to outside mission so that numerous others in our district, Synod, and throughout the world come to trust in Jesus as Savior.

 

            At a drive-through coffee business in Portland, Oregon one morning, a customer paid for her coffee and also for the person in the car that followed her.  Neither driver knew the other.  The second driver, when told of the gift, in turn paid for the coffee of the following car.  That started a chain, each person paying for the next person’s, for a total of twenty-seven (27) customers.

 

            That is how the message of Easter spreads, one person repeating the message to another.  That is how the message of Easter is spread today, one person repeating the joyous message of victory over sin and death to another.  Let us depart today in the joy of the resurrection, the comfort of the peace Jesus brings to all who believe in him, strengthened through Word and sacrament and empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry that message of peace to others.  Amen.

 

He is risen!  He is risen indeed! 

 

Contact Us	Immanuel Lutheran Church	Home	Recent Sermons	Immanuel Lutheran School
	The E-Messenger		This Month @ Immanuel