It's Friday...But Sunday's Coming!

(Pastor Dave was away this Sunday, getting needed rest. In lieu of a sermon, here's the pastor's message in the April newsletter)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ –

“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" [Martha] said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."’’ John 11:25-26
The Scripture above, from the story of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead (our Scripture for April 10), gives the central affirmation of the Christian faith: that in Christ, everyone who lives and believes in Christ has eternal life. Through the sin of Adam, death entered the world. Through Christ, the power of death is broken. Life, not death, has the last word.

Our Scriptures for April follow Jesus through the final days of his earthly ministry, his triumphal Palm Sunday entry in to Jerusalem, the betrayal and arrest in the garden, the trial, and the crucifixion. But our Scriptures do not leave us there – our Easter scriptures tell of an empty tomb, the angel’s announcement, and the encounter of “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” with the risen Christ!

So often in our daily lives, it seems like Good Friday. Natural disaster, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, war and social unrest, the misconduct of our political and religious leaders, the unexpected illness and death of loved ones, and the struggles of daily life in this difficult economy – all these may leave us feeling surrounded by death. It seems like death has the last word. It may seem that God has abandoned us. But as Christians we know that when the powers of death have done their worst, that is God’s moment to bring about resurrection. In the words of a famous sermon, “It’s Friday……..but Sunday’s coming!”

In the words of the hymn:
“The powers of death have done their worst, but Christ their legions has dispersed:
Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia!”

See you in church!

Pastor Dave