1 Peter 1:17-23
A sermon for the Second Sunday after Easter
Last week we looked at Doubting Thomas and learned that everyone is a second generation disciple. There is no advantage to anyone who was there who saw him, touched him, and heard him because this was all God’s choosing and electing, giving them faith, not a super miracle or super proof. Rather, we are all those to whom God gives faith, and we are called to be witnesses and not philosophers who have some kind of proof.
Rev 1:8, 17-18
A sermon for the First Sunday after Easter
Revelation 1 presents a panorama and we find one theme: Rev 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Almighty.” Again in vs 18: “I am the first and the last, the living one; I died and behold I am alive for evermore. I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The chapter is really saying: The Lord is Lord. There is no other lord. The Lord is lord.
How can that be? As we follow the debate about evolution, those who are attacking the idea that there God is involved point out again and again: If God was involved, it didn’t work out very well. There are all kinds of awful things and problems. This is hardly God guiding creation, whether you say in “one day” or in “seven days” or “seven ages.” He didn’t do it very well. Furthermore, if Lord is Lord, how come there’s evil? There are tragedies in our individual lives and tragedies and catastrophes in our country and beyond. Why doesn’t the Lord make it right?
A sermon for the First Sunday after Easter.
“Doubting Thomas.” Doubting Thomas is not the way it’s put in the text. He’s called Thomas the Twin. We call him “Doubting Thomas” because we like him. He’s the one who had the courage to say: “Unless I can actually touch the wounds, how can I know?” We all see that as common sense.
Thomas, doubting Thomas, is a great favorite. The text, however, doesn’t say that he actually did doubt. Just for the sake of discussion, assume that he did. Then he says in a confession: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). There was for him this reality. Miraculous. He was actually able to see, to hear, and to touch.
Romans 6:5
A sermon for Easter Sunday
Around the world there are many churches which have an Easter vigil, starting at midnight with Baptisms, looking for the dawn, the light from the East.
What is Easter? These three days. The days are counted from the evening. Thursday evening (Maunday Thursday), Friday evening, Saturday evening until dawn are called the Triduum. This is the pinnacle, the major point of the whole Christian faith, because we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Easter Sunday
The weekend edition of most newspapers features obituaries. That edition is usually available late Saturday night. If there were such a thing in Jesus’ day, imagine what the Saturday night edition of Jesus’ obituary might have said. Perhaps something like this:
“Jesus, Son of Joseph, died, crucified. He had come into conflict with the Jewish and Roman authorities. Known as a carpenter and wandering preacher and healer, there were those who said he said would redeem Israel. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph. Survivors include his mother, Mary, and several brothers and sisters. He was buried immediately because he was crucified just before the Sabbath, the high Holy Day of Passover. Visitation at the tomb is provided by Joseph of Arimathea, beginning Sunday morning.”