{"id":1476,"date":"2021-04-04T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-04T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1476"},"modified":"2021-04-04T13:27:55","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T20:27:55","slug":"easter-sunday-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/04\/easter-sunday-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Easter Sunday 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Easter-Sunday-04-04-21.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>John 20:19-23<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Life-Giving Hands<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, <em>\u201cPeace be with you!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.&nbsp; The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.&nbsp; Again Jesus said, <em>\u201cPeace be with you!&nbsp; As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; And with that he breathed on them and said, <em>\u201cReceive the Holy Spirit.&nbsp; If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp; (NIV1984)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear fellow worshipers of our living Lord and Savior,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He is risen!&nbsp; He is risen indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On her way out of the coffee shop, she ran into a classmate she hadn\u2019t seen for years.&nbsp; Within moments they were visiting as though no time had passed\u2014 until her friend asked her, \u201cSo, how\u2019s life?\u201d&nbsp; Her mind raced to think of a way to deflect the question, because honestly her life was a mess.&nbsp; The restaurant she and her husband had opened just a few years ago was barely hanging on.&nbsp; It was closed for months and the take-out orders were only covering a fraction of their bills.&nbsp; To make matters even worse, her life at home was beyond chaotic.&nbsp; Distance learning had strained her relationship with her children.&nbsp; Financial concerns had strained her relationship with her husband&nbsp; All the stress and all the uncertainty had left her feeling scared and angry and trapped.&nbsp; Sometimes she even dreamed about running away from it all, starting over and really living life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes it\u2019s the idealness of youth.&nbsp; Sometimes it\u2019s a midlife crisis.&nbsp; Sometimes it\u2019s burnout from situations over which we have no control.&nbsp; But it\u2019s not unusual for people to feel though it\u2019s time to start <strong>really <\/strong>living.&nbsp; People tell themselves that they need to go backpacking through Europe, or buy a convertible and cruise the Pacific highway, or take a cruise to Alaska\u2014 for a month or so.&nbsp; They try to convince themselves that this is what they <strong>need<\/strong> to do in order to <strong>really <\/strong>live!&nbsp; But when they get home again and realize that they still feel empty, they wonder what it means to <strong>really <\/strong>live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bible has something to say about <strong>really <\/strong>living, my friends, and it doesn\u2019t involve a backpack or a convertible or a cruise.&nbsp; As Christians we know that the cure for that empty feeling that so many people experience, we know that they key to <strong>really <\/strong>living is\u2014 Easter!&nbsp; As Christians we know that we <strong>need <\/strong>the empty grave in the garden.&nbsp; We <strong>need <\/strong>the happy shouts of, \u201cHe is risen!&nbsp; He is risen indeed!\u201d&nbsp; We <strong>need <\/strong>Jesus appearing to His disciples and showing them His <strong><em>Life-Giving Hands.<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp; We <strong>need <\/strong>to hear Jesus proclaiming to His disciples\u2014 and proclaiming to us!\u2014 that Easter gives us a life that is <strong>really <\/strong>worth living!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we first see the disciples here in our text, they were a lot like that woman whose life was a mess.&nbsp; John tells us, <em>\u201cThe disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; The disciples were convinced that if the religious leaders of God\u2019s people were willing to go to the lengths they did to orchestrate the crucifixion of an innocent man, what would stop them from coming after Jesus\u2019 disciples next?&nbsp; Seventy-two hours earlier the disciples had abandoned Jesus and fled from the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus was being arrested by His enemies.&nbsp; Peter had disowned Jesus\u2014 three times!\u2014 just as Jesus had predicted.&nbsp; And despite the fact that Jesus had spent months preparing His disciples for His death\u2014 the disciples still seemed genuinely shocked and surprised when it actually happened.&nbsp; Here in our text the disciples were acting like Jesus was still dead and their lives were no longer worth living.&nbsp; They were afraid.&nbsp; They were overwhelmed by guilt.&nbsp; And they felt trapped in that locked room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing full well what His disciples were feeling, the risen Christ wanted to calm their nerves.&nbsp; So when He met with them there in that locked room, He didn\u2019t lead with, \u201cHow\u2019s life?\u201d&nbsp; No, my friends, the very first words that the risen Christ spoke to His fear-filled disciples were, <em>\u201cPeace be with you!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; Remember, it was still Easter Sunday.&nbsp; Some of the disciples had seen the empty tomb. &nbsp;They had heard the reports of both the women and the Emmaus disciples.&nbsp; But, since the disciples had not seen Jesus with their own eyes, they weren\u2019t sure what to make of the days\u2019 events.&nbsp; So Jesus came, stood in their presence and&nbsp; showed Himself to be alive.&nbsp; He gave His disciples a moment to grasp the full impact of His physical resurrection from the dead and then John tells us, <em>\u201cAfter he said this, he showed them his hands and side.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; Jesus\u2019 physical presence together with the sight of His life-giving hands, convinced the disciples that Jesus had indeed kept His promise!&nbsp; Christ is risen!&nbsp; He is risen indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It took them a moment, but the disciples finally grabbed hold of the true meaning of Easter\u2014 which is?&nbsp; The true meaning of Easter is joy!&nbsp; That\u2019s why John tells us, <em>\u201cThe disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; This Easter joy is what makes life <strong>really <\/strong>worth living!&nbsp; This Easter joy assures us that the gloomy hopelessness of this world died on Good Friday\u2014 along with the darkness of sin and all its nagging guilt.&nbsp; The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees to us that Jesus conquered sin.&nbsp; The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees to us that Jesus defeated the devil.&nbsp; Jesus is alive and because Jesus is alive His life now makes your life really worth living!&nbsp; Because Jesus is alive you are able to live your life with the joy of knowing that you are <em>\u201cat peace\u201d<\/em> with God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The easy part of Jesus\u2019 visit was now done.&nbsp; He proved to His disciples that He had kept His promise to rise from the dead on the third day.&nbsp; But Jesus was not finished!&nbsp; The risen Christ went on to tell His disciples that the joy and the peace of Jesus\u2019 life-giving hands was not only theirs to enjoy, but it was also theirs to proclaim!&nbsp; John says in our text, <em>\u201cAgain Jesus said, \u2018Peace be with you!&nbsp; As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.\u2019\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; The heavenly Father had sent His Son into this world with the goal of saving us from our sins.&nbsp; Now that Jesus had reached His goal, now that all the sins of all mankind have been paid for, the risen Christ sends out His disciples\u2014 including us!\u2014 on a mission for Him!&nbsp; The apostle Paul reminds us of the mission Jesus has given to us when he writes, <em>\u201cGod was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not accounting men\u2019s sins against them.&nbsp; And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.&nbsp; We are therefore Christ\u2019s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us\u201d<\/em> (2 Corinthians 5:19, 20).&nbsp; Take a moment to let that sink in!&nbsp; As Christians we serve as <em>\u201cChrist\u2019s ambassadors\u201d<\/em> to others!&nbsp; Now that\u2019s a life <strong>really <\/strong>worth living!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The nobility of Jesus\u2019 call is surpassed only by its scope.&nbsp; Serving as <em>\u201cChrist\u2019s ambassadors\u201d<\/em> is a big job\u2014 so big that the disciples may have been a little overwhelmed by this!&nbsp; After all, within moments of Jesus\u2019 appearance the disciples had gone from terror-filled hiding to Easter-filled peace and joy!&nbsp; Then they were commissioned to share the message of Jesus\u2019 life-giving hands with others!&nbsp; How could they possibly accomplish this?&nbsp; Any uncertainty that the disciples may have had was swept away when John tells us, <em>\u201cAnd with that he breathed on them and said, \u2018Receive the Holy Spirit.\u2019\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; God the Holy Spirit is the One who empowers and enables <strong>all <\/strong>of Jesus\u2019 disciples to carry out their God-given mission of being <em>\u201cChrist\u2019s ambassadors\u201d<\/em> in this world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John also tells us that Jesus even trained the disciples in the message they were to proclaim.&nbsp; Jesus said, <em>\u201cIf you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; Many of us have learned from personal experience that it\u2019s a significant day when a parent gives their child a key to their house.&nbsp; It\u2019s an even bigger milestone when they hand over the keys to the car.&nbsp; With these powerful words, Jesus confidently hands every believer the keys to heaven itself.&nbsp; Forgiving those who humbly confess their sins and trust in Jesus as their Savior or withholding forgiveness from someone who is not sorry for their sins or someone who does not trust in what Jesus has done <strong>for <\/strong>them (Pointing to the cross), is the spiritual equivalent to unlocking or locking the gate to the kingdom of heaven itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201dkeys\u201d to the gate of heaven.&nbsp; This is the special power and privilege the risen Christ gives only to Christians.&nbsp; Forgiving sin and announcing peace is what the risen Christ did on Easter Sunday by showing His disciples His life-giving hands.&nbsp; There is no better way to live Easter and to celebrate Easter each and every day of the year than to carry out God\u2019s life-giving mission, namely, to forgive others, to announce to them exactly what the risen Christ announced to His disciples\u2014 <em>\u201cPeace be with you!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; Keys are only valuable, however, when we actually use them.&nbsp; So let\u2019s make sure that we use the spiritual keys that the Son of God Himself has given to us!&nbsp; Living at peace with God and with others <strong>plus <\/strong>sharing with others how they can live at peace with the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth\u2014 now that, my friends is a life worth living!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how are you?&nbsp; Are you feeling stuck?&nbsp; Do you feel as though your life has no meaning and no purpose?&nbsp; If so, stop acting like Jesus is still dead, because He is not!&nbsp; Look again at Jesus\u2019 life-giving hands.&nbsp; Our Jesus is alive!&nbsp; Let\u2019s act like it.&nbsp; Let\u2019s pray like it.&nbsp; Let\u2019s believe like it.&nbsp; Let\u2019s embrace the mission the risen Christ gives to us when He says to us, <em>\u201cI am sending you!\u201d<\/em> &nbsp;&nbsp;Let\u2019s bring the message of Easter to others\u2014 one soul at a time.&nbsp; Live like there is no death, my friends, because Easter guarantees that death has been defeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He is risen!&nbsp; He is risen indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To God be the glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John 20:19-23 Life-Giving Hands On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, \u201cPeace be with you!\u201d&nbsp; After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.&nbsp; The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.&nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-easter","category-worship-service-podcast"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1476"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1476\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1477,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1476\/revisions\/1477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}