"On the evening of the 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, "Peace be with you!" After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." (John 20:19-20)
The corona virus pandemic has certainly changed our world. The ability to move freely from place to place, to come together in large gatherings, and spend time in close proximity to one another has been radically transformed. The disciples world had also been radically altered after Jesus' death. The ability to walk with Him, talk with Him, and eat with Him shifted dramatically after the crucifixion. The rules of the game had changed and the disciples found themselves adopting a new coping strategy. John tells us that the disciples had locked themselves away behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. (John 20:19 NIV) When, in the past, had they ever experienced a situation so dramatic, that it negatively impacted their behavior and the way they did life together? After Jesus' death, the disciples didn't immediately go home to their families, John tells us they were locked behind closed doors together. The text appears to imply there was no family contact out of fear of the consequences. These consequences which could result in potential arrest by the Jews, appeared to be a matter of life or death.
JESUS IS WITH US.
Our current stay at home advisory is not unlike the feelings the disciples may have experienced. We are "locked away" from our loved ones. We dare not venture out too far or have too much physical contact with others, lest we find ourselves in a life or death situation. As the disciples found themselves with their backs against the wall, they received a wonderful surprise, Jesus came to be with them. Jesus knew what was happening and He came to bring peace, the shalom of God, to their anxious hearts. Jesus could have immediately ascended back to His heavenly Father and left the disciples to figure things out on their own. However, even after undergoing torturous suffering and an agonizing death, Jesus after His resurrection came back to take care of His disciples. After confirming that His presence was real, showing them His hands and side, the reaction of the disciples was one of overwhelming joy because as John states, "they saw the Lord." (John 20:20 NIV) For us, Jesus has ascended back to His heavenly Father but He has not left us on our own. His presence is with us through His Holy Spirit. Jesus speaks the same "peace be with you" as He did to his frightened disciples. When we realize that His presence is always with us, we have in essence "seen" the Lord, not with physical but spiritual eyes.
JESUS SPEAKS PEACE TO US.
Prior to this pandemic, we as the church are aware that we have brothers and sisters who today find themselves in a similar situation as the disciples. There are places in the world where Christians have the potential to be persecuted and even martyred for publicly sharing the gospel. They need to meet behind closed doors and are often referred to as the "underground church." Yet, they experience the presence of Christ behind those locked doors as they continue to meet, study God's word, and pray together. In our present situation, we in some ways are the new "underground church." We may not be in hiding out of fear of persecution but we are meeting behind closed doors out of concern for ourselves and others related to contracting the corona virus. Nevertheless, like the disciples we are together behind closed doors not physically, yet we remain spiritually connected to one another through the God-given gift of technology. Moreover, Jesus still speaks, "peace be with you" in the midst of our struggles. As a result of knowing our Lord is with us, we like the disciples can experience great joy for we have "seen" the Lord. May the shalom of our Lord encourage and sustain you during this challenging time.
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Sheree
"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5 NIV)
It is no secret that we are in the midst of a serious crisis with the corona virus pandemic. Every day we receive the latest reports through television or other social media of the increasing number of cases as well as those who have died from complications associated with the virus. It feels like we are smothered with darkness and surrounded by death on every side. At my home, we have a bird box attached to our deck. As spring approaches and the weather begins to warm, it is always interesting to see who will be the new occupants of the house. This year it is a pair of house sparrows. As I sat in my den, watching their activity, it occurred to me that these birds live in the same world as I do. Yet, they are not preoccupied with the chaos going on around them but rather they are focused on preparing to bring new life into the world. Yes, while death and darkness right now appear to be our daily companions, we can easily miss out on the reality that new life still takes place. Nature does not deviate from the rhythmic dance that comes with the seasonal changes. God doesn't suddenly change the script on how nature operates when a crisis takes place. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus encourages us not to worry and uses the birds as an example, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:25-26 NIV)
GOD IS WITH US!
I do not want to imply in any way, shape, or form that we throw fear and anxiety out the window when it comes to this pandemic. We are human and under the circumstances it is quite normal to experience these feelings. To try and cover up our concerns and attempt to quench all fear and anxiety through adopting a "super spiritual" attitude is presenting a false self and denying our humanity. Jesus in Matthew chapter 6 is trying to encourage us not shame us. He is pointing to God's sovereignty over all situations and circumstances. God is with us!
GOD IS MAKING ALL THINGS NEW
Moreover, in the book of Revelation, John points to new life beyond this world! Many people often get bogged down in the temporary and dismiss the eternal. Yes, we will make it through this corona virus crisis but after all is said and done, if we do not consider things eternal, we have missed a huge message. In the verse from Revelation 21:5, we are told God is making everything new. In the Greek, the present tense is considered a tense of ongoing action. In other words not only is God making everything new (happening right now), He will continue that process, until we reach the final consummation of all things, a new heaven and a new earth. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a beautiful bride dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4 NIV)
JESUS IS OUR HOPE
New life and the passing away of the old order of things started with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On April 12th, we will celebrate Easter. Although we cannot be together physically, it does not change the reality of Christ's victory over sin and death. No pandemic will ever rob us of the gift of salvation we have received because He is risen! So, let us learn a lesson from our resident sparrow couple that are focused on bringing forth new life in the midst of chaos. Our God is making all things new! He's bringing life out of the darkness and it's because of Jesus!
Have a Blessed Easter!
Pastor Sheree
"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." (Genesis 3:8-10)
We have all made poor choices in our lives. It's part of our human nature to ignore advice or warnings not to engage in a particular behavior. We see evidence of this ignorance from childhood. Children tend to push the limits of their autonomy despite parent's efforts to protect them from the consequences of their poor choices. Over time as we mature the reality of our poor choices can result in outcomes that negatively impact ourselves and others. This is when the third member of the "unholy trinity", Guilt does its best work. If Fear serves up the cake and Shame adds the icing, Guilt places the cherry on top. Guilt declares that you have done something wrong and never lets you forget it! Guilt delights in reminding you about mistakes that have been made as far back as you can remember. Many of us carry uneccesary guilt from childhood or adolescence and hold on to it into our adult lives. Moreover, guilt can torture our hearts and minds with something that we have done which resulted in another person experiencing emotional pain.
HIDING OUT
What is our reaction to guilt's condemnation? The same reaction as that of Adam and Eve after they sinned in the Garden of Eden. "I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." (Genesis 3:10) Guilt sends us into hiding. We want to hide our mistakes and cover up disclosure of our poor choices. We want to avoid people who have been emotionally wounded through our careless words or actions. We feel we are doomed to forever carry the weight of guilt for the rest of our lives. However, like fear and shame we can let go of guilt through turning to God's word. Romans 8:1-4 states, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (NIV) Guilt slams its gavel down on the bench of your past mistakes and screams "guilty as charged!" Jesus Christ is our defense and declares, "Set free!" because He is God's response to guilt's condemnation. The "unholy trinity" as mentioned in the previous two parts of this series is constantly sending out invitations to draw us into a party of false claims and lies.
THE VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD
Our response to guilt needs to be the same as that towards fear and shame, "Don't listen and don't go to the party!" The only voice we need to hear is that of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who states, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27-28 NIV) We can release the weight of guilt that we carry and rest in the assurance of God's promises. "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a Great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV) My encouragement to you is to leave the "unholy trinity" behind and walk with confidence by faith alongside the Holy Trinity, (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who will lead you and guide you into all truth.
Glory to God!
Pastor Sheree
