SERMON for APRIL 19, 2020
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NEW BIRTH
Text: John 20: 19-31; I Peter 1: 3-9
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New birth. That is what I want. To wake up one morning and discover that life is new, the world is restored, and humanity is recreated in the image of God. How amazing and great it would be to hear and see evidence that hearts and minds are overflowing with God’s love, peace, and joy. What hope that would bring! For the world to be in a better place than it was before – that is how First Peter experiences resurrection life in Christ:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1: 3-5
Protected by the power of God – for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time - for an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. A new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. A new birth into a life free from fear, disease, and death – a life that is coronavirus free! Sounds rather great – doesn’t it! New birth is such good news for people who are sick and suffering and for those who are vulnerable, oppressed, marginalized, and persecuted.
Even before the Lord Jesus was crucified and risen – and may we continue to rejoice in our proclamation of faith: The Lord Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed! – even before His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus was offering new birth into a living hope. When Jesus gave sight to a blind man and hearing to the deaf, when He cast out demons from the possessed, when He healed lepers, when He fed the hungry masses, when the Lord strengthened the weak with words of encouragement and hope, as He blessed them with a vision of a new creation: a new community built on love for one another – Jesus was offering new birth into a living hope. In the Lord’s deeds and teaching, like the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus revealed the blessings that flow from showing compassion and mercy to those who suffer
In today’s epistle reading, First Peter addresses Christians in Asia Minor who are marginalized – slaves who are owned by and women who are married to non-Christian men. In their culture, slaves and women are at the bottom of the social pyramid. Becoming Christian lowers their status even more. Slaves and women who profess faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and defy the traditional religious beliefs of the head of the household are viewed with contempt, scorn, and suspicion. They are even considered “atheistic” for not believing in the gods that are worshiped in their homes and communities. For those of us who grew up in the United States and take freedom of religion for granted, it is hard to imagine being considered a rebel or an atheist for believing in Jesus Christ.
Many of you are aware that I provide pro bono mental health services to people seeking asylum in the United States after fleeing from religious and political persecution and torture in their home countries. Listening to the stories of women and men who have suffered severe physical abuse for religious and political beliefs is very, very humbling – to put it mildly. We take so much for granted in our country. There are clear reasons why people seek a new life in America and Western Europe: hope for freedom – for a new life – for a brighter tomorrow – for the opportunity to live in a society and country where they can work and worship, speak and write, gather and vote - without fear of persecution, imprisonment, or death – where basic human rights are protected by law. Let us never forget that in our world, even in the 21st century, there are still many Christians who are persecuted and killed for following Jesus. The genuineness of their faith is truly tested by fire. The ones who survive have visible and hidden scars, scars that reflect the power of the Holy Spirit to bless the faithful with courage and resilience in the face of adversity – and to bless us with their testimony when their scars are shared.
In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus revealed His scars to Thomas:
“Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him [Thomas]: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” [John 20: 29]
The outcome of our faith is the salvation of our souls. As challenging as it is to stomach the brutal accounts of man’s inhumanity towards man, seeing the scars of the persecuted and listening to their stories can help us endure and prevail through challenges to our faith. In the Lord’s resurrection body, God could have healed the crucifixion wounds of Jesus so that there would have been no trace of a scar to see or touch, but that is not what God did. Instead, the Risen Lord wanted us to behold His wounds – they transformed doubting Thomas from a skeptic to a more devout believer. Like the crucifixion scars that Jesus showed Thomas, seeing the scars of those persecuted and helping them to heal from their wounds, whether physical or psychological in nature or both, can lead to a “My Lord and my God!” experience.
Thanks be to God that we were created with resilience, resilience that is truly amazing – even miraculous. Similarly, we were created with compassion, and the human capacity for compassion is truly amazing – even miraculous at times. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God blesses us with the capacity to transcend the boundaries of gender, race, religion, politics, and social class that usually divide us. We have seen evidence of resilience and compassion in the face of the global coronavirus crisis. Perhaps one outcome of this pandemic is that it will bring people closer in our world.
By the wounds of Jesus on the cross, we, too, are healed for resurrection life – here and now - protected by the power of God – for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time - for an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading - a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. A new birth into a new life – a life free from fear, hatred, and disease – coronavirus free, too, we pray - truly, that is good news to share. New birth: unbounded resilience – new life: unfettered compassion – these are gifts that the first disciples shared after the Lord’s resurrection – gifts that we are called to pour out in abundance throughout our lives, especially during these trying times.
During this pandemic, stories of faith, courage, and compassion abound – stories that we are called to create and share through our words and deeds as the Holy Spirit guides. Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
As we don facemasks in these pandemic days, let us pray for the breath of the Holy Spirit to fall upon us: to cure us from all our disease, including the coronavirus, and to bless us with the resurrection power of the Lord so we are strengthened for the journeys of discipleship that lie ahead as we walk with one another in faith. The outcome of our faith is not only the salvation of our souls, it may also be the salvation of another’s soul.
Breathe on us, breath of God. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Lord, work a miracle, in us, through us, and with us, for your glory we pray, and for the sake of the whole world, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Text: John 20: 19-31; I Peter 1: 3-9
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New birth. That is what I want. To wake up one morning and discover that life is new, the world is restored, and humanity is recreated in the image of God. How amazing and great it would be to hear and see evidence that hearts and minds are overflowing with God’s love, peace, and joy. What hope that would bring! For the world to be in a better place than it was before – that is how First Peter experiences resurrection life in Christ:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1: 3-5
Protected by the power of God – for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time - for an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. A new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. A new birth into a life free from fear, disease, and death – a life that is coronavirus free! Sounds rather great – doesn’t it! New birth is such good news for people who are sick and suffering and for those who are vulnerable, oppressed, marginalized, and persecuted.
Even before the Lord Jesus was crucified and risen – and may we continue to rejoice in our proclamation of faith: The Lord Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed! – even before His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus was offering new birth into a living hope. When Jesus gave sight to a blind man and hearing to the deaf, when He cast out demons from the possessed, when He healed lepers, when He fed the hungry masses, when the Lord strengthened the weak with words of encouragement and hope, as He blessed them with a vision of a new creation: a new community built on love for one another – Jesus was offering new birth into a living hope. In the Lord’s deeds and teaching, like the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus revealed the blessings that flow from showing compassion and mercy to those who suffer
In today’s epistle reading, First Peter addresses Christians in Asia Minor who are marginalized – slaves who are owned by and women who are married to non-Christian men. In their culture, slaves and women are at the bottom of the social pyramid. Becoming Christian lowers their status even more. Slaves and women who profess faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and defy the traditional religious beliefs of the head of the household are viewed with contempt, scorn, and suspicion. They are even considered “atheistic” for not believing in the gods that are worshiped in their homes and communities. For those of us who grew up in the United States and take freedom of religion for granted, it is hard to imagine being considered a rebel or an atheist for believing in Jesus Christ.
Many of you are aware that I provide pro bono mental health services to people seeking asylum in the United States after fleeing from religious and political persecution and torture in their home countries. Listening to the stories of women and men who have suffered severe physical abuse for religious and political beliefs is very, very humbling – to put it mildly. We take so much for granted in our country. There are clear reasons why people seek a new life in America and Western Europe: hope for freedom – for a new life – for a brighter tomorrow – for the opportunity to live in a society and country where they can work and worship, speak and write, gather and vote - without fear of persecution, imprisonment, or death – where basic human rights are protected by law. Let us never forget that in our world, even in the 21st century, there are still many Christians who are persecuted and killed for following Jesus. The genuineness of their faith is truly tested by fire. The ones who survive have visible and hidden scars, scars that reflect the power of the Holy Spirit to bless the faithful with courage and resilience in the face of adversity – and to bless us with their testimony when their scars are shared.
In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus revealed His scars to Thomas:
“Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him [Thomas]: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” [John 20: 29]
The outcome of our faith is the salvation of our souls. As challenging as it is to stomach the brutal accounts of man’s inhumanity towards man, seeing the scars of the persecuted and listening to their stories can help us endure and prevail through challenges to our faith. In the Lord’s resurrection body, God could have healed the crucifixion wounds of Jesus so that there would have been no trace of a scar to see or touch, but that is not what God did. Instead, the Risen Lord wanted us to behold His wounds – they transformed doubting Thomas from a skeptic to a more devout believer. Like the crucifixion scars that Jesus showed Thomas, seeing the scars of those persecuted and helping them to heal from their wounds, whether physical or psychological in nature or both, can lead to a “My Lord and my God!” experience.
Thanks be to God that we were created with resilience, resilience that is truly amazing – even miraculous. Similarly, we were created with compassion, and the human capacity for compassion is truly amazing – even miraculous at times. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God blesses us with the capacity to transcend the boundaries of gender, race, religion, politics, and social class that usually divide us. We have seen evidence of resilience and compassion in the face of the global coronavirus crisis. Perhaps one outcome of this pandemic is that it will bring people closer in our world.
By the wounds of Jesus on the cross, we, too, are healed for resurrection life – here and now - protected by the power of God – for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time - for an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading - a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. A new birth into a new life – a life free from fear, hatred, and disease – coronavirus free, too, we pray - truly, that is good news to share. New birth: unbounded resilience – new life: unfettered compassion – these are gifts that the first disciples shared after the Lord’s resurrection – gifts that we are called to pour out in abundance throughout our lives, especially during these trying times.
During this pandemic, stories of faith, courage, and compassion abound – stories that we are called to create and share through our words and deeds as the Holy Spirit guides. Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
As we don facemasks in these pandemic days, let us pray for the breath of the Holy Spirit to fall upon us: to cure us from all our disease, including the coronavirus, and to bless us with the resurrection power of the Lord so we are strengthened for the journeys of discipleship that lie ahead as we walk with one another in faith. The outcome of our faith is not only the salvation of our souls, it may also be the salvation of another’s soul.
Breathe on us, breath of God. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Lord, work a miracle, in us, through us, and with us, for your glory we pray, and for the sake of the whole world, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.