Pastor's Corner: Jesus - The Resurrection and the Life

Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association update:

As we continue participating in the Easter (Resurrection of Jesus Christ) season, our ministerial association's series of Lenten Luncheons ends at noon Thursday, April 7, at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church. Fifth Avenue Christian Church will provide the soups, sandwiches and devotions.

Good Friday, April 15, the ministerial association's "Walk of the Cross" will start at 11 a.m. at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church and we'll walk up the hill, ending at Havre Assembly of God, for the noon worship service. Havre Assembly's Pastor Jamie Stoll will be preaching. Everyone is welcome to take part in the walk and attend the worship service. Van service will be provided for those wanting rides back to their vehicles at St. Jude's Catholic Church.

Jesus - The Resurrection and The Life

Easter/Resurrection Sunday, April 17, I will be sharing an Easter message: "The Resurrection and The Life." As a preface to that message, I would like to share some thoughts with you from a story in the Bible book of John, Chapter 11 - the chapter in which Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Most preachers emphasize the raising of Lazarus, and with very good reason - what a miracle! But I want us to take a little time and look at a conversation Jesus had with Martha - Lazarus' sister - before Lazarus was raised from the dead.

We find in verse 17 that, when Jesus arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Jesus arrives on the scene, Martha has something to say to Him: verse 21 - "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Martha is upset with Jesus. She had sent Him word when Lazarus was sick, and yet Jesus had stayed put for two days before taking the trip - and Lazarus had passed away during that time. Jesus doesn't always do things within our timetable, and this made Martha angry amidst her grief in the loss of her brother. And yet she says to Jesus in verse 22 - "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give you." Wow! What faith Martha had in Jesus' relationship with God!

Jesus responds in verse 23 - "Your brother will rise again."

Martha responds in verse 24 - "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Basically Martha is saying what many of us say at funerals and memorial services - "Yes, they are in a better place now. OK Jesus, I know I will see him when I die. I get it."

To which Jesus responds (my words), "No, you don't get it. I'm telling you" - (Jesus' words) verse 25 - "I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus was essentially saying (again my words), "Martha, I am so glad that you believe in My relationship with My Father God and that He will do whatever I ask Him to do. And it is wonderful that you believe in resurrection after death. But what I want you to believe is I am the Resurrection and the Life."

You and I have heard that phrase from Jesus often in our lives, just about every Easter season, and yet - do we really understand what Jesus was saying? I believe that what Jesus was trying to convey to Martha, and to us, is that He, Jesus is the very essence of resurrection. In other words, without Jesus there is absolutely no resurrection and no life. It is because Jesus Christ exists that there is resurrection and life. If you take Jesus out of the equation, there is no resurrection and no life. Do you and I believe in Jesus this way? Did Martha?

Jesus further explains in verses 25 and 26 - "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."

Then Jesus asks Martha, "Do you believe this?"

I love Martha's response in verse 27 - "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ (Messiah - anointed one), the Son of God, who is come into the world." During this conversation, Martha's belief in Jesus was changing. Do you see it?

I wonder if, during this Easter/resurrection season, Jesus is trying to further your belief in Him. Are you and I willing to allow Jesus to increase our belief in Him from Jesus, the Son of God, who has an "in" with God to Jesus, the Son of God, who is the very essence of resurrection and life? As that belief in Jesus changes and is made stronger, the way that we worship Jesus will change and be made stronger, more vibrant, more energetic.

Jesus wants you and I to believe with Martha that Jesus is the resurrection and the life! Well, that's my introduction to the Easter sermon...

--

Written by the Rev. Edroy "Curt" Curtis, president of the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association, chaplain of Northern Montana Health Care and lead pastor of Havre Assembly of God Church.