Chatham Circuit
St Louisville, Chatham & Liberty UMC
April 12, 2020
Easter Sunday
Prelude
Bringing the Light*Call to Worship
L: Christ is risen!
P: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
L: Death never gets the final word.
P: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
L: Rejoice in this day of salvation.
P: God’s steadfast love endures forever. Alleluia!
*Hymn: He Lives UMH 3101 I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He’s always near.
Refrain: He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life’s narrow way He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart
2 In all the world around me I see His loving care And though my heart grows weary I never will despair I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast The day of His appearing will come at last.
Refrain
3 Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find None other is so loving, so good and kind.
Refrain
*Opening Prayer
First Scripture: Psalm 136:1 – 9, 23 – 26
The Lord’s Prayer
Second Scripture: Acts 10:34 – 43
*The Apostle’s Creed UMH 881
*Gloria Patri UMH 70
*Message Lesson: John 14:1 – 6The Message
I AM: The Way, The Truth and The Life
Bryan Moore
Hymn: Just As I Am UMH 357
1 Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.2 Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.3 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.4 Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.Prayers of the People
Offering in Response to God’s Grace*Doxology UMH 95
*Offertory Prayer
Thank you, God, for the gift of this amazing day of resurrection! Our hearts are overflowing with the joy and excitement of Easter. We pray that you will take our exuberance and use it to bring light and hope to those trapped in darkness and despair. Use these gifts of money to empower our work with those who.
Use the gift of our very lives to empower our calling to carry your Incarnate Love into the world. We pray this with the boldness of those who have encountered the living Christ. Amen.
*Hymn: The Old Rugged Cross UMH 504
1 On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.2 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain]3 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain]4 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. [Refrain]
*BenedictionAlleluia! This is a day of new beginnings! This is the day of brightness and hope! For God has done wondrous things for us! Go in joyful peace and know that God’s peace and love go with you always. ALLELUIA! AMEN.
Closing
*UMH #130, God Will Take Care of You (refrain, St Louisville)
*UMH #557, Blest Be the Tie that Binds (Chatham)
*Three-Fold Amen (Liberty)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
Prayer Requests:
- Prayers for Dick and Mary Ann,
- Prayers for Bonnie and Gerald Pound,
- Prayers for Sally and David
- Prayers for Ellen and her husband, John
I AM: The Way, The Truth and The Life
John 14:1 – 6
Friends we come on the Easter Sunday to the sixth I AM statement that Jesus makes in the Gospel of John and I think that this one is particularly fitting for this Sunday. So much of what we have been through during this Holy Week, celebrating Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday is wrapped up into the message that Jesus delivered to his disciples that day.
In addition to that the comforting tone that Jesus gives to his disciples at that time, it is such an important reminder for all of us in this historically unique period in our society, culture, world and faith.
These are dark and confusing times, a brave new world that challenges us, that is forcing us to face so much unknown and doing it seeming alone in so many ways. It is almost unfathomable that on Easter Sunday, of all Sundays, that we cannot in good conscience be together in fellowship with one another because of uncertainty.
This a time that would usually bring us closer together, bring those from far away back into community with friends, family and brothers and sisters in Christ. But these are difficult, unfamiliar times which make us wary and weary because we have lost a sense of security and familiarity, a loss of a comforting sense of belonging. There have been times that have tried men and women’s souls before but this period is unique, at least in the lifetime of experience for the people around us.
So as with the other five I AM statements that we have discussed so far in this series, we need to set the scene for whom to which Jesus is speaking and the occasion on which he is speaking. For that we have to backtrack to chapter 13 in John. As we have seen over the past five weeks, the Gospel of John tells the story of Jesus’ life a little differently than Matthew, Mark and Luke.
For example, John begins his Gospel not with the birth narrative but rather in Eternity past, when God created the universe and brought the light of the universe into being. John also gives more details in his account of the Last Supper that we celebrated four days ago on Maundy Thursday.
The other Gospels describe the Last Supper, the washing of feet, the accusation by Jesus of one of the disciples betraying him and Jesus’ prophetic declaration that Peter, on whom Jesus was to build his church, would deny Jesus three times before the sun would come again.
But John goes into a number of additional conversations with the disciples, in fact chapters 14 – 17 are additional conversations that all take place all in the Upper Room before Jesus is arrested. One conversation in particular that Jesus has with the disciples is the one of that leads to our scripture today and it includes Jesus’ sixth I AM statement.
At the end of chapter 13, just before Peter claims that he would never deny Christ Jesus tells the disciples
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, I am telling you: where I am going, you cannot come.” Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Jesus is telling the eleven disciples that in a very short time their world is going to collapse into unbelievable chaos. Jesus, the man for which they had all left their homes, families and businesses was about to leave them. Their beloved Master, whom they loved more than life, the One whom they had been willing to die for, was going away.
The realization of what Jesus was telling them must have staggered their minds, and they were undoubtedly bewildered, perplexed, confused, and filled with anxiety. Losing someone we love is an excruciating experience, losing them suddenly and expectantly is devastating beyond belief.
Which brings us to our lesson today, Jesus clearly understands the state of mind of the disciples and He acts compassionately to provide them with comfort. In our lesson today Jesus’ words shows how intensely and deeply He cared for them. He was about to be nailed to a cross, and bear the sins of all who would ever believe yet true to His nature he chooses to console and comfort.
“Do not let your heart be troubled” Jesus says. “You believe in God, so believe in me as well”. “You trust in God so trust in me too” he is saying. “In my Father’s house are many rooms and I am going there prepare a place for you. I will come again and take you with me so that we can be together there. You will know the way to where I will be”.
But Thomas “the Doubter” says “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” Then Jesus said to them, “I AM: The Way, The Truth, and The Life”; through me is the Way that everyone can come to the Father.”
In these words the disciples come to understand the Jesus is “The Way”. Jesus is not only the example of righteousness that we are to follow, the way that we should behave and believe, He himself is literally the only way to eternal life, the only gateway, the only access to a right relationship with God for sinful man.
Jesus is “The Truth” because he is the very embodiment of the promises of God’s mercy and grace for all of mankind. And Jesus is “The Life” because he is the sole source of Eternal Life for those that come to believe in Him.
In this grace filled message, Jesus’ words are the foundation of comfort through simple, trusting faith. When we are worried, anxious, bewildered, perplexed, confused, agitated, the reason is that we don’t trust God and his son Jesus as much as we should. If we really trust Christ we have nothing to worry about. The reason the disciples were fearful and anxious was that they were focusing on addressing their problems, and they didn’t seem to be able to believe that Christ was going to protect them and provide for them.
Martin Luther called this passage “the best and most comforting sermon that the Lord Christ delivered on earth, a treasure and a jewel not to be purchased with the world’s goods.” These verses for the disciples, and for us as present day believers, have become a promise of comfort for all wandering souls.. “Don’t worry,” said Jesus. “I’ll show you. If you stick with me, you won’t get lost, I will show you The Way, The Truth and The Life Eternal” That promise is still true for us today!
Hear the Good News my Friends…………….
On this particular Easter Sunday we need to acknowledge that we have troubled hearts because of the challenges related to the Covid virus in our personal and societal lives. The things that used to take our minds off of the tough things in life have been taken from us.
Things like coming to church and fellowshipping with your brothers and sisters, going to see relatives and friends, watching a game on TV, going out to dinner, going to a movie, going to a festival or concert or just going to shop for your groceries. But our worry and anxiety should not overwhelm our lives this Easter there is a Way and Truth to get us back to where we should be.
- Stanley Jones, an American missionary in India many years ago, told the story of a missionary who lost his way in an African jungle. He could find no landmarks and the trail simply vanished before his eyes. Eventually, while stumbling upon a small hut in a clearing, he asked the native living there if he could lead him out.
The native nodded and rising to his feet, he walked directly back into the bush. The missionary followed on his heels. For more than an hour they hacked their way through a dense wall of vines and grasses. The missionary became worried and anxious: “Are you sure this is the way? I don’t see any path.” The African chuckled and said over his shoulder, “Bwana, in this place where there is no path, I am the path.” Friends when we are lost and anxious, overwhelmed and afraid, we only need to look toward the one that has promised to be our path, our truth and life, Jesus Christ!
On Good Friday Jesus willingly went to the Cross to sacrifice his life for the redemption of the blood debt that we all owed. He paid the price for our freedom with His precious blood. That blood gave us forgiveness in the eyes of God for our previous sins and all of our future disobedience. That is one part of the truth of why Jesus Christ was sent into the world. The work of Jesus was not yet done however.
Today on Easter morning the Gospel truth continues, as Jesus defeats death in the resurrection, he breaks free of the bonds of the grave and establishes himself as our way to an Eternal life. That is the rest of the promise that is given in the Easter miracle.
Jesus said “Do not let your hearts be troubled! I AM: The Way, The Truth and The Life”. Let us once again come to Him Just As We Are to trust and believe in his provision and comfort in our journey through an unpredictable and sometimes troubling world. Amen.