Easter Day

Last week after one of the morning services, Joe Tiedeman and I were talking about counseling. Joe, who is the pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Spotswood is a trained counselor by profession. It seems to me that when someone comes to us with a problem we try to console them by addressing the problem. We instinctively want them to be put at ease. We try to help them find some solution to the problem that will make them feel better, and then we will feel better because we believe it is our job to make them feel better. But so often that simple problem solving remedy eludes us. Joe said, “That’s why I got out of counseling.”

Then I remembered something that happened years ago. I was in a hospital setting working as a chaplain intern as part of my seminary work. I was covering the hospital for the weekend and there was a family in crisis in the waiting room. I tried words of consolation for their loss. I tried to offer some explanation of why bad things happen. It wasn’t working. The family was very polite in thanking me for my caring, but I knew I wasn’t offering them anything that was really going to help them.

Finally their pastor arrived. He was an older black man, a seasoned veteran of the work of preaching and counseling. He took the mother aside and they sat down together. She was particularly upset. Her husband was seriously ill, and may die. She wanted an answer, a way out of this. I stood nearby because I wanted to see what her pastor was going to do. He took her hand, listening carefully for a few minutes as she poured out her fear and grief. Then he did something that startled me. He looked her in the eye and asked, “Where is your faith?”

It wasn’t an accusation. It was a sincere and honest question. He continued to probe. “You’ve told me many times that the Lord has always been there for you. Where is He now?”

That question changed her whole countenance. She wasn’t out of control any more. She was thinking, thinking clearly about what was important to her, thinking about how she was going to carry on.

Jesus’ disciples had the same questions and fears as any other person. They asked Jesus, “Show us the way. We need to know where you are going. We need to know what is going to happen.” They wanted information, directions, solutions to life’s problems. His answer to them was, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He did not give them a road map of life, or a catalogue of solutions to life’s problem. He gave them Himself. And He offers you and me the same thing today. Have you received Him? Where is your faith?

That is the constantly repeated question in the resurrection appearances of Jesus. When Mary saw the angel in the garden of Gethsemane he said to her, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen just as He said He would. Now go tell His disciples.” We sense a surprise, almost an impatience from the angel that Mary has been so slow to catch on to what has happened. And this scene is repeated elsewhere all through the day of Easter.

When Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, he says to Thomas, “Put your hand here and feel the nail prints…. Stop doubting and believe!” Oh Thomas, where is your faith?

Later that evening on the road to Emaus He appered to the disciples who were walking on the road, and He asks them, “Why are you so depressed and discouraged?” As if to say “Why do you look like you’ve lost your best friend?” They are startled at His question and say to Him, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there?” In response He reminds them of something. “Does it not say in the scriptures that the Christ had to suffer many things, and be betrayed, and be killed, and on the third day rise again?” Oh where is your faith?

And what is surprising about this is that they had been through it all before. Remember when He said to them, “Believe in God. Believe also in me…. I am going to prepare a place for you so that where I am you may be also.” And Thomas said, “Lord we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus had to spell it out one more time.

They were looking for a way through the difficult paths of this world. They were looking for truth amid a sea of falsehood. They were looking for life in a world filled with death.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, listen carefully. I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life.” Get it? Where is your faith?

Consider George Friderick Handel. He lived in England from 1685 to 1759. During his life there was political turmoil in England. The year Handel was born the Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of Charles II, led a group of supporters to invade England. He was defeated and beheaded. There was constant tension and occasional violence between Catholic and Protestant groups seeking contol of the throne. England was loosing its grip on the American colonies, which would lead to the American Revolution just 15 years after his death.

Into that world Handel brought a word of faith and praise. But when his master work, “Messiah” was first released it was not well received at all. The music critics of the day tore it apart, calling it a trivial piece of music that would soon be forgotten. Berlioz described Handel's music as "a barrel of roast pork and beer"

Messiah remains Handel's best known work, although this was not a status that it enjoyed until the last few years of his life, brought about by annual performances in Handel's oratorio seasons and charitable benefit concerts at the Foundling Hospital (an organisation for underprivileged children, and which still exists today as The Thomas Coram Foundation).

Other well known composers of the day did recognize Handel’s work:

“Handel is the greatest composer who ever lived. I would bare my head and kneel at his grave.” - Ludwig Von Beethoven.

Upon hearing the 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Messiah, Joseph Haydn is said to have "wept like a child" and exclaimed: "He is the master of us all."

Johann Sebastian Bach is attributed with the following remark: "[Handel] is the only person I would wish to see before I die, and the only person I would wish to be, were I not Bach."

A friend, called upon Handel when he was in the act of setting to music the words, 'He was despised and rejected of men.' The friend reports that he "found him absolutely sobbing." You don’t compose music like that without pouring your heart and soul into it. The same could be said of us. We can’t live the Christian life without pouring our heart and soul into it.

(congregation sings Hallelujah Chorus)

You’ve heard this before, but it’s worth repeating, especially on a day like today. It’s the complete answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?”

He’s the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End

He is the Keeper of creation, and the Creator of all.

He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.

He always was, always is, and He always will be…

Unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone!

He was bruised and brought healing,

He was pierced and eased pain,

He was persecuted and brought freedom,

He was dead and brought life,

He is risen and brings power,

He reigns and brings peace!

The world can’t understand Him,

The armies of tyrants can’t defeat Him,

The schools can’t explain Him,

The leaders can’t ignore Him.

Herod couldn’t kill Him,

The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him,

The people couldn’t hold Him,

Nero couldn’t crush Him,

Hitler couldn’t silence Him,

The New Age can’t replace Him.

He is goodness, kindness, gentleness.

He is Holy, righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right,

His word is eternal.

His will is unchanging, and

His mind is on you and me!

He is our Redeemer,

He is our Savior,

He is our Guide, and

He is our Peace.

He is Joy, He is Comfort.

He is our Lord, and
He rules our life.

We serve Him because His bond is love.

His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,

The Ancient of days, the Ruler of rulers,

The Sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to be.

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size:
His goal is a relationship with you and me!

He will never leave you, never forsake you,

Never mislead you, never forget you,

Never overlook you.

Let me tell you what He has done for me:

When I fall, He lifts me up.

When I fail, He forgives me.

When I am weak, He is strong.

When I am lost, He is the way.

When I am afraid, He is my courage.

When I stumble, He steadies me.

When I am hurt, He heals me.

When I am broken, He mends me.

When I am hungry, He feeds me.

When I face trials, He is with me.

When I face persecution, He shields me.

When I face problems, He comforts me.

When I face loss, He provides for me.

When I face death, He carries me home.

He is God, and He is faithful.

I am His, and He is mine.