Jesus Christ! Alive!
While driving to church on Easter Sunday, Mom told the children the Easter story. “This is
the day we celebrate Jesus’ coming back to life,” she explained. Right away her
3-year old in the back seat piped up, “Will Jesus be in church today?”
The focus of 1st UCC is the Lord Jesus Christ.
During the next 14 weeks, the church calendar reminds us of Jesus’ suffering
and death through the Lenten season. Easter is the one day that churches all
over the world unify to announce boldly that the crucified Christ is
resurrected. For 7 weeks between Easter and Pentecost Sundays, our minds are challenged by how the
Living Christ prepares his kingdom people for the Holy Spirit’s arrival.
Writing in Acts 1, the New Testament physician Luke provides
us with information to assure our confidence of Jesus’ presence. In Acts 1:3
Dr. Luke states that “He (Jesus Christ) showed himself.” The emphasis is on the
person Jesus Christ – “He…himself.” We
just cannot ignore him.
In that same verse we discover the manner in which Jesus
presents himself:
ALIVE
APPEARING
SPEAKING
The whole Christ for the whole Christian for the whole
season of Lent…and beyond!
My prayer for you is that the coming weeks are a season
where the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection become more than
historical data. My hope is that you will join me is seeking Jesus with eyes of
faith. Every week we enter 1st UCC’s doors that hold the saying GOD
IS STILL SPEAKING. May we allow God who loves us with an infinite love to give
us “ears to hear.”
With that love found in Christ,
Pastor Bob
