Pastor Dan - April 2020
The scripture above was written around 2,000 years ago and we can see that “Woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth” is nothing new. It seems that every generation experiences the effect of sin with some major impact to their lives. It seems that the ripples of sin gather to form a powerful wave to wash over humanity in devastating and jarring ways. In the scripture above, that generation of faith was facing persecution and death by cruel and unusual ways. Think of the plaques, the wars, the droughts, the floods, the fires, etc. We are like every generation before us and within each generation, those who walk by faith have its members rise to provide care and hope, to share words which light and comfort as we have been transformed to be and to provide by the very Spirit of God.
The ability to rise up and radiate hope is at the very core of being the people in and of our Lord. This time of year we are ever mindful of the twelve apostles whose lives were crushed under the weight of death and fear. They were filled with hopes and dreams of God’s promises of a king and restoration under this king’s glorious rule. They followed this King as He entered Jerusalem triumphantly. Can you imagine how heavy the darkness and despair took hold of these disciples as they saw this One placed in a tomb and sealed? Woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth!
In the midst of this despairing and crushed group of lost souls appears the Risen Christ Jesus. This event continues as every generation of faith carries this very event, which occurred in the upper room, and this event continues to shape every heart, voice and hand of every disciple and apostle of Christ to this day! It is at the core of who we are. In the midst of darkness and woe the light of the Risen Christ comes. This happens again and again and again through every generation, as God continues to call and empower the faithful in Christ to stand in the darkness and proclaim life.
What we carry within us and that which shapes us is the Easter story and the Word which works for all the inhabitants of the earth. Yes, there is “Woe, woe” and we come to know that the Lord has entered into the “Woe, woe”. We see how deeply the Christ enters into the “Woe, woe” in the events of Holy Week. We see how glorious God’s light and life is in the event of Easter and the Lord’s resurrected presence to shape the lives of those who have faith and believe. We see that eternal life has the final word and always will have the final word in any woe which comes.
We may not know what Easter Worship will look like this Easter but one thing we do know for sure is that, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
In Christ’s love and service,
Pastor Dan