The Voice Crying Out

Today we celebrate Easter. The resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord is the very core of our Christian belief. If we read the Book of Acts carefully, the heart of the Good News is the simple proclamation: “Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!” But we may ask: What is the evidence for the resurrection? And even more personally: Why does the resurrection matter to us today? There are several lines of convincing evidence. But perhaps the most powerful and undeniable evidence is this: the transformation of the disciples. The four gospels tell us how each disciple encountered the risen Christ at different times and how their lives were completely changed. Mary Magdalene. Peter and John. Thomas. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus. And today’s passage is one of those stories. In today’s scripture Jesus speaks three words to his disciples. And these three words answer our question: “Why doesresurrection matter?”

There are often three ways people live when they go toanother country: as immigrants, as tourists, or as exiles. Some live like immigrants.They try to fully assimilate. They adopt the language, the customs, the values, sometimes even losing their original identity along the way. Others live like tourists. They stay, but only on the surface. They keep their distance. They remain in their own bubble, never truly engaging the place or the people.But then there are exiles. Exiles are different. They do not forget who they are. They keep their identity. And yet, they do not withdraw. They build homes, plant gardens, raise families, and seek the good of the place where they are. This is the picture Scripture gives us.

In ancient Israel, especially in the time of the apostles, the cornerstone was the most important stone in the entire building. It was the very first stone placed at the corner of the foundation. Builders selected it carefully, because every other stone in the structure would be measured and aligned from that one stone. If the cornerstone was strong and properly set, the whole building would stand straight and secure. But if the cornerstone was misplaced, the entire structure could become crooked, unstable, and even collapse. Today’s scripture tells us Jesus is our cornerstone. What does it mean?

If someone asked you, “How do you know he or she is a Christian?” what would you say? One study found that 5 out of 6 young non-Christians say they know a Christian personally, but only 1 out of 6 says the lifestyle of those believers is noticeably different in a good way. The word “Christian” literally means, “someone who belongs to Christ” or “a follower of Christ.” But, what does it really mean to be a Christian? What are the marks of a Christian? Today’s scripture tells us there are at least two undeniable marks of a Christian: the cross of Christ and the Spirit of Christ.

Have you ever felt pulled in all directions – by life’s demands, distractions, or temptations? Let’s take a look at this artwork by Martin Schongauer, Saint Anthony Abbot Tempted by Demons (c. 1470-1480). Anthony's biographer, Athanasius, describes the later stages of the devil’s temptation as a physical attack by demons masquerading as wild animals: “Anthony, beaten and mauled, experienced even more atrocious pains in his body but he remained unafraid, his mind alert.” At the end, the weary Anthony cries out to the Lord, “Where were you, good Jesus? Where were you? Why were you not here from the beginning to heal my wounds?” A voice answers, “Anthony, I was here, but I was waiting to watch your struggle.” Like Anthony, we are not immune to life’s temptations. And like Anthony, we may ask, “Where were you, God? Why didn’t you help me from the beginning?” Paul, in Today’s scripture, wrestles with the same questions. He was a faithful servant of Christ, but he was not immune to life’s hardships. He was imprisoned, flogged, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned. He faced danger from robbers, enemies, his own people, the wilderness, and the sea. On top of this, he carried the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. And then there was the “thorn in his body,” a messenger from Satan that caused him ongoing physical agony. Paul was in constant suffering. Then, where was God in all this? Why didn’t He come and help right away? 

We know 1 Corinthians 13 as the love chapter. It is often read at weddings. And that is beautiful. But the original situation was very different. When Paul wrote this letter, the Corinthian church was in serious trouble. They were divided over their favorite leaders. They tolerated serious sexual sin. They were proud and competing over spiritual gifts. So their worship became chaotic. In short, Corinthian church was messy. It was falling apart. In this particular context, Paul goes straight to the heart of the problem: They lacked love...

Romans 3:21-26 is one of the clearest and most beautiful summaries of the gospel in all Scripture. It tells us our need and God’s answer. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul says, “By God’s mercies, present your bodies as a living sacrifice. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” But how? “By the renewing of your mind.” Transformation happens when we allow God’s Spirit to work in us, opening our eyes and changing the way we think.

Who shared the gospel with you for the first time? Who helped you experience God’s love in a personal way? This week, we turn to the Book of Acts, written by Luke. Who was Luke? Early church tradition tells us that Luke was from Antioch of Syria. He was well-educated and trained as a medical doctor. It is possible that he came to faith during Paul’s early missionary work. In Acts 16, we see Luke’s spiritual turning point...

Unlike the other three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), John doesn’t follow Jesus’ life and ministry chronologically. Instead, he focuses on “seven signs” – signs of hope, signs of spring, signs that reveal who Jesus is.John tells us why he writes this way: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31, NIV)

When did you hear the gospel for the first time? Who shared it with you? Luke writes his Gospel to someone named Theophilus, a name that means “lover of God.” Theophilusmay have been a real person – a Roman official, a new believer or a sincere seeker. Or he may represent anyone who longs to know God. At the very beginning of his Gospel, Luke tells us his purpose. He writes so that people may know the truth and so they may trust that God’s salvation in Jesus is real and reliable. Luke wants us to see that Jesus came for all people – the religious and the non-religious, the powerful and the weak, the insider and the outsider. That’s why Luke includes stories found no other Gospels: the Good Samaritan, Zacchaeus, and the thief on the cross, and the Prodigal Son. Luke’s message is simple and clear: no one is beyond God’s redemption, and new life is possible now in Jesus.

Today’s passage tells the story of Jesus calming a storm. Last week, we explored the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s main audience was Jewish. That is why his Gospel begins with a genealogy of Jesus and includes many quotations from the Old Testament to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Unlike Matthew, the Gospel of Mark was written for Gentiles, especially Romans. Mark is fast-paced, using words like “immediately” or “at once” more than 40 times. It focuses on what Jesus did. This fits a Roman mindset, practical and action-oriented. Through Jesus’ actions, Mark shows us who Jesus is.  So Who Is This Man?

What is the kingdom of God? How does Jesus bring the kingdom to us? How do we enter it?