Today begins Lent – with Ash Wednesday – for 40 days (not counting Sundays)…
…and it begins our Lenten Theme of = PROMISES WORTH KEEPING.

Every Lent and this Lent is intended for each Christian to grow Spiritually Mature.

I said Sunday: if God’s Promises to us give us something to hold onto…
…then our Promises to God give God something to hold onto & work with.

In that Journey – WE will become CLOSER TO and BE MORE LIKE Jesus Christ.
And isn’t THAT a goal worthy of any efforts we may muster these next 40 days.
It won’t happen: INSTANTANEOUSLY - AUTOMATICALLY - or - MYSTICALLY.

We are going to have to BECOME: Promise-Makers and Promise-Keepers
to grow AS Spiritually Mature Christians.
Whatever that takes… it is WORTH your WHITE-KNUCKLE COMMITMENT.

During Lent, we are going to focus on 6 Promises worth keeping…and the FIRST IS =
NURTURING A GROWING INTIMACY WITH JESUS CHRIST.

All you have to do to begin is say = “I want to / I will… know Jesus better.”
Don’t you think that is a “white knuckle” VALUE for a Disciple, a Christian Follower?

To often we SETTLE FOR LESS.
That is not only a “shame” – it is “deadly”.

EX = Do you know why there are fewer BEARS at Yellowstone National Park?
In addition to being heavily photographed – they were being fed by tourists.
Such foods were sandwiches & chips & cookies …you know, regular SNACK FOOD.
…and NOT berries, nuts, fish and small animals – which are their ‘natural diet’.

The consequence was – during HIBERNATION, “people food” burned off too rapidly,
…unlike the normal animal fat created by the bear’s Natural Diet.
The RESULT was = throughout the winter months – many bears froze to death.

Realizing this – the Park Service relocated the remaining bears to the high country…
…away from the trail of tourists.

That is sad enough, isn’t it? BUT it’s also a metaphor for Christians as well.

How many Christians, do you think, NEED to be RELOCATED to higher country
to insure their “natural” & “spiritual” DIETS? Or –

HOW MANY Christians RELY too heavily on SPIRITUAL JUNK FOOD?
By “spiritual junk food” I mean:
n Those who rely on SECOND-HAND FAITH – like the faith of a spouse or parent or grandparent – to lead them through tough times. OR
n Those who listen to sacred or religious music without studying God’s Word. OR
n Those who want to be with Jesus on the Mountain top, but not in the Valley of Life.

There’s an old saying = “Why do you think your faith will get you into heaven,
when it can’t even get you into church?”

That would be LIKE an English Major trying to go through their classes
reading only the Cliff Notes… instead of reading any of the books. Why the ‘major’?

OR – LIKE a seminarian reading the Commentaries instead of the Bible,
AND taking notes on the professor’s lecture without their own insights being inspired.

Then the “faith” is always & only SECOND-HAND Faith…fed with spiritual junk food.
The reason why the faith of so many people collapses in the hour of trial is simply that it is not theirs. It is something that they have accepted because someone else said it, not because they have discovered it. - William Barclay

Unfortunately, it is “just enough” to curb one’s appetite for God –
and from having a personal relationship with God.

All the SUBSTITUTES that are available – may FILL YOU UP…but… WITHOUT
providing the Nutritional Value our souls require to be healthy & spiritually mature.
They just provide “empty calories” = putting you at risk of MALNUTRICIAN.

That is why we begin this LENT with the first challenge to =
NURTURE A PERSONAL, GROWING RELATIONSHIP & INTIMACY w/ JESUS.

In other words, CREATING MEMORABLE MOMENTS with Jesus.

That means – being more like Mary at Jesus’ feet…RATHER …
…than being like Martha – banging away in the “kitchen of life”.
Can you…Will you make that kind of PROMISE = 15 minutes a day for Jesus?

It would be easy to delete those “minutes” from your priorities each day, because…
…spiritual ‘junk food’ is EASIER to find & SWEETER to get down & keep down.

However, Christians who eat the “wrong food” have fewer inner resources
on which to rely WHEN faced with personal storms & trials & tribulations.
They will “figuratively” FREEZE TO DEATH like those Yellowstone Bears in their sleep.

One truth a Healthy / a Spiritually Healthy person needs to realize is =
YOU CAN’T HANDLE LIFE’S DEMANDS SINGLE-HANDEDLY.

God created us in such a way that we fall apart when we try to live our lives on our own
God said = “IT IS NOT GOOD THAT MAN SHOULD BE ALONE”.
Yet – how hard do we try to get by on the minimum?

In fact, a current societal trend is toward “COCOONING”.
It’s relatively easy…with in-home-gyms, big screen TVs, computers, NetFlix.
If we do go out in public – we do so in luxury cars, and to Drive-Thru windows.
Mingling is a ‘lost art form’ in our population – doesn’t happen in neighborhoods either

Was it the Pilgrims or the Puritans on the Mayflower?
Well, whomever it was, they signed the MAYFLOWER COMPACT in 1620.
In part it read:
“We do solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one another,
covenant and combine ourselves together for the general Good of the Colony;
unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience.”

How ironic – today we are trying to live not only without committed friendships –
but with minimal contact, too.

But God made us differently…than we are seeking to live in this 21st century.
There are FORCES and NEEDS in us that seek Community and Fellowship.

For NORM – it was a bar… “where everyone knows your name.”

Well, why can’t it also be the CHURCH? Shouldn’t it be the Church?

Unfortunately – the Church has fallen victim [ in some cases ] and gone the way of
Neighborhoods and Clubs and Society in general…
…WHERE PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER
BY MILES OF DISTRUST AND DUPLICITY.

SO – against those odds and obstacles – you are encouraged this week to
PROMISE TO CULTIVATE VITAL FRIENDSHIPS THAT
ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP YOUR PROMISES.

What a concept…and how hard to even dream about, let alone accomplish. However -
without such FRIENDSHIPS – we are better Promise-Makers than Promise-Keepers.

How difficult is it to accomplish?
Even our ‘three musketeer” friends found it hard to MAKE & KEEP their promises.
BUT – at least, with such Friendships – there is someone there to CHALLENGE you
and HOLD you accountable SO THAT you can grow socially and spiritually.

It has always been that way. Friendships have always been HELPFUL & NEEDFUL.

In the Bible:
n Moses had Aaron and Joshua,
n Ruth found strength in Naomi,
n David teamed up with Jonathan,
n Elisha shadowed Elijah,
n Mary had her older cousin Elizabeth,
n Jesus had Peter, James, and John,
n St Paul had Timothy and Barnabas, AND, when you think about it,
n ….Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto.

SO ~ this week you are asked to OPEN YOURSELF UP to
HAVING and BEING such a Friend.

Read over the green Action Step #2 – about coming out of “spiritual isolation”.
Think about and identify a friend for this special relationship.
Seek someone out…intentionally…not casually.

After all, cultivating such a friendship requires as much as CARING FOR A GARDEN.
UNLESS you spend adequate time
n preparing,
n planting,
n watering, and
n fertilizing a garden…you won’t have a garden / flowers to smell or veggies to eat.

In addition to that – we need Christians that can talk to each other in ways that
go beyond the subjects of “weather” and “sports”.

In some circles – that kind of sharing is called “MENTORING”.
It is when one person takes another person “under their wing” to
SHOW the Way…and WALK the Way together.

We need such Friends / Mentors in School…in Careers…in Church…& grocery store J

That will bring us out of our COCOONS and out of spiritual isolation.

When we do THAT – God knows what we will become.

For one week now – let’s let Christian Love & Trust…
“ BIND US TOGETHER…with cords & Promises that cannot be broken…”

From the Beginning – there has been the Temptation to SACRIFICE Core Values
on the Altar of AMBITION.
Adam & Eve wanted to know the difference between Good & Evil AND be LIKE God.
The Old Testament is filled with other Examples…like Samson & King David.
It didn’t end with the Coming of Jesus.

James & John, the Zebedee brothers, were willing to imagine places of honor
at Jesus’ left & right hand in his Heavenly Kingdom.
In Mark’s Gospel, they themselves asked Jesus for those positions.
In Matthew’s Gospel – their mother approached Jesus…to promote their status.

Is that really what “Making Family Relationships A Priority” is to mean?
Does it really mean: look out for #1? …or, look out for you and your’s?
In no uncertain terms – Jesus says absolutely not.
Jesus says,
“…rulers of the heathen have power & complete authority over their subjects…
…but this is not the way it shall be among you…You must be a servant.”

And St. Paul, too, says – in The Message translation – to the Philipians: (2:1-5)
“…if the love of Christ has made any difference in your life…if you really care…
…Agree with each other, love each other…don’t push your way to the front…
…don’t sweet-talk your way to the top…don’t be obsessed with getting your
own advantage…think of yourselves the way Christ thought of himself…
…he came, not to be served, but to serve…”

Not having Jesus’ “MIND” or heart was a problem…THEN, BEFORE and STILL.

It is a ‘universal’ problem…for men & women, young & old, all races & nations.
Personal GAIN has occupied rationalizations by many in their choices & priorities

Jesus challenged it…because He understands the AMBITION.
Jesus understood the magnetic pull of sin – celebrated in this world around us.
He could see the LURE of a godless culture even in his day.

That is WHY Jesus went on to CONTRAST the Values of HIS KINGDOM
with that of the self-serving power-brokers of the 1st Century.

His KINGDOM VALUES look quite different from those which motivate
so many people to GET AHEAD – often leaving loved ones in the “dust” –
– or worse – using them to get what they want.

His KINGDOM VALUES were as different then as they are today.
SO – during this LENT – we are asked to PROMISE to live by His Kingdom Values,
AND THAT INCLUDES = MAKING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS A PRIORITY.

Now – the problem in making “FAMILY” a Priority is the DISTORTION that
we make it THEE Priority…as in – it is our ONLY priority.
But Jesus does not say = Family FIRST …and not… Family ONLY.

Mike Singletary – linebacker for the Chicago Bears – has said:
“Human beings aren’t meant to live isolated lives.
We need to intersect with others. I stress with my children to maintain
GREAT-PASSION for their [own] personal pursuits AND
GREAT-COM-PASSION for others.
We are all part of a larger family called humankind.”

So – it is not only for “our family” that we are to be passionate.

HOWEVER, that is where we need to begin…to focus on our Family.

Why? Because there is a frightening 40-year trend that marriage is unpopular.
Some demographers are predicting: 85% of young Americans will never marry.
WHY? Because they are afraid they won’t be “HAPPY”.

Obviously – we need to turn that statistic around.
We do that by= promising to “make our marriages” WORK – satisfying our adult needs.
Perhaps that means living by a new AXIOM or Paradigm:
WHERE “success in marriage isn’t “FINDING” the right person,
It is BEING the right person”…for another.

…and THEN we need to focus on and Work on satisfying
the needs of the children those good marriages produce.
I suggest, this evening, that this Promise requires us to re-examine
the difference between what our children NEED and what they WANT.

Psychologist John Rosemond puts the challenge this way =
“The foremost obligation of parenthood is of giving children all they truly need
along with a small amount of what they want. In other words, parents should
take great care with the ‘wheat’ while being less concerned with the ‘chaff’.”

I call this the “90 / 10 Principle”.
You’ve heard of the 80-20 Principle: in church 80% of people give 20% of time & $.

So parents are to give children 90% of what they need & only 10% of what WANT.
HOWEVER, without examining their own behavior, parents REVERSE the ratio:
…they give 90% of what their child WANTS and only give 10% of what they NEED.

On this Wednesday of our LENTEN Journey – we are challenged to =
MAKE OUR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS A PRIORITY…
…by giving our spouse and children our TIME & THOUGHTS
RATHER THAN trying to give them / or buy them “off” with TOYS & THINGS.

Then, maybe, all of us can become more like Christ,
n not worrying about food, or drink, or clothing;
n not storing up riches for ourselves here on earth;
n getting preoccupied with “being HAPPY”; and
n not trying to push our way to the front, or
n sweet-talking our way to the top…ultimately…
n sacrificing your family on the altar of AMBITION for an early-retirement or death.

Let each of us “still our restless soul” to become servants of Jesus to one another…

…BEGINNING IN YOUR HOME…WITH YOUR FAMILY,

How many times have you said or thought: “I wish I could live my life over again.”
OR, “I would do THAT differently next time.” OR, “why didn’t I see that coming?”

One of the reasons we often fail IS: we make poor choices the first-time-around.
ALSO because = NOW we have the benefit of nearly 20/20 hindsight.
In some cases, the 2nd time = you may recognize where YOU went WRONG…and
you may realize where God was present in a way you didn’t recognize initially.
In other words, sometimes God seems ABSENT and other times God is UNNOTICED.

In those times…our darkest times… are the “one set of footprints in the sand” times.

It is not uncommon for any of us …NOW.
Do you recall that recently never-before-seen letters of Mother Teresa were published?
The apparent “SCANDAL” was their revealing the depth
of her spiritual darkness & doubt early in her religious career.

She wrote her mentor: “Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.”

She even confessed to smiling sometimes to MASK her doubts.
Some in the secular press & media called her a “hypocrite” and “two-faced”.

But one must FIRST REALIZE – these were notes from her early years as a Nun.
SECONDLY – don’t you feel closer to her now that she apparently was ‘VERY human’?

Mother Teresa served the homeless of Calcutta – as the ‘patron Saint’. Not only that:
Now, in these writings, she can minister (posthumously) to those ALSO SUFFERING
a spiritual “DRYNESS” and encourage those who PERSEVERE.
[ Eric Gorsk – “Mother Teresa’s faith under Microscope” – Chicago Tribune, 8-26-07 ]
One commentator says: these writings “show that she wasn’t a ‘plaster-of-Paris Saint’ who never had a doubt about God or the ultimate meaning of life… This can only enhance her reputation as a saintly person with people who aren’t easily impressed with pious stories. Those who think otherwise have a lot of learning to do about the complexities of life and about the nature of faith.” …he said.

Indeed, we envied Mother Teresa’s faith – Now perhaps even more so with that insight.

Didn’t we ALSO ENVY Jesus’ special relationship with Martha & Mary & Lazarus.
YET, in our Gospel we see them “SPIRITUALLY DRY” because Lazarus had died.
They too prayed and sent Jesus a message: “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
Wouldn’t that turn their anxiety & fear into joy & celebration – were Jesus to come?
Surely Jesus would respond QUICKLY.

But Jesus did not. AND HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH
GOD’S TIMING TOO?
However, there were TWO Reasons for Jesus’ delay that day in Bethany.
The FIRST = He was near the Jordan River by the Dead Sea – and they near Jerusalem.
That is about a 15 mile walk for them AND it was all up-hill for Jesus & his disciples.
In fact, they had to go from 1300 below sea level to 2500 feet above sea level.
That is a 3800 foot incline – spanning the distance from here to LaValle. (?)

The SECOND reason for Jesus’ delay was = GOD was going to glorify Jesus by SIGN.
If I were Lazarus or his sisters – I would have been sufficiently impressed with Jesus
had he HEALED Lazarus BEFORE we had to suffer through his funeral.
BUT – that was not going to be.

When Jesus finally arrived – Martha saw him afar off and ran to him.
Her first words were = “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

It is interesting here that: Jesus NEITHER Rebukes Martha for complaining…
…NOR does he defend himself or his delay.
He simply soaks up her frustration…AS he is willing to ABSORB our Frustration as well.

Then he & Martha have a conversation about the Resurrection.
Jesus says: “Your brother will rise again”.
That sounds like a “NICEITY” anyone might say to a bereaved friend at a funeral home.

Martha “took that” LIKE … yeah, Lazarus will rise SOMEDAY…in the distant future.
However, only Jesus knew THEN that if would be “different” TODAY.
After all, neither Jesus nor the Bible flinches in the face of “Death”.
DEATH is REAL…but Death ISN’T FOR-EVER.
It is an “END”…but it is NOT THEE ‘END’.
Yes =
n Death UNDOES what God has DONE, and
n Death UN-MAKES what God has MADE, and
n Death DESTROYS what God has CREATED… but ‘DEATH’ ISN’T FOREVER.

The only way for Death to really DESTROY us – is IF we LOSE FAITH in Jesus.
We are not to let deaths and all the other disappointments in Life make us LOSE FAITH.
That’s what Jesus told Martha …and that’s what He told Mary a few minutes later.

After these two conversations…Jesus finally makes it to the tomb of Lazarus.
Here something surprising happens. Not that Jesus raises him…but that “Jesus WEPT.”
Isn’t that “telling”?

Did he weep for Lazarus – his friend…and all he had been through & where he was?
Was it for the crowd gathered that did not believe in God’s presence & power?
Or did he weep for the sisters, in their grief, who prayed: Lord Jesus, COME – & didn’t?
OR did he weep for all of us who know “death is natural” –
– BUT sometimes it just isn’t RIGHT?
OR = that “Jesus wept” may be helpful to remember WHEN
you, or someone you love, comes to the TIME TO “GO” – and you’re not READY.

Perhaps this shortest of all Bible verses is meant to assure you & those you love,
that JESUS WEEPS for those He loves, & those who know Him, when we die.

THAT WILL HELP – won’t it? !!!
It won’t answer all my questions about ‘my death’ or ‘a death’ – BUT
I WILL KNOW: JESUS KNOWS…and that Jesus WEEPS also.

Apparently, it doesn’t matter to Jesus if our grief lasts an hour or a lifetime –
– He feels it as deeply as we do. And that is COMFORTING.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LASTLY ~ at this point, then, Jesus Raises Lazarus – dramatically / powerfully.
We just re-enacted that last Sunday for KFC kids – cuz that’s our new Rotation in March.

I don’t know how that happened…how Jesus raised him.
But He prayed to God and he CALLED Lazarus OUT…and Lazarus came out.
As St. Augustine said:
Miracles are not contrary to nature,
but only contrary to what we know about nature. - St. Augustine of Hippo

Beyond that, I cannot explain this SIGN, this Miracle included only in John’s Gospel.

As someone else has said =
For those who believe in God, no explanation is needed;
for those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible. - John LaFarge

Whatever happened at Lazarus’ tomb OR in the Valley full of Dry Bones
God ACTED Powerfully.
And the same God, the Father of Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit
is NOT UNWILLING or UNABLE to ACT in our lives as well.

Jesus IS the Resurrection and the Life – whoever believes in Him will not die…forever.

And just as Jesus commanded them to UNBIND Lazarus of his death-wrappings… JESUS WANTS YOU TO LIVE…TO HEAR HIS CALL…TO COME FORTH…
…TO LIVE…FREE OF = DESPAIR & DISAPPOINTMENTS & HOPELESSNESS…
…THAT PUT US IN EARLY GRAVES… & TOMBS OF DEATH.

May that be the Good News we hear this Day from Jesus & St. John & Ezekiel.
NO Bones are too dry…no Grief too deep…no Tomb Stone too heavy…FOR GOD.

Do we really have the guts, stomach & resolve to INFLUENCE our World with Love?
Are we more-often-than-not = Under Cover Christians? Or Closet - Christians?
We can rationalize it & even justify it – with some anti-pious clichés.

LIKE the guy leaving church – who the pastor had only seen several times in church.
The Pastor said to him, “Friend, you really need to JOIN THE LORD’S ARMY.”
The man responded: “I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.”
“But I only see you at Christmas and Easter” the Pastor replied.

The man’s answer was simple, “That’s because I’m in the Secret Service.” J

Don’t we excuse ourselves for being LIKE-WISE – because we know “fanatics”.
BUT is THAT what the world really needs right now =
‘Undercover Christians’ and those in the Lord’s ‘Secret Service’?
A lot of death & destruction is being committed under their noses…& our noses, too.

REMEMBER THE TITANIC?
That ship was… 3 football fields long, 11 stories tall, & 92’ feet wide.
It carried 2,223 passengers…BUT ONLY 700 SURVIVED when it sank, April, 1912.

Among all the tragedies the sinking of the Titanic represents,
perhaps the most tragic statistic is NOT how many people were lost, BUT
why there were SO FEW RESCUED – THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED.

The reason being: Of the 20 lifeboats lowered:
n only a couple were filled to capacity,
n several were only half-full, and
n more had but a hand-full of passengers in them.

After the ship sank, hundreds of additional passengers floated in open waters.
However, only ONE of the TWENTY lifeboats went back to search for survivors.

The other 19 lifeboats – with room available – remained at a distance…
n They were convinced by someone in each boat – of the possible risk of being drawn under by Titanic if & when she sank.

n Also, they were convinced by someone they could be capsized while rescuing others. SO = ‘FEAR’ and ‘FEAR of the UNKNOWN’ played a role.

n AT THE SAME TIME, those in the other 19 lifeboats spent their time COMFORTING each other…and BEING GRATEFUL to still be alive.

WHILE that all happened – hundreds of life-jacketed passengers were dying in the Atlantic Ocean waters – within EAR-SHOT and EYE-SHOT of the survivors…

…NOT from drowning, NOT from shark-attacks… BUT from hypothermia.
DOES THAT REMIND YOU, AT ALL, of the CHURCH in any way, shape or form?

You might be “reminded” IF YOU BELIEVE you have been SAVED from
eternal Death and Condemnation by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You might be…IF you believe the Church is a metaphor for the ARK
which SAVES, SANCTIFIES, SATISFIES and SHELTERS you…
so much so that we gather together weekly to just sing the Songs of Salvation.

You MIGHT…IF you are UNMOVED by the PLIGHT of those perishing around you.

The question is = IF there is “room” in our “boat”…
are we INSTEAD preoccupied with our own “SURVIVAL CELEBRATIONS” ???

**********************

Let’s try to fathom THAT: UNLIKE any other Club, Organization or Institution…
…the CHURCH EXISTS primarily for the Needs & Benefit of those who are…
…NOT YET MEMBERS… …those NOT YET, say…On Board.

Isn’t that IRONIC?
And, when it comes to the CURRENT “condition” of the world & its population…
…this is no time to ROW AWAY from a SINKING SHIP.
In fact, we’d best turn ourselves around and row TOWARD them – no matter: RISK.

*****************************

THAT is what JESUS DID.
THAT is what His life was all about.
Jesus was among us on a SEARCH-and-RESCUE Mission…for LOST PEOPLE.

Jesus came FOR all those who NEEDED a LIFEBOAT…
…for all those who were DYING TO BE FOUND.
And he came…despite the RISKS…despite the Dangers…& despite the CROSS.

NOW the question for us – 2000 years later – is =
…are we as committed as Jesus …in taking ON a “lost world” SERIOUSLY?

UNLESS we are – we may be JUST “faithful Followers” OR even “Bold Believers”…
…BUT WE CAN NOT BE = DEDICATED DISCIPLES.

That is the challenge of this week’s Bible Study…AND…Action Step.
These readings will help you consider “WHY” and “HOW” to
become exposed to the suffering of others.
If we ignore that responsibility – we will, one day, be judged harshly BY
The King of the Universe … and … the Lord of Lords.
Some have not survived the “test” – in fact, they weren’t even preparing for a TEST
…Cuz they didn’t know there was a Test coming.

We do, don’t we? ….know there is a “test”
And those who DID NOT…in 1912…found out quickly enough.

Just a week after the Titanic sank, a Senate subcommittee convened for “Answers”.
This is what they said of the Captain & Crew of The Californian …
– a ship only 12 mi away – whose telegraph operator had gone to bed –
– whose crew saw Titanic’s emergency flares – …and took NO ACTION.

The Subcommittee said:
“In our opinion, such conduct, whether arising from INDIFFERENCE or GROSS
CARELESSNESS, is most REPREHENSIBLE. They failed to respond with
the dictates of Humanity…International usage…and requirements of LAW.”

As you might expect =
WE CANNOT EXCUSE OURSELVES from being like SALT & LIGHT for the world.

The Church & the World DO NOT need more = “UNDERCOVER CHRISTIANS”
OR all those in the Lord’s Army to be in the “SECRET SERVICE”.

God needs YOU to be a LIVING WITNESS.
Jesus Christ needs YOU to be, LIKE HIM =
n a light in a world of darkness,

n a balm for a broken society, AND

n justice to a crooked people.

Then YOU need to DO IT in LOVE and with LOVE…SO THAT…

“They will know we are Christians…by our Love.”

AMEN.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Back in the late 1800’s (after the Civil War) scientists thought that – perhaps –
the origins of Life began in the depths of the oceans – migrating “up”.
Several embarked on a 4 year mission / VOYAGE – literally “dragging” the ocean floor.
However, they never found a “NEW Life Form” on the ocean bottom.
ALL the forms they found were VARIATIONS of creatures in shallower waters.

SO they disproved their own “theory” and came up with a new one =
Life was created at the surface of the ocean – AND THEN some forms descended into
the depths and THERE they ADJUSTED to a life of darkness in the dense pressure.

Only today can we really see those “adjusted creatures” in their own habitat.
Haven’t you seen on the Discovery Channel, Learning Channel & History Channel –
specials where divers in bathospheres (?) - photograph these creatures.
They are hideous…aren’t they? They are grotesque.
Animals with huge mouths - to gobble a morsel…and…
…huge projecting eyes - to glimpse into the darkness…and…
…fishes with transparent skins…emitting fluorescent colors – in defense.
INDEED, it is a strange world “down there”.
HOWEVER – THAT’S WHAT LIFE’S LIKE IN THE DEEP / the DEPTHS – IT IS DISTORTED.

But those experiments 150 years ago confirmed that “life began” in the upper-ocean,
…near the surface…BECAUSE that is where the LIGHT was.
In other words, without LIGHT there would be no creation.

It was THAT WAY “in the beginning” TOO – in Genesis:
“Darkness was on the face of the deep”…when God said = “Let there be Light”.

John the Evangelist continues that “formula” of “Light” with his Gospel.
“In the beginning was the Word…and all things were made through him…
…in the Word was Life…and the Life…was the LIGHT of the world…”
He said, “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”

We saw that Light of Christ – God’s Son – in Jesus’ Ministry & Parables & actions.
He was spreading the LIGHT of GOD’S Love all over the place.
…and people were healed…fed…made well…restored…and enlightened.

On Good Friday, however, it did look like “the Light had been overcome”.
On the last 24 hours of life, Jesus went into the depths of human existence.
He was indeed: “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”
He was mocked & scourged – brutally crucified… and unceremoniously buried.

BUT THE GOSPEL – the GOOD NEWS – IS = JESUS DIDN’T STAY THERE.
And THAT is Good News for us too.
YOU may have to go there too…through Valleys of Sorrows or Grief or Darkness,
through times of persecution and doubt and fear…
BUT- just because you have to “go there”…doesn’t mean you have “stay there”.

Jesus’ Resurrection means that = when you find yourself TRAPPED,down in the ‘depths’ of life,
…down there where “life” is DISTORTED, GROTESQUE, and EERIE…

BELIEVE: That is NOT the way God wants your life to be.
That is NOT the way life, in God’s LIGHT, is supposed to be.

You may have the “joy” sucked out of life – but God wants it to be restored in you!

That is the Meaning and Message of Easter – when JESUS WAS RAISED.

I believe I’ve shared this story before with you…of the lady vacuuming her parakeet’s birdcage
… and accidentally sucking the little birdie into her vacuum.
She quickly stopped the vacuum…ripped open the dust-bag…and rescued her bird.

When asked how the bird is doing, she says –
“He doesn’t sing much anymore, he just sorta sits and stares a lot.”

Well, that happens to many of us…doesn’t it?????
Life treats you “rough”…and you don’t feel like singing anymore.
In fact, you do a lot more “sitting” and “staring” than before – dazed & bewildered.

The worst examples would be someone surviving a ‘Death Camp’ or a war-refugee.
But there are other “survivors” still living with LESS dramatic, but devastating traumas.

One philosopher describes such people AS:
“people who live their lives AS IF they were typographical errors…
…refusing to be [corrected] erased.” {Soren Kierkegaard}

And they are proof that “life” is unfair and unjust…
…JUST AS JESUS WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY and UNJUSTLY…

Of course, none of us would CHOOSE our suffering – whatever it is.
So God sent his Son INTO our suffering SO THAT we would NOT have to stay there.
God RESURRECTED Jesus because God wants us to LIVE AGAIN…TOO.
God wants us to get out of whatever depths of despair we might find ourselves.

SO, on this side of Jesus’ Cross (2000 yrs later) – WE CAN NOW EXPECT A RESURRECTON.

LIFE is NOT just being Crucified OR thinking you are only a “Victim” at its hands.
NOW – in Christ…you can believe: being a CONQUEROR is YOUR DESTINY.
By believing that Because Jesus was RAISED – you too will be raised,
CAN CHANGE EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.

You can say on any given day you feel “mocked or scourged”
it might be Friday (the day of a crucifixion) – but Sunday’s coming (Easter is on the way)

One day you may be getting hammered by your boss, or kids, or parents
But…Sunday’s coming…because God is working to turn it around.
It might be a Friday and it snows all day – and you fear a bleak week…
But…24 hours later the sun may be out and you can see the pavement again.

On Easter Sunday – we ARE reminded that – GOD really is IN CHARGE.
You can believe that something “GOOD” is going to happen in your life.

You don’t have to live the rest of your life in the “depths” of DARKNESS…
where life gets Distorted…Grotesque…& Hideous… under so much pressure.

Even so, what “good” you expect MAY NOT BE – what you want to happen;
– what you hoped would happen;
or – may not even ‘restore’ things the way things were.

BUT – God can resurrect you into a “new situation” WITH new surprises - never anticipated.

How often has a “failure” opened the “door” to a new opportunity you hadn’t thought of?
You might lose a job…but be available for another opening somewhere else.
You might break off a relationship…only to discover a more satisfying person.

You just have to believe – there is NOT JUST ONE WAY for a godly life & a blest life to unfold.

If Easter says anything to us today – it should be something LIKE THIS:
You can put ‘truth’ in a grave…but it won’t stay there.
You can nail ‘truth’ to a cross…wrap it in burial linens…and shut it in a tomb…
BUT IT WILL RISE…it will escape…OUR VERDICT can be OVERTURNED.

YES, Death { all kinds of deaths } may be a “fact of life”
– but Resurrection, at the hands of a loving God, is a matter of Faith.
In fact, it is what God can do…and it is what God does…as we see…
…when God raised Jesus from His tomb.

As Jesus received a new kind of life that first Easter…SO DID the Disciples.
LET US SO BELIEVE that God’s MAIN PURPOSE with us is NOT to
get us somewhere = BUT TO make something of us ON THE WAY.