EASTER.2021
I GREET YOU TODAY, IN THE NAME OF THE RISEN LORD ! pause…..EVERY YEAR I HAVE BEGUN MY EASTER HOMILY THIS WAY!…….OR ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN……. HE IS RISEN INDEED !
SAME OLD STORY………… NOTHING NEW HERE! DO YOU BELIEVE THE INCREDABLE MIRACULOUS STORY OF THE RESURECTION. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS STORY OR JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS ALL YOU LIFE SINCE CHILDHOOD OR YOU ARE AFRAID TO SAY YOU HAVE DOUBTS. I’M NOT HERE TODAY TO PROVE OR CONVINCE YOU IN THE ACTUAL RESURECTION OF THE CARPENTER 2000 PLUS YEARS AGO.
BUT I AM ASSUMING YOU ARE ALL IN THE RIGHT PLACE IF NOT THERE IS A BAR UP THE STREET.
THE TOMB IS STILL EMPTY! BUT THE PROBLEM IS MOST CHRISTIANS
WILL MOVE THE STONE BACK IN FRONT OF THE TOMB, THINKING THEY CAN
IGNORE THE RISEN CHRIST UNTIL NEXT YEAR AT EASTER. THINKING THEY
CAN PUT HIM OUT OF SIGHT
MY SERMON TITLE THIS YEAR IS NEW: “HE CAME FROM OUTER SPACE”
WHAT IS THE GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.? NO NOT BLAZING SADDLES, THAT WAS A WESTER:N
I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE 1951,“THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL” DO YOU REMEMBER IT OR HAVE YOU SEEN IT. DO SO, MONEY BACK GUARANTEE !
· THE BRIEF SUMMARY :An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.
· Travelling with mind-boggling speed, a gleaming unidentified flying object zooming in from the boundless deep space, penetrates the Earth's atmosphere, landing smoothly in Cold War-Washington, D.C. Encircled by large yet feeble military forces, the peaceful intergalactic ambassador, Klaatu, emerges from the mysterious vessel accompanied by the silently dangerous robot of incomprehensible power, Gort, only to witness firsthand the earthlings' hospitality, NOT WELCOME! The sophisticated humanoid declares that he comes in peace; however, he needs to assemble the world's greatest minds to hear his merciful warning and a definitive ultimatum. LIVE IN PEACE OR FACE ANNIHILATION
· (Klaatu) with his mighty robot (Gort) bring an important message to the planet that Klaatu wishes to tell to representatives of all nations. However, communication turns out to be difficult, DOUBTS, DISBELIEF, FEAR, after learning something about the natives, HE IS REJECTED AND ULTIMATLY KILLED. SOUND FAMILIAR?
Gort THE ROBOT , WHICH OF COURSE THE MILITARY TRYS TO DESTROY BUT FINDS IT INDESTRUCTBALE does not speak, but he can receive and follow verbal commands (including the famous dialog line "Klaatu barada nikto", spoken by THE ONE PERSON AND HER YOUNG SON. (COME TO CHRIST AS A BABE! )WHO BELIEVES KLAATU as Gort is also shown acting entirely on his own, both to protect Klaatu from harm and to free himself from encasement in a block ... THE ENDING THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN KLATU BRINGS THE DEAD BODY TO THE SPACE SHIP WITH GORT, WHO TAKES HIM INSIDE AND BRINGS HIM BACK TO LIFE. WORLD LEADERS ASSEMBLE NOW, NO CHOICE AND KLATU GIVES THEM THE ULTIMATEM, LIVE IN PEACE OR FACE ANNIHILATION.
ANYTHING SOUND FAMILIAR: HE I WANT COMPARE THIS TO OUR LORD: JESUS CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, THE HEAVENS, TO DELIVER A SIMILAR MESSAGE OF PEACE AND LOVE. WHICH MANKIND FOR THE MOST PART HAS IGNORED., WE KILLED HIM AND HE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE OFFERING US ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM.
Think this would get my attention HOW ABOUT YOURS
OUT OF FEAR ? WOULD YOU BE FEARFUL? I DARN SURE WOULD!.
LET ME SPEAK TO THE CHRISTIAN FEAR OF THE LORD!
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE “
PSALM 111:10
“THEN THE CHURCHES WERE EDIFIED; AND WALKING IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND IN THE COMPANY OF THE HOLY GHOST “ ACT 9:31-
PHILLIPS TRANSLATES THIS AS “REVERANCE”
The main Hebrew and Greek words translated fear in the Bible can have several shades of meaning, but in the context of the fear of the Lord, they convey a positive reverence. The Hebrew verb “yare” can mean “to fear, to respect, to reverence” and the Hebrew noun “yirah” usually refers to the fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality. NEVER AS BEING FRIGHTENED OR AFRAID OF HIM.
OUR FEAR OF GOD IS A RESPECT OR REVERANCE FOR. SO WE ARE TO FEAR THE LORD IN THIS RESPECT, NOT TO BE AFRAID OF A GOD, BUT ONE TO LOOK UP TO RESPECT AND REVERANCE, AFTER ALL HE DID SEND HIS ONLY SON TO US. FOR OUR SALVATION. LISTNEN CLOSELY WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN A VENGEFUL GOD BUT A LOVING GOD, BUT A JUST GOD! WE ARE NOT SCARED OUT OF HELL BUT LOVED INTO HEAVEN.
WHERE’S THE POINT. I’M GETTING THERE. WHAT IF A BEING FROM OUTERSPACE CAME DOWN TO EARTH TO TEACH HOW TO LIVE OR FACE OUR DESTRUCTION OUR CHOICE. WHAT IF UNLIKE KLATU IN THE MOVIE WE KILLED HIM, BUT THAT WOULD NOT STOP HIM ,AND HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND APPEARED TO US. ………………………………...
ISNT THAT WHAT HAPPENDED OVER 2,000 YEAR AGO A MAN CAME DOWN FROM OUTER SPACE, HEAVEN AND WE KILLED HIM AND WOULD PROBABLY DO ITDO AGAIN. BUT HE OVERCAME DEATH AND OFFERED THE SAME TO US.
M BOTTOM LINE AND POINT OF MY PARABLE IS THAT I THINK I / WE SHOULD BE ALSO BE FEARFUL IN THE OLD FASHIONED FEAR OF THIS ALIEN (JESUS) TO LISTNEN AND TAKE THE OFFER. ONCE HE GETS OUR ATTENTION THE CHRISTIAN FEAR OF THE LORD REVERANCE AND AWE
KICKS IN!
C.S. LEWIS NAILED IT: “A MAN WHO WAS MERELY A MAN AND SAID THE SORT OF THINGS JESUS SAID, WOULD NOT BE A GREAT MORAL TEACHER, HE WOULD EITHER BE ON A LEVEL WITH THE MAN WHO SAYS HE IS A POACHED EFF, OR SLSE HE WOULD BE THE DEVIL OF HELL. YOU MUST MAKE YOUR CHOICE ON THE MAN FROM OUTER SPACE: HE IS THE SON OF GOD OR ELSE A MADMAN. YOU CAN SHUT HIM UP FOR A FOOL, YOU CAN SPIT AT HIM AND KILL HIM AS A DEMON; OR YOU CAN FALL AT HIS FEET AND CALL HIM LORD AND GOD. LIAR, LUNITIC OR LORD! WHAT’S YOUR CHOICE?
REMEMBER: THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE WHO PROFESS AND CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS AND THOSE WHO ARE PRACTISING CHRISTIANS.
MY EASTER MESSAGE THIS YEAR IS : WHATCHA GONNA DO ABOUT IT.
BELIEF REQUIRES ACTION AND COMMITMENT.
I AM NOT HERE TODAY TO PROCLAIN THE RESURECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. THAT WILL DISAPPOINT, THE BELIEVERS AND THE NON BELIEVERS.
I AM HERE TODAY TO PROCLAIM YOUR RESURECTION.
MY EASTER SERMON IS ABOUT AND WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY! IN AN EMPTY GRAVE OF YOUR OWN OR WITH THE RESURECTED LORD FOR ETERNITY?
EASTER IS ABOUT OUR PARTICIPATION IN HIS RESSURECTION
BUT, FIRST, WE MUST RISE TO CHRIST IN THIS LIFE THAT WE MAY BE RASIED BY HIM IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT LIFE !
ONE OF MY LATEST CHALLENGES I THREW OUT WAS: WHAT IN YOUR LIVES TODAY ARE YOU PLANNING ON TAKING TO HEAVEN WITH YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS EARTH. THINK ABOUT THAT. WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE INSIDE GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM? BETTER START PACKING THE RIGHT STUFF!
ASK YOURSELVES WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH CHRIST
FOR ETERNITY IF YOU SPEND SO LITTLE TIME WITH HIM NOW?
WE JOKE ABOUT DOCTORS WHO PRACTICE MEDICINE SAYING THEY
ARE STILL PRACTISING. WELL WE ARE PRACTISING CHRISTIAN, DAILY
TRYING TO IMPROVE ON OUR JOURNEY. HERE ARE TWO (2) SIMPLE STEPS
THAT WILL HELP YOU.
ONE SECULAR AND ONE CHRISTIAN. MY FRIEND AND MENTOR OG MANDINO’S FROM HIS SECRET SCROLLS TO LIFE: “I WILL PERSIST UNTIL I SUCCEED AND TODAY I BEGIN A NEW LIFE“. ADD TO THAT THE SIMPLE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST: “ LOVE GOD COMPLETELY AND AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF.”
STILL WANT SOME PROOFE: LET ME CLOSE THIS EASTER WITH A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT OUR LORD’S RESURECTION:
JAMES THE BROTHER OF OUR LORD
. THEN HE APPEARED,………………… JESUS WAS STANDING JUST INSIDE THE DOOR.”
“MY BROTHER”, HE SAID AS HE RAISED HIS HANDS TO CALM MY TERROR, I COULD SEE THE UGLY WOUNDS ON BOTH HIS WRIST. HE SAID BRING A TABLE AND BREAD. HE TOOK THE BREAD BLESSED IT. AND SAID, “MY BROTHER, EAT YOUR BREAD, FOR THE SON OF GOD IS RISEN FROM THEM THAT SLEEP”. BEFORE I TOOK MY FIRST BITE I ROSE FROM THE TABLE TO GET A BOTTLE OF WINE, WHEN I TURNED, HE WAS GONE
.ONLY THE TWO PIECES OF BREAD REMAINED AS PROOF THAT HE HAD BEEN WITH ME. BUT THEY WERE ENOUGH, FOR I KNEW I HAD SEEN AND SPOKEN WITH THE RISEN JESUS !
“SO YOU SEE,, I NEED NO FURTHER PROOF THAT HIS BODY WAS STOLEN, NOR AM I IN THE TEMPLE EACH DAY, EXPOSING MYSELF TO RIDICULE AND PERSECUTION, ON FAITH ALONE. JESUS GAVE ME ALL THE PROOF I NEED”. …………….
THIS ACCOUNT BY ME IS NOT IN THE GOSPELS! AND I DID NOT MAKE IT UP. …………………
HOWEVER, (IT IS COLABORATED IN) YOUR BIBLES IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:7) “AFTER THAT HE (JESUS) WAS SEEN BY JAMES, THEN BY ALL THE APOSTLES”)
NOW,THE FOLLOWING IS ALSO AN ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY AND A FACT: THERE IS THE “APOCRYPHAL” CHRISTIAN GOSPEL, OF THE FIRST CENTURY. TRANSLATED INTO LATIN AND GREEK BY ST. JEROME, BIBLICAL SCHOLAR AND TRANSLATOR OF THE BIBLE, INTO LATIN. IT IS AUTHENTIC. LOOK IT UP YOURSELF
THERE ARE SCATTERED RECORDS OF IT, SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN IN ARAMAIC, PERHAPS BEFORE ANY OF THE OTHERS, THE TITLE THE “GOSPEL OF THE HEBREWS” AND OFTEN CALLED THE “GOSPEL OF THE NAZARENES”, SIMILAR TO MATTHEW. ONLY A FEW FRAGMENTS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED.
IT READS: “NOW THE LORD, WENT UNTO JAMES AND APPEARED TO HIM FOR JAMES HAD SWORN THAT HE WOULD NOT EAT BREAD FROM THAT HOUR WHEREIN HE HAD DRUNK THE LORD’S CUP UNTIL HE SHOULD SEE HIM RISING AGAIN FROM AMONG THAT SLEEP.”
AND AT THE END OF THE FRAGMENT OF THE “GOSPEL OF HEBREWS” IT READS: “HE TOOK BREAD AND BLESSED AND BROKE IT AND GAVE IT UNTO JAMES, THE JUST, AND SAID UNTO HIM: MY BROTHER, EAT THY BREAD, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS RISEN FROM THEM THAT SLEEP.”
YES HE IS RISEN INDEED: NOW MAY YOU RISE UP TO JESUS ,THAT HE MAY RAISE YOU UP IN THIS LIFE AND AT YOUR END.
Bishop J. Michael Robertson