A message from Pastor Berndt
Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ has risen! He has risen indeed. Alleluia! “Peace be with you.” The Angel of the Lord preached peace at Christmas. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2)
Jesus has delivered peace. Jesus has taken away the stain of your sin. The wages of sin is death. Peace won through His Cross—nails in His Hands and Feet. Jesus’ royal blood runs red—rich in forgiveness for you. The Crucified Lord declares: IT IS FINISHED! (John 20)
Good Friday—Jesus dies in the place of sinners. Easter—Jesus is risen over the grave. Christ wins and delivers peace to you. Declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace.(Romans 1)
No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Easter night Jesus comes to His Disciples who are gripped in fear. Afraid of the Jews. Afraid of their sin. Afraid because they betrayed Jesus. Through locked and closed doors – Jesus walks right in. No problem for Jesus who rose from the dead.
Jesus comes to His Disciples with peace. It is in Jesus’ Hands. He showed them his hands and his side. (John 20) Jesus is our Crucified and Risen Lord. The signs of peace. I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. (Revelation 5) Jesus sends out His Disciples with His Word and Spirit.
Your Pastors are sent to you with Christ’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit with the message of peace. It sounds like your Pastors calling you to repentance in order to forgive your sins. Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5)
Sunday after Sunday is another celebration of Jesus rising over the grave. How does the Christian celebrate the greatest day in the history of the world? To have your sins forgiven. To hear the Word of our Lord ringing in your ears. Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. (Luke 24)
Rejoice Christian friends—Easter Tide rolls on. Wave after wave—day after day. Jesus Christ our Crucified and Risen Lord serving you with life eternal. These are written so 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)
Christ has risen. He has risen indeed. Alleluia! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain LSB 487:5
Alleluia! Now we cry To our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars Of the tomb’s dark portal.
Come, you faithful, raise the strain Of triumphant gladness!
God has brought His Israel Into joy from sadness!