Pastor's Pen for 04/17/2018 “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” He breathed on 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)

Christ has Risen! He has Risen indeed! Christ risen from the dead brings you peace. Eastertide is rolling. Christ fills His Word with the POWER of HIS RESURRECTION.

The Risen Lord Jesus shows up to have His Church. His way. By the power of His Word. Jesus comes to call sinners to repentance. To drive unbelief away from you. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24)

On the road to Emmaus. Repent. Unbelief be GONE. Believe in Christ’s resurrection. The Risen Lord Jesus does the same with Thomas. Repent of not believing. “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20)

Thomas can no longer live in unbelief. Jesus, risen from the dead, destroys unbelief. Thomas now is confessing Jesus: MY LORD & MY GOD!

The WORD OF GOD does the work. By the Holy Spirit's power you confess the same: Jesus, MY LORD & MY GOD!

Jesus, risen from the dead, keeps showing up. For 130 years Jesus has been showing up at Zion. Through the Word of God calling sinners to repent of unbelief. Repent of your sin. The risen Lord Jesus comes through locked and closed doors. By the power of God's Word He opens our hearts, minds, and mouths to confessing: Jesus, MY LORD & MY GOD!

JESUS opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. (Luke 24)

Week after week the Risen Lord Jesus SHOWS UP! Christ has His Church gathered around His Word. Repent. Believe. Receive. Jesus Crucified and Risen for you.

Jesus gives you peace. The Word of PEACE = FORGIVENESS!

Jesus keeps sending Pastors to PREACH & TEACH in Christ’s NAME.

We confess: I, a poor miserable sinner. The WORD OF GOD has its way with you. God brings us PEACE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. We confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1)

Pastors proclaiming FORGIVENESS into our ears and hearts. Brothers and sisters in Christ speaking the word of FORGIVENESS one to another. Peace be with you. Living in the resurrection power of Christ. Happy having your sins forgiven. Happy believing in Jesus. Peace be with you. Christ has Risen! He has Risen indeed. Amen.

Rev. Lance D. Berndt is a pastor of Zion Lutheran Church ( www.zionwest.org) in Omaha, NE.