May 5, 2019

Do You Love Me?
2nd Sunday after Easter, Year C
Becky Robbins-Penniman

The core of Christianity is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

The church year has two basic parts: the Christmas cycle, when we hear the prophecies about the coming Messiah, the birth of that Messiah, the Christ, and the revelation that he is the savior not just of the people of Israel, but of all tongues and nations, all times and places. The shocking inclusiveness of this Messiah was in stark contrast to humanity’s protective polarization that justified killing anyone not in our camp. It is humanity’s addiction to violence that sets us up for the Easter cycle, when we hear the prophecies about the death of God’s Messiah, and celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

Are Jesus’ incarnation and resurrection only about Jesus? What difference do they make to those of us still on this side of the grave? That’s precisely the conundrum facing the friends of Jesus at the first Easter. It was swell that the Father loved Jesus enough to raise him from the dead. But, what does that have to do with them now? Were they just supposed to wait to die and go be with the Lord again? How long would that take?

For the full sermon text, click HERE.

WORSHIP BULLETINS ADDITIONAL SERMONS