The Divine Crash

This is the last sermon in our series on Forgiveness. It is Also the Easter service. Feel free to listen to the audio at the end of the sermon notes, or on iTunes.

Scripture: John 21:1-14

Prayer: “Resurrection, this is a hope for a new day. That God has not abandoned us and that this world still matters to God. As we look forward to new life where death does not win we give thanks for the empty tomb that gives us cause to celebrate today. Be with us as we worship and keep us close to you.” – Amen

Today is Resurrection Sunday!!! The tomb is empty and the penalty for that thing you did last night has been wiped out!

We have journeyed together through these steps of forgiveness and we find our self having examined our history and declared that it hurt but we have also declared forgiveness and studied this idea of making things right if possible. So there is only one thing left to do.

CELEBRATE!!!

Look at what happens after the empty tomb. Jesus goes to where his disciples are and he gives them some career advice and cooks them some breakfast.

When Peter realizes who it is telling him what to do he jumps in the water and celebrates that Jesus is alive.

Peter does this because being alive is very important. Being alive means a few things.
That you aren’t dead. For them and for us being dead was very permanent. It was/is the future of all people. So to not be dead means anymore means that suddenly death does not have the final word.
The man peter abandoned is now standing in front of him, giving advice and making some breakfast. In my family growing up, food was an act of showing love that everything was okay. My grandfather grew up in Germany during the depression before WWII. He often went without meals and still to this day he has never said “I love you” but he feeds us every chance he gets. To sit down and have a meal meant that we were loved and everything was going to be okay. Jesus is doing the same thing.
Peter is so excited he jumps in the water and swims to Jesus.

So then, God has declared forgiveness for you. Your penance is paid and you can celebrate.
So then, you have declared forgiveness to those who hurt you, even yourself, and you can celebrate.
So then, you have been forgiven and done penance, if possible. You can celebrate.

We celebrate because the tomb is empty and it means that forgiveness is possible.

We celebrate because it means that our forgiveness is possible.

We celebrate because it means we can forgive and know that the past doesn’t control us.

For you, have you been harmed? Did something happen to you that you can’t talk about because it is so painful? While nothing can fix that, and you can’t go back, the empty tomb means that your past does not determine your future. You can declare forgiveness and that declaration means you are no longer held back by the past and that your future is open to all new possibilities. So then, celebrate because your future is new again. It is almost like you have been born again into a new life.

For you, have you harmed others? Have you been the abuser? Have you been the one who has terrorized others in the name of money and love of self? If you can declare that it was wrong and ask forgiveness from the God who gave everything for your penance. Then you are forgiven, the tomb is empty and your debt has been paid. Today is a new day, it might full of consequences and it might have some heart ache but you can have a new life in Jesus and that starts today.

So then, no matter which side of the aisle you find yourself you can have a new life. In Christian terms, it is called being born again. When your old life is gone and your new life is here forever. It isn’t some far off thing that you have to work towards and earn like a paycheck. It is here and it is now.

If this is a brand new for you and it is something you want then you need to know that it isn’t about prayer or working for it, it is about recognizing that God has forgiven you and there is a new life for you. Sometimes, it will make you cry and bring you to your knees. Sometimes it will make you jump for joy. Either way it will give you a reason to celebrate and it gives all of heaven a reason to rejoice. In Luke 15 we are told that all of heaven celebrates when you recognize that there is forgiveness and new life in the resurrection of Jesus.

So then the only thing left to do is Celebrate like these guys…..

 

but notice the end of the video, they help thousands who need shoes get them.  For them, all life is about celebrating the empty tomb.

With that, let us close in prayer. “Dear Jesus, you have forgiven us of so much. May we have the ability to accept that forgiveness and to forgive others.” – Amen

Sermon Audio

 

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