Feed my sheep

Posted on April 26, 2014 by David Nuottila

packing bagsJesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17

Following the crucifixion and death of Jesus, Peter seemed lost. So much had taken place in the three years since he had met Jesus of Nazareth. When Peter walked with Jesus, he was bold and out spoken. He would gladly jump head first into whatever mission Jesus led him into. More often than not, Peter’s assertions proved to be a hindrance to his maturing in faith. At his lowest point, Peter three times denied even knowing Jesus on the night his Lord was taken into custody and put on trial. Yet, even with the foreknowledge of all this, Jesus chose Peter to be the rock on which the church would be built.

We all have our shortcomings; we all step into a mess once in a while. Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, Christians will charge head first into a ministry opportunity with the boldness of Peter but things just don’t seem to work out. There are also times when we fail to recognize opportunities for ministry; the beggar on the corner, the homeless person on the bench, or the aged one alone in the hallway of the nursing home. When we turn away from the least among us, we again deny knowing our Lord.

Peter wasn’t perfect and neither are we. When challenged to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves we often fall short. Still, Jesus chooses to work through us. Our Lord asks but one question; “Do you love me?” The people of God answer, “Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus says to his Church, “Feed my sheep.”

Photo: One Big Mission – St Barnabas Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC

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While we wait

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David Nuottila

???????????????????????????????[Jesus said] “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

Like most people, I don’t care much for waiting. When we wait, it is usually because we hope to receive something in the end. We wait for so many things. People get in line for services, for food and for entertainment. We even have waiting rooms. Face it, we all wait for something. Waiting isn’t something g most people enjoy, so how we wait makes all the difference.

In the night he was handed over, Jesus told the eleven to wait in the garden, to keep watch and pray that evil doesn’t come upon them. There in the garden, in the time of Jesus’ most critical need, his friends waited and fell asleep (Mark 14:34-38). Their kind of waiting wasn’t what Jesus had in mind. Instead of following their Lord’s instruction, the disciples gave in to desires of earthly flesh and once more fell short of God’s expectation. But as we read in scripture, a transformation would soon take place.

After Jesus was raised from the grave, once again he told the apostles to wait. Jesus instructed his friends to wait in Jerusalem and he would send them “the promise of my Father.” They had no idea how long they would wait or what exactly they were waiting for, but this time their waiting was much different. Luke tells us they waited together, devoting themselves to worship and prayer. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, even waiting is transformed.

Waiting is not something people do well. We get anxious, we wonder if we are waiting in the right spot or for the right thing. It isn’t long before those who are waiting find something to engage while they wait. As it was with the apostles, our waiting often gives in to desires of earthly flesh. Soon, we too fall short of God’s expectation. But just like the apostles, our waiting also can be transformed.

The time we spend waiting is time we can spend with the Father. It is a time we can use for prayer, reading Holy Scripture and growing in our relationship with Christ. Even as our need to do something while we wait takes over, we can engage in acts of charity for the sake of our neighbor. Certainly we will all wait for something, but it is how we wait that makes all the difference. For that which we truly await is the complete fulfillment of the Father’s promise.

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Show Me

Posted on April 24, 2014 by David Nuottila

DSC_0287Then Jesus 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 20:27

Christians today have the same difficulty as did Thomas nearly two thousand years ago. Thomas witnessed Jesus’ miracles; healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, walking on water. Yet, when the greatest of all miracles was made known, Thomas doubted it could happen. People don’t simply arise from a tomb after being crucified by the Roman army; they don’t live to tell about it. Yet, on the first day of the week, the third day after Jesus was arrested and killed, Thomas was being asked to believe just that. “We have seen the Lord.” Jesus is alive! Filled with grief, Thomas couldn’t accept the good news and doubted reports of Jesus’ resurrection.

We can’t be too hard on Thomas. After all, in the death of Jesus, Thomas lost someone whom he loved deeply. He lost the one in whom he staked his life, his future, even his salvation. Without Jesus, Thomas’ life was a shambles, he had no direction. The death of Jesus meant Thomas had spent three years chasing after something else. Thomas’ life has taken an unexpected turn for the worse; he is in a free fall. If Jesus really was the Messiah, why didn’t he show us then? Why can’t he show me now? Why can’t he make my life better? Sound familiar?

Certainly there are some today who ask these same questions. We suffer from difficulties and hardships every day. All too often, the death of a loved one, marriage ending in divorce or a sudden loss of employment sends us reeling. Christians who find themselves in such predicaments often turn to prayer, but doubt gets the better of us. We pray for a specific outcome but fail to see God’s answer. We ask for peace but refuse the company of others. We focus on doubt rather than on God. Thankfully, he is with us.

A week later, on the first day of the week, Christ once again appeared to his disciples, and Thomas was with them. Blessed by the power of God’s love, Thomas became witness to the resurrection. It is the same for Christians today. In the midst of a fallen and broken world, even the people of God experience times of doubt. We say to Christ, “Show me.” And so he does.

Blessed by God, the Church gathers on the first day of the week and Christ makes himself known. Jesus comes to us through Holy Scripture, through preaching and in song. At the time of confession, Jesus forgives our sins. At the table he feeds us the food from heaven, his precious body and blood through the elements of the bread and wine. In all of these, Jesus opens our eyes, faith is strengthened and doubt is cast aside. Jesus shows us. He shows us the power of God’s love, the certainty of God’s grace and the peace that passes all understanding. Thomas came to believe when he saw Jesus. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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Being Sent

Posted on April 23, 2014 by David Nuottila

pulpit Christ Chapel“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21

Following the crucifixion of Jesus, the remaining disciples were huddled together wondering what their next move might be. Could they get out of Jerusalem safely? Would they be able to resume their lives as fisherman, or tax collectors and such? Or were they marked men because of their close association with Jesus? Making things more difficult for them were the reports of Jesus’ body missing. Some said he was alive. The official story was his body was stolen. what were they to do? It wouldn’t be long before they had their answer.

On the evening of the resurrection day, Jesus appeared to his friends. Jesus came with a mission to save God’s people from sin and death. This is accomplished in his death and resurrection. Now it’s time for the next phase of this mission to begin. The world must hear the good news of God’s salvation. The apostles are given the mission by Christ; “I am sending you.” Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostles are poised to begin building the Church.

Christ’s ordination of the apostles is mirrored in today’s clergy. Many have left other careers in order to take up their vocation in the Church. Ordained ministers of the Church of Christ are given this same mandate from our Lord; teach my people, forgive their sins and feed them with the bread that is broken and the wine that is poured out. Jesus equips and empowers pastors filling them with power and granting them authority. Christ sends ministers with a mission and purpose; to be living sacrifices for the sake of others.

In this time following Holy Week and Easter services and celebrations, may God continue to equip and empower the ordained clergy and the many professional lay members for this mission. Pray for those who tend to the needs of God’s people, that as they are sent out, they too might find peace in Christ.

Lord Jesus, strengthen our bishops and pastors in order that they may accomplish that which you have commanded. Kindle in their hearts the fire of your love nourish and sustain them with your power and presence. Fill them with your Holy Spirit as they lead your sheep in the paths of righteousness. In your holy name we pray. Amen.

Photo: Christ Chapel pulpit, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary 2004

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The Tomb Is Empty

Posted on April 22, 2014 by David Nuottila

DSC_0019While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. Matthew 28:11

Sometimes seeing isn’t always believing; eyes have been known to play tricks. But when seeing is combined with feeling and hearing, one should consider the possibility that what has been seen, heard and felt is true. Take the guards at Christ’s tomb for instance. When the earthquake struck and the stone was rolled away, they were frightened. When they saw the angel of the Lord sitting upon the boulder, fear escalated and they became “like dead men.” The angel spoke to the women who were there; the risen Christ spoke to the women as well. All this happened in front of the guards who were standing by scared out of their wits. Finally, they came around and went into the city and reported the events.

Authorities tried to convince them what they saw wasn’t true. Elders paid the guards hush money in order to keep them quiet. They gave the guards a different story, “Tell the people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ (Matthew 28:13). But why go to such trouble to keep quiet a story you don’t believe to be true? Why not simply mock anyone who tells of “resurrection” the same way they mocked Jesus? Because they have a problem, Holy Scripture, Moses and the prophets all point to the empty tomb.

People often refuse to believe and provide alternatives to the resurrection. Even some buoyed by years of scholarship fabricate contradicting accounts. Certainly not everyone who hears the good news believes it. Modern day scribes and Pharisees who refuse to believe the evidence provided by scripture continue to offer alternative endings to the gospels. Jesus was revived and taken away, someone took his place on the cross, he didn’t really die. In the end they still have the same problem. Moses and the prophets all point to Jesus as the Christ and the empty tomb.

Because the tomb was found empty the hearts of God’s people are filled with joy. Because the tomb was found empty, the void created by sin is filled with God’s forgiveness. Because the tomb was found empty, Humanity is filled with the promise of eternal life in God’s kingdom. We can believe this because all of the evidence, the eyewitness testimony along with Moses and the prophets all point to one thing; on the third day the tomb was found empty. There is only one conclusion; Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!

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