Last Sunday we talked about the three most important verses in the Bible. They are all very short. I am confident that you could memorize them, so here they are:
1. “Do not be afraid.” This is the word that God speaks most often to frightened children like us. In fact, in one form or another, “fear not” appears some 119 times in the Bible. God addresses us in this way because, by nature, we are a fearful lot.
2. “He is risen.” (Luke 24:6, Matthew 28:6) This is not just a description of an Easter event. No, this is a promise to us. He is risen. The tomb would not hold him. Death will not have the last word. He is risen and you, too, will be raised to new life.
Now here is the truth. Sometimes I am afraid. Sometimes I find this whole resurrection thing a little hard to grasp. I get the Jesus part, but what about my parents? What about my dear grandparents? What about the saints whose candles burned around the baptismal font last Sunday? Sometimes I am afraid, and sometimes I cry.
3. Our final verse is the shortest in the Bible. “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) Jesus wept because life on this earth is hard. Jesus wept because he did not like it when his young friend died. Jesus wept because a family and a village were languishing in grief. So, when I find myself weeping, I take comfort in the fact that Jesus knows exactly what I am feeling.
Thank you for sharing the journey of faith and doubt with me. TLC is an extraordinary church. TLC is a place of grace, a beacon of hope, and an honest place where broken people gather to love and be loved. So thank you! Thanks to you, “Mine is the Church Where Everybody’s Welcome.”
See you in church this Sunday,
Pastor Jim
A few notes for Sunday:
- We will be marking Veteran’s Day and honoring our Veterans at all three worship services. If you are a Veteran and still have your uniform, go ahead and wear it this Sunday. Your church family would like to thank you for your service to God and Country.
- “My Fair Lady” at the Village Theatre in Everett: A matinee with Pastor Jim. You are invited to join your TLC family on Saturday, January 23, for the 2:00 pm performance of “My Fair Lady.” Sign up this Sunday if you would like to see this first-class production in the intimate Village Theatre. Every seat is close to the stage, parking is easy, and the ferry is only 15 minutes away. We will give people a chance to carpool from TLC. You could make it to Happy Hour after the show. The discounted tickets are $54 for adults and $48 for children. Checks should be made to TLC.
