Friday's thought on Sunday's sermon

When it comes down to the essence of it what is Easter really saying to us? Is it about hope and when we think of the context in which it is placed we can see there is no circumstance in which hope is not available.

To gather on Easter and to say and sing "Christ is Risen" is saying something about the preservation of our values and the perpetuation of our hope.

Martin Dibelius was a New Testament scholar. His understanding of the importance of Easter on the formation of the faith was stated this way: "The one who understood this shocking event, the execution of Jesus, on the basis of the Easter faith, as a victory, was a Christian."

The formation of the Christian Faith and the function of the Christian faith are part of the same thing. To look at a crucifixion and the darkest time there could be in the development of the Christian movement as the formation of the movement is an act of incredible belief.

It is to take the darkest day of your life and to see it as prelude to the best day of your life. It is to look into the depths of despair as prelude to exulted joy. Jesus died but was raised from the dead. We are defeated therefore we know victory.

That is the reflects that is the basis of our faith and it is who we are and how we think. It gives us an identity that is beautifully powerful and unique.

If we think Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus only we are missing the most important part of the story.

Christ is Risen is an empty phrase if we don't experience the foundational and functional impact of the words in our lives.

When have you experienced you darkest day and how has that led to your best? If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the box below.

If you would like me to send you a rough draft of the sermon as it is on Friday afternoon/Saturday morning write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net and I am happy to email that to you.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster