Easter Letter

"When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome brought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?' And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back -- it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a robe of white, and they we alarmed. And he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." Mark 16:1-8.

2 April 2006

Dear Members and Friends of Second Reformed Church:

Are you afraid this Easter season?

This year, as the Lord wills, I am preaching through the Gospel of Mark. In Mark's account of that first Easter morn, we find the women running away from the tomb, afraid, not speaking to anyone on the way back to where the other disciples were hiding. And if we take a step back, we might ask ourselves, why -- why were they afraid? Jesus had told them over and over again that He must suffer and die and on the third day He would be raised from the dead. Confused we can understand, perhaps even doubting, but afraid?

Are you afraid this Easter season? Of Iraq? Iran? Afghanistan? North Korea? President Bush? Hillary Clinton? The Reformed Church in America ? Our local leaders? Our mortality?

It's good to know what is happening in the world, so we can pray and offer biblical responses to what occurs. But being afraid of these things is not an option for the Christian, because everything is happening exactly as God planned it: "all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth;" (Daniel 4:35).

Jesus, our Risen God and Savior, said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Jesus said that we are not to fear anything or anyone, except for God. Yet, even our fear of God is not to be the irrational kind of fear we so often have, because Jesus continued, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29-31).

And again, Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

The women went to the tomb, expecting to see a dead body, but they found and open and empty tomb, with a supernatural being inside -- and they were afraid because they had not understood Jesus' Promise to rise. They ran back afraid, because they didn’t understand the Truth -- they couldn't yet comprehend what it meant that Jesus rose from the dead.

But by the time they got back to the room where the rest of the disciples were, God had made it clear to them, and they told the other disciples that Jesus is risen -- everything He said and promised is True -- they have nothing to fear. Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again!

Jesus came among them and spoke with them and ministered to them, and then He left. And they could no longer be silent: "So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs" (Mark 16:19-20).

They went forth, no longer afraid, but confident in the salvation of Jesus, assured by God Himself that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

From this moment forth, do not doubt the sure promises of God, do not be afraid of whatever comes, but stand firm in the assurance we have in Jesus, and go out and preach everywhere, standing firm on the Word of God, and answering, "Thus says the Lord," to those who would deny and confound the Truth.

Join us for worship:
4/9/06 Palm Sunday, Mark 6:30--56 "What Is Needed"
4/13/06 Maundy Thursday/Communion 7 PM, Mark 7:1--23 "Is Washing Your Hands Necessary?"
4/14/06 Good Friday/Communion 7 PM, Mark 7:24--30 "Feeding the Dogs"
4/16/06 Easter/Communion, Mark 7:31--8:10 "Speak, But Don't Tell"

He is Risen.