Message from the Pastor
Dear congregation of FUMC,
As we approach this sacred season of Easter, I find myself reflecting deeply on the profound mystery of the resurrection. When someone confides in me, “I struggle to believe in the resurrection,” my heart reaches out to them with understanding and compassion. You are not alone in these feelings. Even Jesus’ closest friends, companions, and disciples experienced doubt, despite being witnesses to His life and teachings.
Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection multiple times, yet many of His followers initially found it hard to believe He had risen. This struggle is a testament to the extraordinary nature of the resurrection, an event so profound that it challenges our understanding and faith.
The death and resurrection of Jesus are inseparable, each giving meaning to the other. The resurrection is a powerful affirmation that poor choices, evil, hate, and death do not have the final word. By raising Christ from the dead, God demonstrated that the forces of darkness, which sought to extinguish the light, ultimately could not prevail. This divine act signifies that light triumphs over darkness, love conquers hate, and life vanquishes death. It offers us hope and assurance that despite the presence of poor choices and suffering, there is a greater power of redemption and renewal at work.
The cross, once a symbol of suffering and defeat, has become a beacon of hope and redemption. It reminds us that no matter how deeply we are mired in our own failings, there is always a path to healing through God’s grace.
In Matthew 28:16-20, the risen Jesus appears to His disciples and commands them to go into the world as His witnesses, even though some of them still doubted. He says:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This passage highlights our call to bear witness to the good news Jesus proclaimed. Despite our doubts and uncertainties, Christ calls us each day to share His message of love, hope, and redemption.
John 21:25 concludes the Gospel with a reminder of the vastness of Jesus’ works:
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
This verse suggests that the world needs the unique witness to Jesus’s transforming love that only you and other friends of Jesus, individually and together, can bear. Each person’s testimony is a vital part of the larger story of Christ’s love and redemption. It is through these collective and individual witnesses that the light of Jesus continues to shine in the world.
As we celebrate Easter, let us embrace the hope and renewal that the resurrection brings. Let us be inspired to share our unique stories of faith and transformation, knowing that we are part of a greater narrative of love and redemption.
May the peace and joy of the risen Christ be with you all.
Blessings, Pastor Danyal