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THIRD SUNDAY IN EASTER (April 26)

In an attempt to make the sermon more interesting, a few sound affects. (Plays the opening theme music of “Law and Order.”)

Law and Order. The show is successful because it is predictable in a good way. You know who the bad guys are, and you know they’re going to be punished eventually.

Peter’s address to the crowd in Acts 3:12, known as the second sermon is not really a sermon at all. It can sound like the words of a prosecutor; Jack McCoy is lowering the boom. “You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of Life.”

And what has just happened in response to this crime? A lame man has been healed, not just to make him walk but to demonstrate that the presence of God is life-changing.

Oftentimes through history this verse has been used to condemn. But unlike “Law and Order” when the boom is lowered, it is that we should not be punished but have a changed life. One would expect condemnation. Instead, there is invitation. One would expect bad consequences. Instead, there is reward. One would expect punishment. Instead there is liberty.

In the Gospel of Luke 24:36-48, the disciples, locked away and hiding, expected all kinds of bad things. Hiding from the government and everyone who might do harm to them. And then they see Jesus. Now maybe seeing Jesus wasn’t a good thing. Apart from Casper, most ghosts in fiction visit the living seeking retribution, vengeance, to scare those who have betrayed or done them wrong or abetted their death. The apostles did terrible things, they denied their Lord, they lied about not knowing him, they joined with the crowd, they flew from his side, they disappeared when he needed him most. This ghost Jesus could be returning for vengeance.

But Jesus says to them, “Peace be with you.” “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” “Have you anything here to eat?”

And then he gave them a job.

What an insight into the personality of our God. God’s ways are not our ways. Jesus takes these liars, betrayers, and cowards and gives them the job of telling the world.

God is not an episode of Law and Order. He greets them, eats with them, and opens their minds to understand what has transpired and that the scriptures have been fulfilled.

Pastor Sweet spoke to me this week. He considers us the best kept secret in Teaneck. No doubt if we told the world that God was ANGRY and I as the Pastor pointed at you in the pews and told you to get right with God. People want “Law and Order.” They want punishment for transgressions and sin. They want retribution. People like Law and Order. But God’s plan is not of condemnation at all. We deserve law and order but we get law and gospel: “Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” That is why they had to have their minds opened to understand scripture.

And so it is with us. We are witnesses as well of all these things. Jesus grants us peace, invites us to dine, and opens our minds and our hearts.

Amen.




		THIRD SUNDAY IN EASTER (April 26) In an attempt to make the sermon more interesting, a few sound affects. (Plays the opening theme music of “Law and Order.”) Law and Order. The show is successful because it is predictable in a good way. You know who the bad guys are, and you know they’re going to be punished eventually. Peter’s address to the crowd in Acts 3:12, known as the second sermon is not really a sermon at all. It can sound like the words of a prosecutor; Jack McCoy is lowering the boom. “You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of Life.” And what has just happened in response to this crime? A lame man has been healed, not just to make him walk but to demonstrate that the presence of God is life-changing. Oftentimes through history this verse has been used to condemn. But unlike “Law and Order” when the boom is lowered, it is that we should not be punished but have a changed life. One would expect condemnation. Instead, there is invitation. One would expect bad consequences. Instead, there is reward. One would expect punishment. Instead there is liberty. In the Gospel of Luke 24:36-48, the disciples, locked away and hiding, expected all kinds of bad things. Hiding from the government and everyone who might do harm to them. And then they see Jesus. Now maybe seeing Jesus wasn’t a good thing. Apart from Casper, most ghosts in fiction visit the living seeking retribution, vengeance, to scare those who have betrayed or done them wrong or abetted their death. The apostles did terrible things, they denied their Lord, they lied about not knowing him, they joined with the crowd, they flew from his side, they disappeared when he needed him most. This ghost Jesus could be returning for vengeance. But Jesus says to them, “Peace be with you.” “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” “Have you anything here to eat?” And then he gave them a job. What an insight into the personality of our God. God’s ways are not our ways. Jesus takes these liars, betrayers, and cowards and gives them the job of telling the world. God is not an episode of Law and Order. He greets them, eats with them, and opens their minds to understand what has transpired and that the scriptures have been fulfilled. Pastor Sweet spoke to me this week. He considers us the best kept secret in Teaneck. No doubt if we told the world that God was ANGRY and I as the Pastor pointed at you in the pews and told you to get right with God. People want “Law and Order.” They want punishment for transgressions and sin. They want retribution. People like Law and Order. But God’s plan is not of condemnation at all. We deserve law and order but we get law and gospel: “Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” That is why they had to have their minds opened to understand scripture. And so it is with us. We are witnesses as well of all these things. Jesus grants us peace, invites us to dine, and opens our minds and our hearts. Amen.