e-vo for week of April 11

Dearest e-votees,

I hope and pray that your celebration of the empty tomb continues joyfully.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Peace,
Karl

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1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 1:1-2:2, NRSV

This appointed text is full of words of speaking and testimony: declare (3x), message (1x), testify (1x) , say (3x) and writing (2x). The response to the Word revealed in the world (through Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection) is to offer words of testimony and proclamation to others.

Verse 3 reminds us that this is done so that others might have fellowship as well.

Verse 4 reminds us that those who give testimony have their joy made complete.

Verses 5-7 call us to have different lives—ones full of light.

Verses 8-10 speaks truthfully that we will not shine our light perfectly and that God’s forgiveness will cleanse us and restore us when we misstep.


Good News: The Word has come into the world. Jesus has come that he might be heard and seen and tasted and smelled and touched—particularly touched as this Sunday as we remember Thomas. Jesus has fully and faithfully revealed what we need to know about God. Jesus brought life, healing, restoration, reconciliation, grace and peace to a world that was mortally languishing, sick, in disrepair, in tension, driven by a insatiable works righteousness ethic and at war—within and without. Jesus has come that he might bring abundant life.

Bad News: We continue to favor the dark over the light. We err by what we do and by what we do not do. While Jesus is faithful and just we can be faithless and corrupt. We are kin with those who called for Barabbas’ freedom and for Jesus to be crucified. We choose to serve ourselves and our self-interests at the expense of others. We try to wrest away the gracious gift from the hand of God and squirrel it away as our own. And worse yet, we protest our innocence—we are kin with Cain (“Am I my brother’s keeper?”) and with Adam (“The woman you whom you gave to me gave me the fruit”). We compound sin with our lies and make God out to be a liar.

Good News: Nothing can separate us from the love of God not even our broken and sinful ways. The tomb is empty and even our murderous ways were not sufficient to silence the gospel. As God moves us to confess and turn to God we are made well and returned to fellowship. As we are healed and restored, we are able to give testimony and invite others who have also chosen the crooked paths. God will not leave us in our broken ways but beckons us—again and again—into the light of forgiveness and grace. Unfortunately, we will sin. But, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the world. Thanks be to God.


Dear God, we thank you for all Jesus has done for us. Help us live into it most fully and to share the good news with all who might hear. Continue to change our faithless and broken ways that we might shine our lights well. Help others see our light and glorify you—our Father in heaven. We pray this all in the strong name of Jesus—our brother, our friend and our atoning sacrifice. Amen.