​April 7, 2024

Sermon Title: Blessings of the Resurrection (I)

Scripture Passages: John 20:19-23

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve committed sins. As a result, our relationship with God severed and they were expelled from the paradise, the garden of Eden.

Hebrews were slaves and suffered for 400 years at Egypt. Through Moses, God delivered them out of Egypt and set them free. The Scriptures record this salvific event this way: “and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” (Exodus 19: 11-13)

Moses wanted to see God’s face but God said no one can live seeing God’s face (Exodus 33:20). What Moses wanted is the assurance of God’s presence going through the wilderness. God provided a place where they can feel the presence of God: “There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.” (Exodus 25:22)

Later during the kingdom of Solomon, he built the temple (B.C. 950) yet that was destroyed in B.C.587 by the Babylon Empire. Later people of Israel returned, they built the temple again in BC 515. When Jesus was referring to the temple in the Gospel of John, this was the temple that was built again during the post-exile era/ 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” (John 2: 19-22)

What does it mean to experience the presence of God?

To see the risen Christ is to experience the presence of God and see the glory of God. It is to witness, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1: 14)

Let us mediate on the story of encountering the risen Christ and ponder upon the meaning of experiencing the presence of God.  

First, God gave the blessing of peace to us.

The Gospel of John captured the story this way, “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20: 19).

As you know we greet with ‘shalom’ twice. Shalom means peace, it means taking away fear, it also means wellbeing of our body and mind. Thus, shalom is the best greeting.

Dear beloved Holy people of Hanshin Church,

People think that when we are afraid, having wealth means nothing. When we feel shalom in our heart, we are blessed and our lives are happy.

When we fight, there is no peace. When unrighteous people hurt and harm others, there is no peace. When a group accumulates wealth while many are so poor, there is no peace.

Secondly, Jesus told us to receive the Holy Spirit. “29 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20). In the Gospel of Mark, 5 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (16: 15-16)

Jesus gave this power to bear witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To take this mission, we need to receive the Holy Spirit. The writing of the apostle called the Acts captured it in this way: “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit” and “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 4-5, 8)

That is how the Pentecostal event also occurred, according to the Acts: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. (2:1-4)

That is also how the first sermon of Jesus began in the Gospel of Luke, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4: 18-19). In short, the risen Christ gave us the blessing of the Holy Spirit. So let us receive it.

Thirdly, where is the place where we can experience of the glory of God and the fullness of the Holy Spirit?

As mentioned earlier, Jesus said that he could build the temple in 3 days and people said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.” 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. (John 2: 19-22)

Dear beloved Holy people of Hanshin Church,

The risen Christ’s body is the glorified body. Through it, we experience the presence of God.

Where can we find the risen Body of Christ? It is through here, the worshipping place, the church which was built by the bloody cost of Christ.

When we worship God there, we can experience the glory of God and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

According to 2 Corinthians, “17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (5:17-18)

Dear beloved Holy people of Hanshin Church,

When we worship God in this place which was built with the living stone of Jesus Christ, we encounter the risen Christ. When we encounter the risen Christ, we experience the glory of God.

Even if dirty water is coming through the house, people were praising God in that house. Their eyes were teary with joy. God’s peace was at work there. The fullness of the Spirit was there as well.

Dear beloved Holy people of Hanshin Church,

The risen Christ provides peace. In this temple, at this worshipping congregation God’s glory will be revealed and shining through each and every one of us.

May the Peace of God and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with you all.

Amen and Thanks be to God,

Translated by the Rev. Dr. Prof. HyeRan Kim-Cragg