April 2023

Dear Friends of First,

As I am writing this focus article, we are just entering into the third week of Lent and another large snowstorm is headed our way. The people in north central California are still covered with snow and are still out of power and food. Many people are hopeful that better days are coming.  There has been much turbulence in the world for last number of years… I still hear people say … “when will things return to normal?” What is normal in a world that is always changing. I just pray that better days are coming our way, days of joy, peace, and happiness. 

When I read in John’s gospel chapter 21, it says that the disciples returned to their normal activities for only a short time after the resurrection of Jesus and when Jesus appeared to Thomas. I wonder about that. Why the disciples went fishing after having seen the resurrected Jesus? Perhaps they weren’t quite sure what to do in this new “normal.” They had been instructed by Jesus for three years, but they still did not have the confidence and understanding to take this wonderful gospel to others. They had personally witnessed the resurrected Christ, and yet they were not out in the streets sharing the message to everyone who would listen. They were trying to find what normal meant after the resurrection.

Think about a family after the birth of a child. Think about a sports team after winning a championship. Think about a congregation after completing its building project. Think about your own life. What do you do after some of the big, life-changing events? There is a time of adjustment and celebration, but eventually you find new routines and patterns adapted from the old ones.

The disciples had been on an incredible journey. They had experienced both terrible heartache and profound joy. On Good Friday, they were feeling despair and grief. Their close friend and leader had been put to death by Roman soldiers. Their grief was mixed with fear. The disciples didn’t know if the Jewish leaders would be coming for them next. They were probably wondering what purpose, if any, remained for them. They had thought that Jesus was the Messiah. Now they wondered how that could be true since he had been put to death. Perhaps they doubted God’s plan of salvation.

Then on Easter Sunday, they were pulled out of the pit of grief and fear with amazing news. Jesus was alive! He had appeared to the women at the tomb. Peter and John had seen the empty tomb. The disciples on the road to Emmaus confirmed the stories—they had broken bread with him! Then he had appeared to most of them in the upper room, telling them not to be afraid. If ever they had doubted God’s plan, those doubts disappeared as Jesus stood right in front of them.

In closing, if you are feeling a little bit like those first disciples who were trying to find “normal” and didn’t, but found a Risen Savior instead, try to receive the Easter joy.  Jesus suffered, died, and rose for you, who has guaranteed you forgiveness and eternal life. Even when the joy of Easter has passed and you are back to your regular routines, you still have a special reason to be joyful. We run to Jesus because he is our Savior. Jesus is our future; we can remain confident in Christ all the way to eternal life.

In Christ,

Pastor Jim