5/29/2022: Unity Marches Victorious in Diversity

VICTORIOUS

To the world he seemed like a defeated man: opposed and killed by his enemies, his followers scattered in fear. Yet three days after Jesus' death he rose victorious from the dead. Nothing would ever be the same. The rest of eternity is now a victory march for the risen Christ. During Easter, we should not think of ourselves as passive observers in Christ's victory. We are more than fans cheering for our favorite athlete! Rather, we are active participants in Christ's tirumph. Just as his death was our death, so also his life is our life. Buried with Christ in baptism, our life is now hidden with him on high. The victory is ours, now and forever. Easter is more than a day. It is an entire joyful season. The six solemn weeks of Lent are eclipsed by seven weeks of unbridled joy. These seven weeks correspond to the period of fifty days on the Jewish calendar between Passover and Pentecost. The Church reserves its highest praise for the Easter season. We do not merely watch from the sidelines as Christ marches in victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell. We join in the festal procession!

UNITY MARCHES VICTORIOUS IN DIVERSITY

When Jesus' followers gathered together, they comprised a group that was not very diverse. They all belonged to the same ethnic group, grew up in the same culture, and spoke the same langauge. That would change drastically on Pentecost, when the gospel would be proclaimed in many languages to people from "every nation under heaven" (Acts 1:5). This diversity has always been part of Christ's plan. Rather than eliminating differences among the Church's members, the Church's unity is built on truths that transcends those differences. The Church truly is a communion of saints. Differences in our world often lead to division. Therefore, when the world sees the unity in diversity that characterizes Christ's Church, it will recognize something unique and special about Christians.

God bless your worship.

Vicar Justus McKenzie will preach on Luke 24:44-53

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