APRIL 11, 2010 TEXT- ACTS 5: 27- 32, REV 1:4-8 & JOHN 20:19-23. THEME:”AS THE FATHER SENT ME SO I AM SENDING YOU” PREACHER: REV. ISAAC ETUAH-JACKSON Brethren in the Lord, today is the 2nd Sunday of Easter and it implies to discuss this theme and to appreciate the fact that the resurrected Jesus Christ is giving us work to do. The slowness of faith of the disciples in the reception of the news of the resurrected Christ had its value for the future church and all of us if they had been expecting the resurrection and anxiously looking forward to it, people could say that they imagined it and that they persuaded themselves it had happened. The gospel reading emphasises that the disciples had shut themselves behind doors for the fear of the Jews that their turn would come next to die. So they were meeting in fear, listening for the knock on the door. Suddenly appears in their midst – he was not bothered by the locked doors. Jesus first words to the stunned disciples was peace be with you. Shalom in Hebrew means peace, may you be saved from trouble- is a normal everyday Hebrew greeting and a blessing in the 1st century. It was appropriate given the disciples circumstances. They were still recovering from what they had thought was the loss of their teacher. What Jesus meant here is “may God give you every good thing”. He replaces fear with peace. Thus is what the resurrected Christ does for us. The resurrection of Jesus trumpets the assurance that no matter we see or what life brings – God is sovereign- he is in control and his purposes will not be thwarted. The fact of the resurrection means no matter what situation we are in, or what the visible and invisible strength arrayed against us we can face it with confidence rather than with fear. This is what Jesus is sending us to go and to the world in general and in Africa and Ghana in particular. Much of the self inflicted lack of peace in Africa and Ghana has been born with animosity based on differences- whether ideological, ethnic or religious - Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda, Abudus and Andanis in dagbon, Techiman and Tuobodom in Brong Ahafo, Asante Gyaasetse and Nii Ga of the Ga state. The disciples rejoiced when Jesus showed them his hands and side. This is indeed the Lord. Happiness is the world’s virtue but Joy is distinctively Christian. Then Jesus gave disciples the commission which the church must never forget. As the father had sent me, so i send you. This is what westcolt called “The Charter of the church” this means three thing for us today: i. Jesus is dependent on his church to spread the goodness: The church is the body of Christ (Eph 1:23) must continue with the message Jesus brought to all men from God- the message of agape love of God. The church is to be mouth and speak the fact to run the errands and hand to the work of Jesus. Jesus is sending us to send the salvific message to the broken world. ii. The church is dependent on Jesus: This is to stay that the church needs Jesus. A person who is to be sent out needs a message to take; he needs power and authority to back his message. Without the response of Jesus the church has no message. Our message is that Jesus has resurrected and offered us life. iii. The church must be obedient to Jesus: because Jesus obeyed God and condescended into our world showed Jesus obedience to God. It follows that the church is fit to be the messenger and the instrument of Christ only when she perfectly loves and obeys him. The church must never go out to propagate her own message, never follow man-made policies but must follow the will of Christ who gives and guidance for his work. Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples to emphasise them for mission and guide them into all truth. (John 16:13). This is what happened in the 1st reading in Acts 5: 27-32 with the power of the Holy Spirit the disciples preached with favour peter and the other disciples bravely and fearlessly proclaimed the divinity of Christ- to even the Sanhedrin and declaring we must obey God rather than men (verse 29). Hark the voice of Jesus crying.