Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Larry Dentler
Opening the Door to New Life

True story!

In our hometown there was a little family run soft pretzel shop. I was one of their best customers. I knew the family were Christians, but I also knew they weren't very active in their church. So when the husband developed cancer I asked if it would be OK for me to visit him in the hospital. I visited him several times, but then noticed one evening in the paper that he had died. I told Cathy that I really wanted to go to the funeral.

The funeral home was to the next town, I had never been there, so had to study my directions. When I arrived they were parking cars tight together and the man said, "Just leave your keys in please." As soon as I pushed the door behind me I knew I had done it. Out of habit, I had pushed the lock button on the door. So here sat my car with the keys locked inside, the centerpiece of this jigsaw puzzle. I rushed in, asked to use the phone and called Cathy. "I'm sorry honey, but you'll need to come, just unlock the door," I gave her directions and hung up. Checking my watch it was now just ten minutes until the service was scheduled to begin. I took a deep breath, signed the guest register, and picked up one of the remembrance folders and put it in my pocket.

When I went to greet the family, they swarmed me. "O Pastor Larry we're so glad to see you!" They clung to me and there was much weeping. I have to admit I was a bit taken aback! I finally made my way to the rear of the room, it's now just a few minutes until the service will start. I sat down with a big sigh, and reached into my pocket, (takes folder from pocket) took out the remembrance folder and opened it. I couldn't believe my eyes! It read, "Officiating: Pastor Larry M. Dentler." (pause) Now my heart began to pound! No one had called me! Why didn't they call me? The funeral director always calls you! My heart was pounding and my head racing. What am I going to do? I don't even have a Bible! Why didn't anyone call me? I tried to calm myself. You can do this! The funeral director surely has a Bible. I was just about ready to stand up and walk forward when I looked up ... at the top of the remembrance folder ... O wait ... this is the folder from a funeral I had last week, (reaching in pocket pulling out a second folder) Oh, here is the one for today!

Why do I tell you this embarrassing story about myself? Because it so wonderfully illustrates how we get our eyes off of Jesus and on ourselves! Even though the deceased man's name was in large print at the top, when I opened the folder all I could see was Larry!

Please pray with me.

You are my God. You are my King, You are my Master, My Everything, You are my Lord, That's why I sing to You, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are Your Church, Your Holy Bride, And we will serve You, In Christ abide, Open Your Word, May Christ be glorified, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Lord as we come to Your Word open every heart to hear just and only what You would say to us today. The messenger is imperfect. But Your Word is perfection. Allow Your perfect truth to overshadow this imperfect messenger. Draw near! In Jesus Name, Amen. (Words to "You Are My God" by Macon Delavan. © 1984 Integrity's Hosanna Music, All rights reserved. Used by permission CCLI #402157)

Now, let's get clear in our minds the setting of our text from John 20.

It's Sunday evening on Resurrection Day.

It has been an incredible day!

The women followers of Jesus had gone to His tomb early to complete the Jewish burial ritual.

They found the tomb empty, were spoken to by Angels, and rushed back to town to tell the Disciples.

Peter & John raced to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.

Mary Magdalene lingered near the garden tomb and actually sees, speaks to and touches the Risen Lord, then rushes back to tell the others, "I have seen the Lord!"

Now here we are on the evening of this amazing day ... and the Disciples are huddled together behind locked doors trembling in fear!

Come on boys!!!! Jesus told you, at least three times that we have recorded, exactly what was going to happen! Just a week ago, on the way to Jerusalem he told you.

"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the Law. They will condemn Him to death and will turn Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!" Matthew 20:18-19 NIV

Doesn't anyone remember!!??

But here they are. A locked door standing between them and what they want and need most - Jesus! Why? Because they couldn't get their eyes off of themselves.

Most fear in our lives, as followers of Jesus, whether in our personal faith, the lives of our congregations, or our life together as a Body called the Church of the Brethren - most fear, fussing, fighting, fuming, fumbling - cones from getting our eyes off of Jesus, and too much on ourselves.

The Apostle John wrote in his little letter, I John 4:18 that, "perfect love drives out fear." And you see Jesus is perfect love!

Then it happened! Into this fear huddle, suddenly Jesus stands among them!

Now think about it, wouldn't you think that if a dead man suddenly appeared in your midst that this would cause fear!!?? But verse 20 of our text records that they "were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." Don't miss it! They "saw" the Lord! They got their eyes off of themselves and got their eyes firmly focused on Jesus! And now fear, fussing, fighting, fuming and fumbling is replaced with joy and jubilation!

Dear Sisters & Brothers, too often our eyes are on ourselves!

My wants! My preferences! My desires! My comfort! What I like! How I want things to be! What I want most to happen!

Instead of getting our eyes on our Lord, and the plain, simple truth of His Holy Word, which we as Brethren have long proclaimed, including in our most recent Annual Conference statement on the Bible, to be,

"our infallible rule of faith and practice." ("Biblical Inspiration and Authority," 1979 Annual Conference, p. 27)

Here's what I want us to see,

Before their eyes were on Jesus - they have only fear!

Now, when they get their eyes focused on Jesus they have,

v. 20 joy

v. 21 peace

v. 21 ministry/mission

v. 22 the Holy Spirit

v. 23 forgiveness

So what do you seek for your personal faith? What do you yearn for in your congregation? What does your heart cry out for in our beloved Church of the Brethren? Which option do you desire?

Fear? And the fussing, fighting, fuming, fumbling it invariably brings?

Or, Joy! Peace! Ministry & Mission! The Holy Spirit's Presence to convict, cleanse, comfort, empower! The amazing grace of God's forgiveness to receive and to share!

One of these options, fear, fussing, fighting, fuming, fumbling - will always lead to death!

The other option, the joy, peace, ministry & mission. Holy Spirit's Presence and amazing grace forgiveness that Christ offers, will always lead to New Life!

John ends his recording of these amazing days with these words in v. 31,

"...these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have LIFE in His Name."

Do you remember the oft quoted words of Jesus in Revelation 3:20?

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me."

Many of us probably learned this verse with the little Sunday School song,

"Behold! Behold! I stand at the door and knock, knock, knock. Behold! Behold! I stand at the door and knock, knock, knock. If any boy hears my voice. If any girl hears my voice. And will open, open, open the door. I will come in." (public domain)

This great verse is almost always misinterpreted. We tend to think of it as Jesus standing at the heart door of a nonbeliever and knocking. But that isn't the meaning here at all! Revelation chapters 1-3 are the letters of Jesus to seven first century churches. These words of Jesus are directed right to believers! To His Church!

Jesus is saying to US! To His Bride, the Church!

"Open the door to Me! Open the door to real life!"

Here's my challenge dear ones. My invitation to each one.

In your personal walk of faith, are there places where you have kept the Lord out? Prayer? Time in the Bible? Stewardship & giving? Your willingness to boldly witness for Christ? Your willingness to give sacrificially of your time in service to His Church?

Or in your local congregation are their attitudes and ways of relating that cause Christ to be shut out? Unwillingness to change? Lack of forgiveness? Gossip? Lack of attention to God's directions for His Church?

Or in our beloved Church of the Brethren, have we closed the door on Jesus as we face difficult issues with mean spirits, lack of love, name calling, with putting personal desires and worldly understandings ahead of the truth of Scripture?

Are there places where our focus is too much on "me"?

And too little on Jesus?

I know there are planes to catch, schedules to keep - but I challenge you, invite you - no more - I plead with you - don't leave this room without committing yourself to make the needed change, to open the door fully to Christ, to get your eyes fully on Jesus, to receive His promise of New life!

Before you leave when our service is concluded, take just a moment and find someone to pray with you. Maybe the person you're with, maybe a friend, maybe a brother or sister next to you whom you don't know. Share your commitment, pray for each other, pray for the door to be swung wide open to Christ in your personal faith, your congregation, this Church which we love. Maybe little prayer duos, trios all over the room, after the closing choral benediction - the Church at prayer; the Church with some on their knees; others circled like in our Conference logo; - the Church huddled for just a few moments before scattering - the Church with its eye on Jesus; the Church committed to opening the door to New Life!