Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26

I am very fortunate – in many ways – to be married with Rebekah. This morning I am grateful for her clear thinking and compelling presentation of The Gospel every time she stands in front of the congregation to preach.

I had wondered what to write in response to the latest series of dramatic events in this summer of fraught politics and bitter social divide and (because Rebekah loves God, walks with Jesus and listens to the whisperings of the Spirit) I had my answer Sunday morning. And it was before the news cycle was once again saturated with spin and hate and lies and classless character assassinations.

Rebekah wrapped up her “I am” sermons, preaching a series of messages on how Jesus described himself:

• “I am the bread of life.”
• “I am the light of the world.”
• “I am the door – the gate – of the sheep.”
• “I am the good shepherd.” 
• “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
• “I am the true vine.”

And this week we concluded with, “I am the resurrection and the life….”

After Lazarus was raised from death, Rebekah pointed out, the religious leaders were upset because more people turned to Jesus. Not because of anything Lazarus said, simply that Lazarus lived. And this of course is also our opportunity, to live, to live in such a way that the truth about the Gospel of Love is self evident.

How then shall we live?

How, then, should we live? We are the living evidence of this new resurrection life! Live as people who follow Jesus and who participate in God’s ongoing initiatives of grace, peace, mercy, justice, reconciliation, love and more. Live as if the teachings of Jesus are more important than politics; and believe me, they are!

I have sampled Rebekah’s message (below) from HMPC’s video link. The video lasts 20 minutes including the scripture. The last ten minutes are absolutely “must listen.”

This is a message about Jesus, not politics. This is where we need to be, this is what the world needs to hear, this is the kind of challenge the church must be up to. Please share this post, we are at a critical moment.

In love and because of love – DEREK