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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor

Third Sunday Of Easter

Option A: From  Kelly Bedard

The Fright and Delight of God's Light"
1 John 1:8-9

A. Hiding from Help
    1. Not measuring up to God's standards
    2. Keeping problems to ourselves

B. Help for Hiders
    1. God's faithfulness and justice
    2. Power for renewed living

Kelly Bedard, B.A., M.Div

Option B:

"Having A Mind Opened By Jesus"
"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the
Scriptures." Luke 24:45 

Intro:
Easter was late this year, so we are now enjoying this Second Sunday of
Easter in the full bloom of Spring. The windows are opened to let in fresh
air, we take a walk. The smell of flowers, budding trees and green grass is
everywhere.

But on the evening of the first Easter, the disciples were behind closed
doors. They were still afraid of the enemies who had crucified Jesus (John
20:19). They had heard from the women witnesses at the tomb, "but they did
not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense"
(Lk. 24:11).

Jesus knew their state of mind there behind closed doors: 
* Lk. 24:36 "While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' They were startled and frightened, thinking
they saw a ghost. He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do
doubts rise in your minds?'"

1) If mind is not opened, there's doubt and despair.
A. As were the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus when Jesus joined them
(Lk. 24:16-21).
B. Fear accompanies this doubt; Jesus has the solution (Lk. 24:36-45).

2) If mind is opened, there's peace and joy.
A. Peace is "peace with God" (Rom. 5:1-2)
B. It is peace within--as Jesus calms fears, as here in vv. 28-34

Notes:
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes eloquently of the need for a mind opened by
Christ: Many can bring the Scriptures to the mind, but the Lord alone can
prepare the mind to receive the Scriptures.

Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers; they reach the ear, but he
instructs the heart; they deal with the outward letter, but he imparts an
inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savour and spirit.

The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when
the Lord Jesus by his Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to
them, and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold
the invisible. Happy are we if we have had our understandings cleared and
strengthened by the Master!

Without his gracious opening of our understanding, we could no more have
attained to spiritual knowledge than an infant can climb the Pyramids, or an
ostrich fly up to the stars. Jesus' School is the only one in which God's
truth can be really learned; other schools may teach us what is to be
believed, but Christ's alone can show us how to believe it.

Let us sit at the feet of Jesus, and by earnest prayer call in his blessed
aid that our dull wits may grow brighter, and our feeble understandings may
receive heavenly things.

Rev. Wayne Dobratz, B.S., M.Div.

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