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Worship: Sunday 9:30 AM Bible Class and Sunday School to follow

KNOW THE TRUTH

“Your word is truth.” - John 17:17

Human beings have never stopped desiring to search for the truth. And who can blame us?

As we swim our way through life, so often we find ourselves in deep water over our heads, water that has a muddy bottom which is sometimes slimy and threatens to trap our feet. What could feel better than to finally touch a smooth, solid, rock bottom where we can plant our feet and rest, keep our heads above water, catch our breath?

God’s word is rock-solid truth. That’s how Jesus described it. He was speaking to his heavenly Father in prayer when he said, “Your word is truth.” Though such a simple statement, it is a profound reality. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, testifies that the word of God the heavenly Father is truth!

It’s hard sometimes to hear the truth. It can cause us to hang our head in shame and even cringe with fear. Truth that God tells us is every bit as difficult to hear. He tells us the truth that we are sinful. The sin that swirls around in our heads and floods our hearts is devastating. Sin brings death—every kind of isolating, slimy, feet-trapping death, including the eternal kind.

God tells us the truth about sin so that we are willing to listen to a more important truth. The truth that his Son, Jesus Christ, came and lived the perfect life required of those who want God to care about them in this life and save them for the life to come. The truth that he died the perfect death on the cross that completely paid for sin. The truth that he rose again to prove he had done everything that is necessary for our salvation. The truth that he did this for every sinful human being. He did it to give us a firm foundation for life—a blessed life with God now and forever.

And do you know how God gives us everything Jesus earned for us by his life, death, and resurrection? Through his rock-solid word.

And that’s the truth!

May 2017 Redeemer News

10203 W. Tieton Drive, Yakima WA 98908 Isaac P. Cherney, Pastorwww.redeemer-yakima.org (262) 204-802710203 W. Tieton Drive, Yakima WA 98908 Isaac P. Cherney, Pastorwww.redeemer-yakima.org (262) 204-802710203 W. Tieton Drive, Yakima WA 98908 Isaac P. Cherney, Pastorwww.redeemer-yakima.org (262) 204-802710203 W. Tieton Drive, Yakima WA 98908 Isaac P. Cherney, Pastorwww.redeemer-yakima.org (262) 204-802710203 W. Tieton Drive, Yakima WA 98908 Isaac P. Cherney, Pastorwww.redeemer-yakima.org (262) 204-8027

http://www.redeemer-yakima.org/

MAY 2017See http://www.redeemer-yakima.org/#/calendarnews for

most recently updated calendarSun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat

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6:00 Ladies Bible Studyat Redeemer

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6:30 Bible Study7:30 EveningDevotion

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1:00 Bible Class @ Grace Lutheran Church

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9:30 Worship11:00 Bible Study

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7:00am Elders9:00am Theology of the Cross

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9:30 Worship (Communion)11:00 Bible Study

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181:00 Bible Class @ Grace7:00pm Church Council

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9:30 Worship (Communion)11:00 Bible Study

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http://www.redeemer-yakima.org/#/calendarnews

MAY 2017See http://www.redeemer-yakima.org/#/calendarnews for

most recently updated calendarSun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat

DATE ATTENDANCE MINISTRATIONS / EVENTS OFFERINGS

Sunday, April 2, 2017 87 21 - Grace / 25 Redeemer $5,104.00Wednesday, April 5, 2017 43 $342.00

Sunday, April 9, 2017 107 15-Grace $3,711.00Thursday, April 13, 2017 47 $542.00

Friday, April 14, 2017 65 $510.00Sunday, April 16, 2017 149 $4,771.00Sunday, April 23, 2017 79 20 - Redeemer $1,912.05

The Road to Emmaus

John Hardison

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you

only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”“What things?” he asked.


“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied (Luke 24:13-19).

Have you ever had someone explain carefully how to do something or how to understand a particular lesson? As a teacher for thirty years, I remember presenting some lessons that I felt were pretty simple and straightforward, only to find that on the following day a large number of students had not understood what I was talking about. Then I had to start over from the beginning and try to explain again, perhaps in a different way. If we are honest with ourselves, we have all had that happen to us, whether we were teaching school, our own children, or just friends about a new concept. I remember teaching my wife how to ski or, should I say, trying to teach my wife how to ski. It was fun most of the time but there were other times when she would gladly have hit me over the head if she could have caught me.

Think about the times you have watched a TV program or read a portion of a book only to realize the next day that you do not remember even the main ideas of the stories. While we do not always forget things so quickly, it tends to happen more often than most of us would like to admit.

When I hear or read again the story of what happened on the road to Emmaus, I always find myself wondering whether Jesus was a little frustrated knowing that even those who had been some of his closest followers had not fully understood things he had explained to them. Further, I wonder how he must have felt when people who had known him well did not even recognize him after the crucifixion. Have you ever thought about our modern day pastors? I am sure they too must sometimes get weary of explaining to members of their congregations the same passages from the pages of the scriptures again and again. Perhaps they

would sometimes like to ask the members to go home and reread the Bible more carefully for themselves. I, for one, know that I do not always pay the best attention during the sermon or during some Bible studies. Therefore it is quite clear that I do not always get as much out of these lessons as I

should. Remember, before Jesus was even recognized by the travelers on the road to Emmaus, He said to them, “how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses

and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27). Even after all that their eyes were not opened to the fact it was Jesus himself who was speaking; not until later when he broke bread with them.

“Emmaus” sounds like an exotic name, someplace far, far away. Yet the realization it was only about seven miles west of Jerusalem and perhaps eleven or twelve miles from Bethlehem makes it seem like we have known about it all our Christian lives. We too are travelers in the world of Christianity through the study of the scriptures. Through pages of the Bible we too travel our own road to “Emmaus.” We study and learn who Jesus is and why he came to die a cruel death on a Roman cross, rose again, and ascended into heaven, so we could have life eternal. On our personal journey we will not find all the answers. We will not discover the exact size or shape of the cross upon which Christ died. Neither will we know about Christ’s height, weight, the color of his eyes, or the clothes he wore. About such things we can only venture educated guesses. But we can listen more carefully to the sermons, attend and participate in Bible studies, and read and study with care the record the entire Bible teaches about the meaning of Christ’s life, as the inspired writers


of all the Holy Scriptures so carefully recorded it for us.

Let us pray often and ask the Lord to help us better understand the teachings included in the

sermons and Bible studies we hear. Let us also thank the Lord for saving us from the punishment all our sins deserve.

Therefore I tell you, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (Mark

11:24-25).

Jesus’ Ministry Foretold

Matthew Johnson

So far on our journey of exploring the prophecies concerning the Messiah we have explored messages pertaining to his lineage and his birth and early life. This month we will see what the prophets of old had to say about his ministry and the evidence presented in the Gospels and epistles.

Isaiah tells us a lot about Jesus’ ministry. We know it will be a Galilean Ministry. Isaiah tells us that a great light will come out of Galilee, light pertaining to the truth and Jesus as the light of the world (Isaiah 9:1-2). Matthew confirms this prophecy, “Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentile the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:13-16).

Isaiah also tells us that he would heal the broken-hearted, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me [the Messiah], because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn” (Isaiah 61:1-2).

This is the reading Jesus started his ministry with: “and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:21). Now that is a mission statement: “I will proclaim good new to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. I will proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance. I will comfort those who morn.” We can see this happening in all the miracles and teachings of Jesus in the Gospels. John tells us, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). So I would encourage you read them for yourself. The shortest Gospel is that of Mark, in the blue Bibles it is only 33 pages. If you are feeling adventurous reading all four would be 194 pages.

Isaiah also tells us that the Messiah would be not believed. John tells us about the unbelief of people who were witnesses of his miracles, “Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:37-38). Isaiah also tells us that the Messiah would also be rejected by his own people, “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and


familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” (Isaiah 53:3). We know that he was despised and rejected even to the point of crucifixion, but John puts it succinctly when he writes, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).

The psalmists tell us that he would speak in parables, “I will open my mouth with a parable: “I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done (Psalms 78:2-4).” Matthew reminds us how Jesus taught the crowds: “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable” (Matthew 13:34). He would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). Paul clarifies this for us in the letter to the Hebrews, “In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’ And he says in another place, ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek’” (Hebrews 5:5-6). We know from the Gospels that Jesus loved and was loved by children. Matthew tells us about children praising Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: “But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him.‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’” (Matthew 21:15-16).

Besides the prophecy about speaking in parables, I think my favorite of this list come from

Zechariah and works as a connector to next month’s article. This prophecy is the triumphal entry which we celebrated on Palm Sunday last month. This event not only had to take place exactly as it did, but it set into

action the events that would lead to our ultimate salvation. Zachariah tells us, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zachariah 9:9).

We see not only will he ride in on a donkey, but a foal of a donkey, very specific, Mark tells us, “When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Mark 11:7-10) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD indeed. As followers of Christ, we are his disciples. Like those in Jerusalem let us go now and sing praises to our king in peace.


A Word from Pastor

Isaac Cherney

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.Psalm 119: 9, 10

When is the last time you caught someone younger than you aching about their getting older? Not the greatest sensation, is it? It might happen when you hear a high-schooler talking about how fast they used to run or points they used to rack up but “… not anymore; I’m past my prime.” Or maybe you overheard someone middle-aged comment on their eyes or joints going. “Life just isn’t like it used to be,” they sigh. Such “past-my-prime talk,” especially coming from the young, brings out a strong double-reaction: jealousy and self-pity. “Do they know how good they have it still? How can they deny the blessings sitting right in their lap? Youth is wasted on the young.”

As Christians we are called to keep the terms even broader than that. Rather than “Youth is wasted on the young,” we recognize that “Life is wasted on the living.” So many people, young and old, willfully reject the fact that their blessings come from a heavenly Father who loves them. Even worse, they see no point for a Savior like Jesus or a purpose to following his commands. They would much rather stew in jealousy toward others and self-pity than hear the call to live from their God.

Before we go condemning the godless, lifeless system of the world around us, we need to take a look in the mirror. How have we felt about the clear call of God to walk the path of purity? God’s commands are rich in instruction for how we look at ourselves, our families, and our community;

yet the preferred default setting is examining others with jealousy or self-pity. It takes a special message at our core to change thanklessness to gratefulness. It takes a special person to convert a selfish heart to one that seeks God with ALL our heart.

`This is the message of Easter for us and for all: when we were self-absorbed and careening towards death, Christ saved us by his sacrifice on the cross. He confirmed our victory with the resurrection we celebrate at Easter. And now he calls us to live a life on the path of purity that seeks his commands and instruction every day. A Christian knows where we have been and how we have squandered our youth straying. That same Christian equally knows the forgiveness for those sins and new life to live for Christ every day. Let us build each other up on the path to purity, erasing guilt and self-pity to seek God’s commands with all our heart!


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