Last week-ended with our responsibility to tell the story of Jesus’ resurrection-the greatest story ever. But there are other stories that are a close second-stories of ongoing resurrection, stories of continued faithfulness, stories of people encountering the risen Christ, those times when our faith is real and we know it’s not just smoke and mirrors or the mind of the weak, but God is real, God is here.
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen
Continue to come to church
Mending our brokenness
Because we know there’s something more
This morning I want to share a resurrection story of lifelong members Bill & June Hutson. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
John 21: 15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
We are all extremely familiar with this story. We have heard it preached countless times, I myself have preached on this text just a year ago. And this is a great story.
We like this story, this story resonates within us-why? Because it’s about restoration and resurrection. Jesus resurrects a dead disciple. That’s one of the many things that Jesus does for us-restores us when we have fallen away, denied him, ignored him.
We commit ourselves and fall short and we need renewing again. And we want to be like Peter in that once he is restored he is never the same. Peter follows Jesus passionately until his death. In fact, tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside-down, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same position as his Lord.
But today I bring a different spin on this story.
Who is not the focus of this story? Who does Jesus not restore? Why not? Because they haven’t denied Jesus, so there’s no need for restoration. Some never fell away and are faithful, constant, steady, dependable Disciples.
Resurrection doesn’t happen once every so often, but it happens for us every day. We live in a constant awareness of resurrection. That’s the resurrection story I want to share with you today, through the story of Bill & June.
And this is a definite reality for them. In Bill’s own words…(video)
35: 20- 35: 30 For some reason I just never felt like he wasn’t there all the time.
Resurrection is very real. And to understand just how much of an impact God has had, I want to share some of their background story. Everyone has a story.
June-Father committed suicide at 11, mother died 2 ½ years later, moved in with her mother’s sister-not treated well and the court awarded guardianship to Bill Hutson’s parents. They later married after Bill got out of the service and now have 2 children and lost one child in still birth
Bill-normal childhood and ran a service station for 25 years.
They actually met at church and continued to serve the church actively until their health prevented further service just 3 years ago.
As we sat and visited, I asked them why they were so active and they said “We went because we wanted to. Being around the people that we loved so much.” Seeing so many people that…loved them and the Hutson’s loved them right back.
Church is at its best when it’s caring for each other. We see it because of people like Bonnie, the Snyders, if they’re cooking at the church we usually get some of it. We did it in our time and now people are doing it for us.
Our church has always been about family. We’re not perfect, but we definitely try.
June acknowledges how difficult the last few years have been-“it does seem strange to not be involved with the church. I just can’t think of not being involved in the church-I can’t imagine.”
Even their history with the church has its interesting points. Bill is probably the youngest board chair-early 20’s, a young elder, served through a church split and a minister being asked to leave-both very taxing ordeals to lead through. Those things have sucked the spiritual life right out of people, but not them.
Swimming parties, meals, mobile meals, CWF-family dinners, funeral services, every committee, made funeral calls, visitations, evangelism calls, and have always had strong relationships with the ministers
That’s a lot, so I asked, what kept you going?
11:00-12: 10-lady dying-died the next day…little things like that…serving communion…hold him up…such things as that…this is what kept me there.
I finished off asking them what they hoped for the future of the church…
Wishes the spirit of giving would continue. Back then we fought it all the time. The church didn’t do a lot of outside giving back in my day.
For the love to continue within the church like they have experienced. And another hope is that people would feel the love that they felt through LOGOS. We need to realize you get out what you put in.
Conclusion
Why do I tell this story? To brag on the Hutsons? To lift them up above the rest of the faithful? No. To simply share their story of how important their faith has been, how important this church has been, and hopefully to inspire and motivate all of us.
They are willing to share their stories of resurrection, those times when their faith is real, for the good of the body, to spur others towards a deeper disicpleship. Are you willing to share? What’s your resurrection story? Won’t you share it so that others might also find inspiration and motivation in your story as well?
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