Pre-Passover Letter

Dear Brethren,
Much has happened—both in the world and in the United Church of God—since my last letter to you. Like many of you, we in the home office watched with heavy hearts the carnage that engulfed Japan with the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Our thoughts and prayers go out for the many thousands of Japanese people who lost loved ones and friends in the earthquake that measured a devastating 9.0 on the Richter scale. We know from many biblical accounts the compassion that our Savior Jesus Christ had—and continues to have—for the people of this world and the suffering they must endure until the Kingdom of God is finally established.
Disasters on this scale give fresh meaning to these words written by the apostle Paul: “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God…for we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now” (Romans:8:19, 22). Paul shows in this passage that the physical world will be “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (verse 21).
It is in preparing to be delivered into that “glorious liberty” that we find ourselves today. Earthquakes have been and will continue to be used by God to underscore divine events. As the pace of prophesied world events increases—including “earthquakes in various places” (Matthew:24:7)—we know that what we see today is but “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew:24:8) in the sequence of events leading up to the return of our Elder Brother, King and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We also read of a major earthquake occurring at a very important point in human history. At the moment in ancient Jerusalem when our Savior Jesus Christ “yielded up His spirit,” taking upon Himself all of the sins of humanity, “the earth quaked and the rocks were split” (Matthew:27:50-51). At that same instant, the ornate and heavy veil in the Jerusalem Temple separating the Holy of Holies chamber—through which previously only the High Priest could pass only on the Day of Atonement—was supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom (Verse 51).
Such an act—punctuated by a mighty earthquake—demonstrated that Jesus had cleared the way for all of humanity to now have a direct relationship with God the Father. As is pointed out in Hebrews, “With His own blood He [Jesus] entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption…that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews:9:12, 15).
What a mighty and humbling promise for us!
When we watch and read of the devastating power of nature that has rocked northern Japan, how much more can we begin to appreciate and fathom the power of God? It is indeed humbling and sobering to see such events unfold before us. As we see this level of physical power, can we experience from God a renewed sense of awe and humility for what He has given us as His called-out ones (John:6:44) and the protection He offers us now and in the future?
In the weeks leading up to the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let us remember and reflect on the fact that Jesus suffered death on our behalf, paying in full the penalty for our sins. Let us more fully appreciate that the death of Jesus on that Passover afternoon marked a new spiritual beginning in the unfolding and fulfillment of our incredible human potential!
Writing to a gentile congregation in Greece, the apostle Paul urged each of them—and us today as members of the very Body of Christ—to “examine himself,” so that we in the Church may take the Passover in a worthy manner, appreciating deeply the meaning and impact of Christ’s sacrifice for us (1 Corinthians:11:28). We must therefore examine ourselves, rooting out any bitterness. This is particularly true this year, given what we have all experienced over the past few months.
Even though we may not feel like it, and even though it may strain against our very human nature, now is the time when we must truly focus on learning how to love and forgive one another. As Jesus Himself declared, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John:15:12). As was written toward the end of the first century, “Let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John:4:7).
What happens when a people knows God and comprehends and yields to His power? Consider this prophecy, which is being fulfilled today: “The people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits” (Daniel:11:32, emphasis added).
Fellow brethren, as we have been tested and have grown over the past months, God has indeed blessed us. As we are encouraged in the book of James, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James:1:2-3). Even as Daniel predicted, our work—our people—are growing strong! As we yield to God’s will and become humble, we will carry out “great exploits” for God.
Our spiritual growth is reflected in our commitment to the physical growth of Christ’s work. As you may have already read in our online comments on “Inside United: Realtime” at realtimeunited.wordpress.com, the Beyond Today television program continues to set new response records. Our hard-hitting Bible-focused message is resonating with an ever-growing audience thirsting for true knowledge. The fact that new people are increasingly contacting us for first-time visits shows that we are in the right place at the right time.
Even though we are for the present a small group, over the past year God has magnified our voice!
As I prepare this, our largest-ever outreach to promote the Beyond Today TV program is underway. We are in the final stages of mailing a subscriber development letter to 350,000 current and former Good News subscribers, with a special booklet offer and a reminder about Beyond Today airing on WGN America.
In addition, The Good News and many of our other publications are now available digitally through a variety of outlets, including the Apple iBookstore and the Barnes & Noble online portal.
Coupled with this vast outreach is the ongoing digital development of our main Church website, www.ucg.org. When this all-new phase is completed in a few weeks, all of our literature, sermons, video, Bible FAQs, Bible study courses—literally all biblical content produced by the United Church of God—will be linked strategically together in an exciting and up-to-date format. This new format will harness the power of the Internet for God’s truth in a fashion we have never before achieved!
Also, planning continues for proclaiming the gospel through the new Kingdom of God seminars that we intend to launch this summer. They will feature public Bible lectures delivered by pastors and elders to Good News readers, people who have responded to the Beyond Today program and many others.
Much is now going on and much more is planned. As we step out in faith, because of our lower income, I want to thank you for your continued support and prayers for all of these activities. With your help we are doing the work of God!
As we learn to serve as Christ serves, and as we stay humble and continue to learn to love one another, God will grant to us the strength to “carry out great exploits” by the power of His Holy Spirit. Christ’s work is alive and well within the United Church of God! May God bless us all with a meaningful and inspiring Passover.

In Christ’s service,
Dennis Luker
President
United Church of God, an International Association.