 | Full Text Sermon | Alternate Sermon Ideas | Prayers & Readings | Easter Sunday ! After an amazing journey through every imaginable crisis life can bring, finally the power of darkness and death is shattered. Once the tomb's seal has been broken, the people of Christ will never have to walk through their tough times alone again! There is the deepest, most profound fulfillment of the 23rd Psalm's affirmation, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me!" That's the good news at the end of our Lenten journey. April 12, 1998 ~ Easter Sunday ~ John 20:1-18 "What If?" There is absolutely nothing to compare with it... that sense of hopelessness that floods over you like a tidal wave when death tears someone you love from your life. Tired days and sleepless nights steal your energy and a fog of grief leaves you feeling like you live in some kind of twilight zone. And the thing is -- no one can prepare you for it. Nothing can let you know ahead of time what it is like to be on the receiving end of the words, "I'm very sorry, we did all we could." Your world simply caves in. The emptiness that follows the shock is a huge gaping void in your soul. Will it ever stop hurting? Mary Magdelene had one of those sleepless nights. She tried to sleep, then got up and paced the floor... then tried to lay down again, but sleep would not come and she got up again... and on it went through the night. She took it as long as she could and then headed for the grave early in the morning, very early -- before the sun came up. Perhaps just being near his tomb would bring some trace of relief. *** Mary's world was so radically different from our world. The fastest thing on wheels was a Roman General's chariot and communication traveled at the speed of horse and camel. Yet, where it really counts, Mary's world was very much the same as ours. When death comes to someone we love, the pain of irreversible separation spans every age. From one end of history to the other, death is truly the bottom line. Isn't it? Harry Houdini told his wife that if he were ever to die in one of his escape attempts, he would do everything in his power to come to her if there was any way to break out of death. People thought, "If any one can come back, it would be the great Harry Houdini." But, in spite of his escape artistry, Harry Houdini never escaped the bonds of death. Elvis Presley has been spotted so many times since his death that late night comedians love to tell stories of the latest "Elvis sightings." But Elvis hasn't really ever come back. Each year on the anniversary of his death, teary eyed thousands tour his Graceland estate and wish he were back. Some fans have formed an "Elvis Church." But, in spite of his immense popularity and the grief of his fans, Elvis never came back for another concert. The world was rocked last year by the death of Princess Diana. Millions mourned her and news reports were filled with famous and not so famous people saying, "I just can't believe it. I can't believe she's gone... she was so young and so alive." But Diana is gone. Undoubtedly as time goes on she will be "spotted" by some and she will "visit" others, but the Paparazzi will never take her photograph again on this earth. Whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, powerful or impotent... death is truly the bottom line? Isn't it? *** Now... please open your heart and soul to the most important spiritual truth you will ever hear. What if... there was someone you loved who died. You were there when it happened... you planned and endured the funeral... you went with the procession to the graveside and watched the burial. It was final. Nothing in all of God's creation could change it. Then two days later, you came home and that same person who had died was standing right before your eyes! Would you consider that an important thing? What if... the bottom line is not death after all? What if the answer to Job's ancient question ("If mortals die, will they live again?" - Job 14:14) is "Yes! It is possible!" What if... Mary Magdalene saw Jesus die and then two days later went to visit his grave, only the grave was open and Jesus was not there. What if... it is true that she saw and talked with the Jesus who had died two days before? What if... the words she spoke to Jesus' followers are true: "I have seen the Lord!" If Mary was not lying... and she was not deluded... then death is no longer the bottom line! But wait, there's more. What if... something Jesus said to his disciples about people who follow him is also true, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." (John 10:28) If these things are true, then the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the most important fact in all of history and his promise of eternal life to those who follow him is the most important hope for all of humanity! As with all really important things in our lives... the things that count, the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life can get pushed aside in the midst of hectic schedules and the press of daily demands. It isn't so much that we don't realize what matters and what doesn't -- it's more that we "intend" to get to the important things... just as soon as we have a chance. Sometimes it takes a real jolt to get our attention. How many times have families said, "It's such a shame it takes something like this to get us together." *** I have a true story about discovering the importance of Jesus' resurrection and his promises. It is a hard story to hear... it is painful, but it is about the way life can grab our attention. The story takes place near Christmas, but it is a true Easter Story. A chaplain at a Chicago hospital worked with a family who had been struggling with their little boy's leukemia. Just days before Christmas they brought him to the hospital in tough shape. The form of leukemia he had was aggressive and there was not much the doctors could do but offer palliative care. The young family did not have a church connection although the mom had taken five year old "Billy" to Sunday School. The dad admitted that he was not really a believer, but was open to the chaplain's ministry. Knowing the end was near, the young parents wanted Billy to have a Christmas, so they planned a special early Christmas and asked Billy what he wanted. It seems the lad wanted something that he couldn't have. He wanted snow. It was one of those warm Christmas seasons and the chances of snow were slim to none. "Billy," the mother said, "Isn't there some special toy you would like, something really nice?" "No," the boy answered excitedly, "I want snow. Santa can't come without snow, I want snow and Jesus can make it snow! I'm going to ask Jesus to make it snow." Not wanting the ailing child to be disappointed, the parents and the chaplain tried explaining that it was too warm for snow and that he could still have something really wonderful for Christmas. All he had to do was ask. "No," Billy insisted, "I want snow and Jesus can make it snow!" There was no talking him out of it. Do you know what happened that night? You guessed it! Harry Volkman was on his weather segment that next morning explaining the strange temperature phenomenon that caused the freak snow storm. Meanwhile the parents walked into Billy's room as the boy was jumping up and down in his bed looking out the window shouting, "Atta boy Jesus! Atta boy Jesus!" Sadly, Billy died two days before Christmas. Perhaps the surprise snow storm was indeed a curious, coincidental weather phenomenon. But let me ask you a question. Is it possible that the Sovereign, Almighty God of this universe made it snow for a little boy with leukemia? Here's the Easter part of this Christmas story. Billy's dad came back to talk with the chaplain. He and his wife had become a part of a local church. "My being in a church, " the dad said, "Is just about as surprising as the snow Billy got. I can't say I'm a true believer just yet, but Billy's Jesus is my connection to Billy." Do you see? Billy's Jesus is the Jesus who met Mary by the garden tomb... the Jesus who died and then showed up two days later. Billy's Jesus is still alive and that's the most important thing you will ever hear! *** Two essential concepts about Easter jump out at us from Mary's early morning visit to the tomb. 1] You have to experience it! Mary encountered Jesus in the garden. Billy's dad encountered Jesus in a freak snow storm. St. Paul encountered Jesus on the way to arrest Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem in chains. Mother Theresa encountered Jesus in the poorest of the poor. Peter encountered Jesus in an amazing catch of fish. And on it goes. Where have you encountered him? The important thing is not that your experience is like my experience which is like Mother Theresa's experience which is like... you get the point. It isn't how we experience the fact that Jesus is out of the tomb and at large in our world. The key is that somewhere, somehow, someday we personally come to terms with the fact of his resurrection. It was Martin Luther who said, "It doesn't matter whether or not Jesus Christ rose from the dead if he didn't rise for you!" 2] You have to share it! Mary was told to "Go and tell...." When you encounter the most important fact in all of history, you have to tell someone about it. Billy's dad had to tell people about the snowstorm God sent. Paul had to tell people that his whole life got turned inside out and upside down when he was on a Christian hunting trip. This incredible fact must be shared! This good news has to be told! What if... you and I let the truth of this Easter Sunday really sink in? Could it maybe change our world? [Apply It] As you leave worship today, take this question with you: "If death is not the bottom line for those who follow Christ -- how should my life be different?" A second question goes to Jesus' request of Mary, "Go and tell..." "Who do you know who most needs to know that death is not the bottom line?" "Have You Heard?" - Acts 10:34-43 How many times have you sung, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today! Al-le-luia!" If you've sung it once you've sung it a hundred times. Do you know that saying, "Familiarity breeds ______?" (contempt) Is it even remotely possible that having heard the Easter story every year for 20, 50 or even 90 years, we have become so used to it that the idea of resurrection has lost its power? Contempt would be too strong a term to use, but has the force of Jesus' resurrection hit you lately? Do an experiment for me. Say the words of the National Anthem to yourself. Don't sing it in your mind. Just say the words. (Tough isn't it?) The tune and the song belong together. AND... Easter and Peter Cottontail and the Easter Egg hunt all go together. But, can you recite the basic facts of Easter without all the extra stuff that has attached to Easter? Our scripture lesson for today is not one of the customary Easter texts we preach on. It is an outline. It is the Apostle Peter bringing the "Good News" about Jesus Christ to people who needed a concise, to the point explanation of Christian faith. Are you in touch with these "basics?" Here it is: 1. Anyone who desires, can have a relationship with God. (vv.34-35) 2. God sent Jesus to call us into this relationship. (vv.36-38) 3. Jesus was executed, but God raised him from the dead to show he is the one God chose to bring us back to God. (vv.39-42) 4. In Jesus, we have forgiveness of our sins. (v.43) "It Just Isn't Natural!" ~ I Corinthians 15:19-26 [Perhaps an approach for a brief Easter vigil service or an early morning service] "In the day you eat thereof, you will surely die!" They ate. And wow... they didn't die! At least not physically. At least not right away. However -- and this is a big however -- (indulge your imagination) -- one can only imagine the cry that shattered the pristine world when a horrified Eve discovered the mutilated body of her son Abel! See if you can wrap your mind around this concept. The murder of innocent Abel is all the more abhorrent because there had not been death. Oh, there was that brief mention in the garden, but this? The empty void that grew up within her breast was the birth of an anguish so profound as to be unimaginable until experienced. Death? Was this supposed to happen? No! That plain. "NO!" Death was not supposed to happen. Think with me now. God gave life and not death. Death came "through a human being," the scripture says. Paul will go on to call death an "enemy". Death is an intruder and a blight on the perfect plan intended for all God's children. There is much in our world that tries to soften death. Grief counseling tries to bring some palliative care to a hurting soul. Many speak of death as a part of living or a natural part of living. Perhaps that's the only way a world without Christ can deal with death. It is is with this issue of death and dying that we Christians have a radically different view than the world. Death is not natural. It is an enemy. A powerful enemy as any of us who have ever cried Eve's cry can testify. This unnatural enemy can only be overcome by a very powerful conqueror. Here's the essential "Easter Affirmation." Christ has risen and has destroyed the last enemy -- death! A Call To Worship (Based on Isaiah 65:17-25 Leader: .Celebrate and rejoice all you people of Christ, Women: For the Lord our God is doing a new thing! Men: .....The old order is gone, All: ........Everything is new! Leader: .Illness, disease and crying and mourning, Women: Shall be as a distant memory! Men: .....Hatred and war shall cease from the earth, All: .......For Christ has risen! Death is defeated! ..............Halleluia! Jesus lives! ..............Halleluia! Amen! A Prayer of Dedication How can we begin to thank you Lord? We can scarcely understand it. This gift of life everlasting which is ours in Christ, is greater than our hearts can contain. Can a God such as this receive offerings such as these? O Lord, may Your overflowing grace surround those who bring these gifts and prepare those who will receive the ministry they support.
Use Your "Back" button to return to Resources Page |
|||||||||||||||||||||
