A sermon from The Rev. David A. Marcus, Jr. preached on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008.
John 20:1-18
There was once a director of a children’s Easter pageant who was overseeing the casting so that each child felt comfortable in their roles. One boy had a wonderful speaking voice, but insisted that he wanted to be the rock in front of Jesus’ tomb. The director asked him if he was sure, “Wouldn’t you rather have a speaking part?” But he said, “No I would really like to play the rock.” After the pageant she was telling the boys and girls what a good job they had done. She asked this young boy again why he wanted to play the rock. The boy smiled and said, “‘I wanted to be the rock because it felt so good to let Jesus out of the tomb! Isn’t that what today is all about? Celebrating that Jesus has risen from the dead and indeed has been let out of the tomb!
But that first Easter didn’t start as a celebration. That first Easter started with the holdover of Friday’s confusion. On Friday Jesus’ followers were filled with fear. Saturday found them hiding out. The Sabbath didn’t feel like the Sabbath at all. Instead, because of the tragedy of the crucifixion, it felt horrible, not holy. Their world had fallen apart all around them. The pain of Jesus’ loss was crushing the very life out of them. Every time someone walked by their door their hearts would race in fear that they too would be captured. These once proud, followers and friends of Jesus now stood defeated and depressed. They were haunted by the events of Friday. Finally Sunday rolled around. Now they could at least take care of Jesus’ body. Things had been in such turmoil that they didn’t even have a chance to do that properly. A couple of the women went to do the honors. But when they got to the tomb, their worst nightmare became a reality. Someone had apparently stolen Jesus’ body. The stone had been rolled aside and the body was gone. All that was left were the burial robes. They ran back as quick as they could and told the disciples. They in turn ran to the tomb to check out this story. It almost seemed that Peter and the other disciple mentioned in John’s account were in a race to see who could get there first. While the other was too afraid to enter into the tomb we see that Peter, bold, and brash, went right in. His eyes did not deceive him. There was nothing left but the burial cloths. Filled with horror and shock, they headed home. Apparently the disciples had not remembered anything that Jesus taught. They had many questions on that first Easter.
As we think of questions, I have often wondered what questions a particular woman whose testimony to the resurrection of Jesus is so central to this account in John’s gospel might have been. I of course am speaking of Mary Magdalene. Mary was present at the death of Jesus; she stayed at the tomb when all the disciples went away. Jesus appeared to her first and made her a disciple to the disciples. Nobody has a testimony like hers to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Mary I suspect had some questions on this Easter morning as well. We can assume Mary like so many others had dreams of a glorious New Kingdom, of Jesus taking the throne of David and sending the Romans packing. Mary was probably harboring some ill feelings towards Jesus’ disciples. Mary perhaps thought to herself, these men had said they loved Jesus more than life itself yet upon his arrest they had fled-why? Mary may have also wondered why Jesus chose to appear to her first and instruct her to be the one to tell the disciples that he indeed had risen from the dead. I believe that people often come to Easter Sunday with questions. As a minister, my question would be-”Why can’t every Sunday be this well attended!?” : There are some of us here today who may ask, “Doesn’t God want us to feel the way we do on Easter Sunday every day of our lives?” Others come to Easter with confusion and ask, “Why don’t people show more of the power and the presence of the risen Christ in the world around them?” Some people here today may ask, “Could such a thing happen, could the resurrection of Jesus be real?”
To address this question of the resurrection, there is a wonderful book called The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. Strobel is a journalist a self described atheist who though his writing this book became a Christian. In this book Strobel tells of his conversation with Dr. Gary Habermas, chairperson of the Department of Philosophy and Theology at Liberty University and author of numerous books. The question Strobel posed was concerning the importance of the Resurrection for Christians. He assumed he would get a stock answer about its centrality to the faith. And he did. But he got something more. This nuts and bolts scholar, this defender of the faith allowed Strobel to peer into his soul as he gave an answer that grew out of the deepest valley of despair he had ever walked through. He began talking about a time in 1995 when his wife, Debbie was dying from cancer. As they sat on the porch of his home, Habermas began looking off to the side at nothing in particular. He sighed deeply, and then went on to share from his personal life. His wife, Debbie died from cancer and he reflected upon that painful experience. He said he would often come down to his porch and wonder how in the world he would be able to continue his life without her. There were four children still in the home to be raised. He often thought to himself that this was the worst thing that could possibly happen. Then the professor looked at Strobel and said the following: “But you know what was amazing? My students would call me-not just one but several of them-and say, “At a time like this, aren’t you glad about the Resurrection?” As sober as those circumstances were the professor told Strobel that he had to smile for two reasons. First his students were trying to cheer him up with his own teaching. And second, it worked. He went on to share with Strobel that if given one opportunity to ask God a question it would be to ask God why his wife had to suffer. He believed that God would answer that question with a question of his own. He believed God’s question would be, “Gary, did I not raise my son from the dead?” Habermas believed in all his heart that if Jesus was raised from the dead years ago that there was an answer to his wife’s death. He said (and I quote): “Losing my wife was the most painful experience I’ve ever had to face, but if the Resurrection could get me through that, it can get me through anything… I believe that with all my heart. If there’s a resurrection, there’s a heaven. If Jesus was raised, Debbie was raised. And I will be someday, too. Then I’ll see them both.” (The Case for Christ pg. 240-242)
The Resurrection is central to our faith, our heritage and our joy; it breathes life into our lives. And yet in today’s celebration we must acknowledge that a life was taken away, the very life of Jesus in order for us to inherit a new life. Jesus came and bore our sins, our brokenness, our guilt, and our alienation. He bore them right to the cross. This morning amidst our joy, we can not sandpaper the old rugged cross and smooth it into something pretty and safe. The cross is a symbol of suffering and shame. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history because it is God’s greatest gift to humanity, the gift of love and forgiveness, the gift of grace. This morning and all mornings, God can empower our lives and free us from sin and be raised to new life in Christ. The Resurrection is God’s promise to us of a brighter future.
As we think of a brighter future, I recall the story of a father who was preparing his son for bedtime. Following a story, hugs and kisses the little boy began the childhood prayer he had repeated so many times before: Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake Pray the Lord, my soul to take. This time the young boy got the words of this prayer mixed up. The child prayed, “If I should wake before I die.” Embarrassed, he stopped and said, Daddy, I got the words all mixed up.” His dad however offered this insight saying, “Not at all, son, that’s the first time the prayer was properly prayed for my deepest desire for you is that you may wake up before you die.” The child drifted off to sleep, probably not even remembering those words from his father.
Yet today let us ponder those prophetic words in our minds as we think of Easter Sunday. “If I should wake before I die.” For us this is the promise and hope of Easter. This is the time be awake, to celebrate and share the Good News of the Gospel! May the risen Christ live and reign in your life this day and forever!
Finis
The Rev. David Allen Marcus, Jr.