A tomb now empty. A large stone rolled away. An angel or two with good news. A single woman walking in a quiet garden feeling somewhat lost, who becomes found when called by name. Disciples gathered in a locked room for fear of discovery; confused, ill at ease and without what they were so hoping for – power and peace. Finally, a missing disciple whose need for tangible proof sets him apart. All of these are elements of the Easter story. To explore them, let’s first open with prayer.
If you have your Bible with you this morning I would ask that you leaf through and take a look again at the Easter story as told by the different gospel writers. What’s so interesting is how differently each of them tells the story. Each has a different perspective; from Mark and the three women running from the tomb in terror to Luke who tells it in such detail. Luke adds that spark and elements of enthusiasm. Patricia read Matthew’s version last week. Matthew brings all the drama – lightening and thunder, earthquakes and darkness. Then there is John. I have to admit that John is my favorite. It is simple in its approach with but one woman, Mary, who is named before she recognizes the risen Lord. There are the fearful disciples who are changed when the breath of Jesus transforms them. And then there is Thomas, not so much a doubter as one who simply needed tangible proof. Once given, Thomas worshipped him along with the others. In as much as there are differences, there are also significant consistencies in each of these stories. Each has a tomb carved out of rock and the stone that covers the front. Each has a specific group of characters in the story: women, angels, and guards, disciples, most of whom are hidden away as this story unfolds, afraid and confused, and each has Jesus – dead and alive again – raised by the power of God. The real miracle of Easter couldn’t happen until the power of Easter became visible in Christ. With the risen Jesus came power, literally breathed into the disciples. A power unlike anything they had seen or felt before, a power that changed them, strengthened them, allowed them to gain confidence that death (or anything else for that matter) could be overcome. Overcome – that’s what Easter is about. It is about overcoming death. It is about resurrection. But it isn’t just a resurrection that happened then. It is also about resurrection throughout all time, the ongoing opportunities that surround even us – every moment of every day. So let’s look a little deeper into this.
Friends, we are living in a challenging and unusual time, a time of shifting realities and hoped for futures, a time of economic crises and political opportunity. Like the period of time when these four gospels were written, we are in a tumultuous time of change and therefore a time of immense possibilities, a time that seems poised and ready for something new. We need look no further than this upcoming Presidential election. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the word “change” used so much over so short a period of time, by such a diverse cross-section of the American populous and American leaders. No matter the result of this election, unprecedented change is going to take place in our leadership. Our decision in November will dictate the kind of change that will occur. Currently the three leading candidates are each passionate, articulate and motivated. And if we can step aside, at least to some extent, from standing in our strongly held political corners, it becomes readily obvious that each candidate is impressive in their own right as each seeks to explore the possibilities that may exist for this country and our role in the world.
Like many of you, I’ve read and studied each of these candidates. I’ve been deeply impressed by each of them and particularly some of their articles, approaches and speeches. Just as an aside this morning, let me recommend a few for your reading: Senator Barak Obama’s speech entitled “A More Perfect Union.” This speech offers a response to the inflammatory remarks made by his pastor. The speech has the potential to help each of us as we strongly disagree with those whom we deeply respect. I would encourage you to examine Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton’s speeches and articles on children’s health, children’s safety and issues of well-being. They can give us pause and make us think differently about our children, their potential futures, even their safety in today’s challenging times. I have been impressed by Senator John McCain’s speech to the graduating class of Merchant Marines back in June of 2007 as another example. His definitions on leadership are truly inspirational.
What I find interesting is that each of these three preaches possibilities for new life, a new world, of hope, and the potential for a brighter future. There is however, one missing piece consistent with all three. Each of them has to be careful in their inclusion of the power of God as part of the equation. And yet, particularly in this time of Easter and a hoped for new future, it is all about the power of God; a power that brings new life, a new world, hope and a brighter future. To illustrate how it works, I turn to another political figure. He is approaching new life, hope for a brighter future, and the needs of the world from a different direction, an Easter direction – and his approach changes everything – particularly the way we are to deal with the challenges we face as individuals, families, hope and life. This article was offered by Tony Snow, former Press Secretary of President Bush. The article is entitled, “Blessings Arrive in Unexpected Packages.” Remember this title as I read excerpts.
After realizing that his cancer had returned and realizing the serious, life-threatening nature of it, Tony Snow offered his perspective on life as it might be lived in the midst of challenges and change. I would assert and would have expected that for Tony Snow, like many who carry life-threatening diseases, and his family, the reoccurrence of cancer could have been an emotional and physical “tomb;” a place of darkness with little hope, and no escape. Hear his words and see if you notice the different approach as he speaks instead, with the voice of resurrection.
Snow writes, “I don’t know why I have cancer. I don’t much care. It is what it is, a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: we are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out. But despite this – or because of it – God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don’t know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face to face.” We get to choose how to use the interval between birth and death. Do you hear that? What choices are you making?
He goes on to state, “The moment you enter into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. There is nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue – for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we could ever give, the most we could ever offer, and the most we could ever do. We can let love change everything.” Again I ask you, are you living your lives as lives of humble virtue – allowing God to make the most of your life?
He goes on, “Through trials, God bids us to choose; do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to admit our limitations? Can we surrender our concern for things that don’t matter so that we might devote ourselves to things that do?” What are we choosing?
I love this. He states, “When our faith flags, God throws reminders in our way. Think of the prayer warriors in our midst (For us how about Libbie Ranselm – now 101 who continues to pray for us every day?). They change things, and those who are on the receiving end of their petitions and intercessions know it.” (Friends – all you need do is read the responses from those who receive quilts like the one on the wall today).
He concludes with this. “What is man that Thou art mindful of him? We don’t know much, but we know this: no matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us who believe, lies in the same safe and impregnable place, in the hollow of God’s hand.” That, friends, is resurrection belief. That is resurrection attitude. That is as beautiful an example of how we are to live our lives as any I have ever read – no matter what we may face – even death. What Tony Snow has offered us is something that transcends politics and infuses faith and the power of God into the every day of our lives. We live this every day and the world will change. It will be transformed. But do you believe it?
How often have we heard that death is both the ultimate mystery and as much a part of life as living itself? We all die, all of us. As much as many of us seek to prolong our lives for as long as we can, or even try to overcome death, death pretty much always gets the final word and ultimate victory. Or does it? Last Sunday we celebrated something that for many is beyond belief – the overcoming of death. What we need to remember in the midst of this season is that Jesus did, not just one, but two things no one else had ever done. He raised people from the dead – we know of at least three - giving each of them new opportunities for life. Then he, himself was raised. In both cases, he conquered or overcame death. But there is even more. Every time Jesus healed someone, every time he gave someone hope, every time he embraced someone who was seemingly beyond embracing, every time he encouraged, every time he offered change – every time anything like that took place, resurrection happened. It happened then and it happens today. You see, Jesus continually pulled people from dark tombs of life and helped them into the light of new life. It was what he did, with death, with disease, with hopelessness, with depression, with despair and with defeat. He brought new life, transformational life, resurrection life into the realities of that time. We have the same potential. It is one of the somewhat fundamental beliefs of those of us claiming Christianity as our faith of choice – this life after death, ongoing resurrection opportunity. So my question this morning is, as followers of Jesus Christ, as Christians, what is your understanding, what is your belief, what do you carry with you every day and do you do it as people of the resurrection?
If we look at the stories again we see that the disciples struggled until they saw the miracle standing before them. He breathed on them and gave them new life. As Mary walked in the garden and did not recognize the Lord, he spoke her name and in so doing gave her recognition and new life. As Thomas needed the tangible evidence, Jesus offered it and the result was belief and new life. And what about us? Might we too believe in a miracle if an earthquake shook the ground, or if we saw an angel sitting on a stone? Might we believe if we saw an empty tomb and a stone that had been rolled away? Might we believe if we’d been in the garden and Jesus had spoken our name? Might we believe if suddenly he appeared before us in a locked room or even today in this sanctuary? Might each of these elements be trying to tell us that we can believe?
I was asked a few weeks back if I believed that the miracles stopped at Jesus. I don’t believe they did. I’ve seen too much. For instance, almost a year ago I took a road trip with three close friends. We heard from some very reliable political sources that 500,000 people had gathered in one place over these past three years for no other reason but to help those in need – in New Orleans; half a million people – angels, who have taken their places, not just to sit on the stones of New Orleans, but to remove them and rebuild. Isn’t that a miracle? Isn’t that resurrection? We have an African American man, a woman, and a POW / war hero seeking to become the next President of the United States – not forty or fifty years after desegregation, the elevation of women’s rights, and the end of the war that forever changed the lives of so many in this country. Isn’t that a miracle? Or look around. The lame are walking, the blind are seeing, and the deaf are hearing – because of the advances in medical technology. The poor are being fed, and those without clothes are being clothed, polluted water is being purified so that the thirsty can drink. Isn’t that a miracle? People are waking up to the needs of the planet and we have the potential to turn things around ecologically – particularly as we saw the potential shift in one of the larges ice shelves on the planet. Isn’t that a miracle? Jews are sitting with Christians; Muslims are sitting with Jews, Blacks with Whites, and Hispanics with Blacks – talking peace, relationships, healing, and unity. Isn’t that a miracle? Miracles surround us now more than ever. You know what? If we are like Thomas, and seeing is believing then all we need do is open our eyes. There is much work yet to be done, but we who are the people of the resurrection have something few others possess – evidence that resurrection miracles are still taking place today. Any of you who have traveled to New Orleans have seen it and participated in it. Many of you who have been a part of Upward Bound House have seen the light of hope shine in the eyes of those in transitional housing. Any who have seen the lives of those in OPCC, or those in Step Up on Second, or even the children in the preschool who sing at the top of their voices – This Little Light of Mine, have seen life as it can be lived. And now, again, this church will be going through transitions and we, each of us need to enter into this time as people of the resurrection, knowing that the power of God cannot be contained and will win out every time. So in this time of challenge and change, in this country and in this church, throughout this time of transitions and need, we will seek God in all that we do. Allow God to fill you, my sisters and brothers, with the confidence of hope – hope for new life, hope for life after any kind of death, hope for new strength and new vitality. Hope for resurrection and victory in all things. You have been and will continue to be an inspiration to me and to my family. God Bless you all – people of the resurrection. God Bless you All. Amen!
© Brad Beeman, 2008. Permission is given for brief quotation with attribution.
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"An Angel, A Touch, and An Empty Tomb"