Matthew 28:1-10 Contrary to what many people think,
the festival days of Christmas and Easter are the hardest times for a
preacher. What can I say to you who, for the most part, have
heard it all before? How can a preacher rescue the stories from
literal historical happenings and translate them in to contemporary
realities? How can we view the Biblical accounts sacramentally;
that is, how can I make the Easter story point to you, so that you
experience Jesus Christ as a resurrecting power today? As William
Willimon, formerly of Duke University and now a Methodist Bishop
stated, correctly, I think, "preaching is not so much didactic, that is
explaining something, as it is testifying to something." That is
my task today.
Some of you, I suspect, have never
contemplated the resurrection in any terms other than the resuscitation
of a dead body. In fact, resurrection deals with how God can
operate within our lives today. We are at a dilemma. We can
lessen the impact of the resurrection by leaving it in the pages of
history, or we can grasp the relevant truth for today, and live
triumphant and joyous lives. I want to eliminate the dilemma and
say "life can be transformed or resurrected, right here; now!"
Today, some of you in this room are frightened because you are facing the
reality of treatment for diagnosed cancer. Some of you are weary
and anxious because you are trapped in an occupation you dislike, but
you worry about changing at your age and with your family’s security to
consider. Some of you are wondering whether or not you should
consider moving to a care facility, and your children are struggling
with your problem also. Some of you are worried about your
children, and the decisions they have made or not made, and their need
to. You wish they were motivated to higher goals, and that is
worrisome. Some of you are dealing with marital relationships
that are no longer alive and fulfilling, and some of you are concerned
about your friends who are dealing with major problems, and are
unwilling to face them or talk about them.
That is the reality of living in
today’s world. And what I want to say to you this morning is that
there is hope. You do not have to face these problems alone.
There is a power source greater than any of us; a source seeking our
cooperation, and we need to tap into that source, so that we can live
lives that are more joyous and more filled with contentment. The Bible
calls that resurrection.
What makes life so difficult for many people is that they refuse to
seek assistance from anyone, including God. To have God operate
within your life and mine means that we give up certain areas of
control. We have to cease from trying to micromanage God and
simply embrace our faith. I mean, why pack around all those
nagging worries when God has promised to ease our load and make our
burdens lighter?
In the scriptures we have been reading
this past week, both Caiaphus and Pilate were facing similiar problems.
Caiaphus, the leader of the religious establishment had the
responsibility of ensuring the harmony and peace of the movement.
Caiaphus disliked Pilate who was the Roman envoy in Israel, placed
there to govern and keep the peace, which included the religious peace. Ironically, Jesus became the
personality that brought together these two adversaries. Caiaphus
was unhappy with Jesus, because almost all of the criticism that Jesus
proclaimed was against the religious authorities. They wanted
control. Jesus wanted freedom. They, the authorities,
wanted legal requirements followed. Jesus opposed them, saying
people should live by the spirit, not the law. Caiaphus wanted
Jesus done away with, but he knew that his popularity was such that if
the religious leaders killed him there would be a riot.
Pilate was favourably impressed by
Jesus. He was not a rebel leader. He didn’t oppose Roman
law, and he helped people in need. Jesus impressed Pilate.
But Pilate’s career required that Israel exist in peace. Any type
of anarchy would bring in Roman power, and Pilate would be
ousted. Caiaphus was threatening a rebellion, and calling for the
release of a criminal, with the execution of Jesus, not as a religious
radical, but as a Roman traitor.
Pilate was caught in the middle. "What has he done wrong?" Pilate
asked. "Crucify him" was the answer he got. "Why? he’s a good person"
said Pilate. "Crucify him" they yelled! So Pilate compromised his
personal values, went before the people and washed his hands in a
public display, saying he was innocent of the action. He then
handed Jesus over to be crucified.
If either Caiaphus or Pilate believed
that killing Jesus would see the conclusion of the affair, they were
wrong. After the crucifixion, his followers were more courageous that
before, and the followers of Jesus grew in bravery and in
numbers, until in Antioch they called themselves Christ-ians. The
message that fueled their enthusiasm, undergirding their conviction and
enthusiasm, was that Jesus was alive. And they proclaimed this
wherever they went. They said "Praise the Lord, Christ has risen"
and people responded "He is risen indeed."
Today, some 2000 years later, we are
gathered here in this room like millions around the world, and we are
witnessing the same reality. Somehow, he is here. That is
our belief, and so we examine our lives today in the light of that
conviction. In his
stimulating book “True Resurrection,” Rev H.A. Williams, former Dean of
the Chapel at Trinity College Cambridge, England writes "To say Christ
is risen is a proclamation about humankind, about the world. All that
separates and injures and destroys has been overcome by what unites and
heals and creates. Death has been swallowed up by
life.” (Williams “True
Resurrection” page 3)
In a nutshell, that is the message I
want to leave with you today. Reality always comes wrapped up in
illusions, and this great metaphor of resurrection loses its
contemporary power if it is left on the shelf of history. Resurrection
is always a mystery and a miracle, and you and I have seen it many
times and have failed to comprehend it as such.
An artist, floundering in
despair and lack of fulfillment can’t seem to be inspired or get over
his lack of motivation. Suddenly, a vision, a dream overtakes
him, and it as if his hand is guided. He is filled with a desire
to express what is inwardly seen. And his depressing, negative
life is overtaken by joy, euphoria and fulfillment. That is
resurrection.
A scientist labours in a lonely
lab, seeking a cure for a dangerous disease, struggling with feelings
of inadequacy and despair, as the theory she has been following
dissolves in meaninglessness. Left with no place for all the data
that has been gathered, or the research that she has done, she finds
the possibility of a new theory taking shape in her mind. New
hope arises, and an even greater potential looms on the horizon.
That is resurrection.
A person reeling under the
sentence of an invasive disease finds that life has suddenly become
fearful and scary. Unable to overcome the possibility of death,
the patient lapses into ineffectiveness and depression. Somehow, in
that despair and in conversation with others carrying the same burden,
the patient decides to let go and let God. In place of suspicion,
doctors are now trusted. In place of tears and despair is hope
and a commitment to assist others with the same malady. God is
trusted, not cajoled into making a particular decision. And the
patient blossoms in confidence and strength, both huge factors in the
healing process. That is resurrection
A married couple find their
relationship, once rich with excitement and a sense of fulfillment, has
dried up, becoming casual and boring. And they wonder if “these
dry bones” can ever live again. Gone are the children, gone is
the job, and they left with each other. In that situation, they
find a new relationship growing, less emotional charged then before,
less demanding, less greedy, but more stable, more satisfying and more
comfortable. That is resurrection.
A community languishing under
changes, and unable to cope with the speed of change, finds a challenge
in another part of the world, where people who have far less have been
devastated by nature. In their concern and caring, this community
rises out of the ashes of despair, and senses not just the
rehabilitation of another town, but the prospect of a newer greater
emphasis right where they live. That is resurrection.
Remember the
story of the woman at the well who encounters Jesus? He tells
her that he is aware that she has had five husbands and the man she is
living with is not her husband. She leaves the well, and goes
into the town telling other people about this Jesus who may be the
Christ. She still has been married five times, she is still living with
this man but the fact that she is able to publicly tell about her
sordid past and proclaims the hope she has for the future is
overwhelmingly powerful. That is resurrection.
Churches also stand in need of
resurrection power. Father Robert Capon, an Episcopal Priest writes,
“The Church, by and large, has had a poor record of encouraging
freedom. She has spent so much time inculcating in us the fear of
making mistakes, that she has made us like ill-taught piano students;
we play our songs but we never hear them because our main concern is
not to make music but to avoid some flub that will get is in dutch.”
(Yaconelli Messy Spirituality page 87)
The growth you and I need to talk
about, and I believe it is exactly what Squamish needs, begins with
desire, not guilt; passion, not principles; desperation, not
obligation, personal witness not facts. You live what you believe.
Let me by sharing with you a story by
Doug Webster told in the book, “Messy Spirituality”. A young idealistic
college boy went on a mission trip to a low cost housing area in the
city of Philadelphia. He was enthusiastic and while scared, wanted to
share his new found faith. He climbed the steps in a tenement house,
walked down the hall and knocked on the door of an apartment. The door
was opened by young women holding a naked howling baby. She was smoking
and distraught and as she cursed, and slammed the door, it was clear
that last thing she wanted to hear was news about Jesus from a clean
cut college kid.
Upset, the young man sat on the curb
and wondered how in the world can I tell anyone about Jesus. Suddenly
he remembered the baby was naked and the woman was smoking. He went to
a store and bought some diapers and some cigarettes, returned and
knocked on the door again. After showing her his purchase, she, with
some reluctance invited him in.
For the next while he played with the
baby, changed its diapers, and visited with the young Mother. Never
once did he mention the name of Jesus. Finally, after some time, the
woman asked why he came back and spent this time with her. That is the
moment when he could say he did it because he was a Christian and he
wanted her to find a better way of life. After just a few words the
woman said, pray that my baby and I can make it out of here alive. That
is real evangelism and that causes growth and resurrection in people.
Easter is about dead people coming to
life. Two days ago, the disciples were dead. They were scared stiff
that someone would find them hiding in a boarded up house and do to
them what was done to Jesus. That was Friday. Not a single one of them
expected the resurrection. No one was present; but somehow, the truth
crashed through and they became possessed. From cowering fearful
creatures, they became fearless advocates who, at the peril of their
own life went through Asia Minor proclaiming the good news that through
Jesus Christ, life can be better.
Whatever the circumstances might be
that are bogging you down can be overcome and the one who reveals all
of that is Jesus. And that is a message for institutions as well as
people.
Jesus never wavered even at the threat
of his own life. Hanging on a cross with death immanent he said,
“Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing. Unlike many
of today’s Churches and preachers, he never gave a formula or a code of
conduct to people. He simply said, “follow me.” He said that because he
knew that growth comes in the doing and some of the most spiritual
Christ-like people serving in our communities are not serving in
Churches.
Why you may ask? My answer is many
people in Churches are still embracing a Good Friday theology. Too many
are more interested in how things are done or how people ought to live
or what people ought not to be doing than they are proclaiming, it’s
Sunday. He’s alive, how do I know because I have experienced him in my
life and because of that I am a better person.
When that message is lived, then
this Church will grow and I don’t care where it is located. Witness to
the reality of Christ in your living and in your accepting and
embracing attitude and this Church will be a house of resurrection
people. What on earth are resurrection people?
Resurrection people are people whose
lives have been transformed from dead, fearful and depressing people to
people who are alive, joyous and accepting. Do we want to be a real Church in this
area? We can you know. Here’s how. Witness by your attitude toward
life. Reveal how your life has been transformed. Say with others in the
church, We have seen the Lord! In the flesh-no! In the scriptures-maybe. In our life together, trying to follow
him -absolutely.
It’s Easter, Praise the Lord Christ
has risen and the people said, He is risen indeed.