First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Michael J. Imperiale
Salt Lake City, UtahApril 16, 2006
“Resurrection: reality for everyday living”
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24; John 20: 1-18
Introduction
Jesus usually makes the cover of Newsweek this time of year. This year, of course, it’s Katie Couric. Surely the move from morning to evening, from NBC to CBS is more newsworthy and earth shaking than a resurrection from death to life. After twenty centuries of Christian witness, generations of biblical studies, theological and philosophical reflection, the Good News of Jesus is old hat, taken for granted, rather boring to the world and those who have never experienced the life transforming love of God in the Risen Lord.
Yet there now has emerged a bunch of self-consumed scholars who are apparently still trying to figure it out. Titles like Rethinking the Resurrection and The Search for the Real Jesus continue a constant attempt to discredit the Bible as myth or fiction. The latest hubbub is the appearance of The Gospel of Judas and the coming release of the movie The Da Vinci Code. Westminster College recently featured one of these “scholars” presenting the many Gnostic gospels, claiming to have special knowledge. Along with Judas, they were roundly dismissed by the early church leaders as heretical. These pseudo-Christian writings are not new. Gnostic heresies have plagued the church throughout its history. Significant ones continue in our day. Yet today there seems to be a fascination, a hysterical lunacy with these marginal interpretations of the life, death and reported resurrection of Jesus.
For instance: did you know that Jesus was the “wicked priest” mentioned in one of the Dead Sea Scrolls? That he was actually crucified out in the desert at Qumran? That he only appeared to be dead thanks to a slow acting poison administered to him on the cross? That he was revived by Simon Magus, the magician mentioned in the New Testament? That Jesus went on to marry Mary Magdalene and had three children, then was divorced and married Lydia and eventually died in Rome? This is the kind of nonsense espoused by scholars actually hired and employed by universities like Vanderbilt or Oregon State (so much for the separation of church and state issue). Major publishing houses are marketing book after book with attack after attack on historic, biblical, established Christianity. We live in a wacky world. It’s amazing how such fantasy, baseless speculation, pure fiction can be portrayed and discussed as reality.
Well, friends, we are here this morning with countless faithful Christian believers, people with Ph.D.s as well as elementary education, with academics and blue collar workers, with the most sophisticated and the most simple all over the world to celebrate and declare again the authentic, biblical message: “Jesus Christ is risen. He lives. And eternal life is available for you and me, for anyone who trusts in the Risen Lord.”
I. The Biblical Account (John 20)
“Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and the other women came to the tomb. The stone had been moved away. They ran back to tell Peter and John. “They have taken the Master from the tomb and we don’t know where they’ve put him.”
The first Easter day was not a spectacular event with thundering tympani and triumphant brass ensemble. The discovery that Jesus is alive was like the quiet dawning of a new day as the darkness of night gradually gives way to the light. The risen Christ meets his friends personally and intimately at unexpected times and places, overcoming their grief and doubt. They are flooded with joy and peace as they move from sight to faith.
The gospel of John focuses on Mary Magdalene as the women come to the tomb to complete the burial process. Mary had received forgiveness and new life from Jesus and now brings her great love for Christ to the garden tomb. But something has happened.
Years ago I remember coming home after a few days away. A strange feeling came over us when we opened the front door. Someone had been there. Furniture was out of place, dresser drawers were open and emptied, TV and VCR were gone, and glass from the back door was all over the kitchen floor. Robbers had broken in. They even had stolen Dottie’s bicentennial quarter collection! What an awful feeling.
Mary knew with great dismay that someone had taken the body of Jesus probably to inflict further indignities beyond his scourging and crucifixion. Peter and John race to the tomb. It couldn’t have been robbers. Not only were the linen grave clothes (the only thing of value) still there as if the body had stepped out of them, but one was neatly folded on the burial bench. So they went back home to try and figure out what was going on.
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. Her grief has been compounded by confusion and distress. Kneeling down and glancing into the tomb, Mary sees two angels dressed in white. They ask her, “Why are you weeping?” After expressing her grief she turns away and sees Jesus standing there. Not recognizing him through her tears, Jesus calls her by name. It is the Good Shepherd calling one of his sheep, and Mary knows that voice. Grief begins to move toward joy; the pains of death give way to the healing graces of life. With this awesome experience and good news, Mary goes and tells the disciples, “I have seen the Lord. He is alive.” She told them everything Jesus said to her. And the community of faith in Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord, the Crucified and Risen One began.
II. One’s Own Faith Account (Psalm 118)
When you come to the grave, what do you think? How do you feel? Grief can come from many sources. The death of a dear loved one is the harshest. Facing your own mortality or impending death is a huge challenge. But grief strikes with the end of an important friendship or relationship; with disappointments in career, family, or church. When you are confronted with the deep hurts or desperate feelings in being human, where do you turn? “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”
The Easter experience of Mary, Peter, John and all the followers of Jesus has been replicated in the lives of countless people throughout the generations since. The Easter experience is offered to you and me in our own lifetime. Today’s Easter is for you. The risen Lord Jesus stands outside the tomb waiting for us to look away from death and grief and look to him in faith. Jesus calls you by name. He knows you, he loves you, and he wants you to live in the reality of the resurrection.
For some the resurrection seems like a fabrication, impossible to believe, the very assumption of some scholars I mentioned. Others may check out the biblical account and still be puzzled about what and how it happened. It’s only when you or I encounter Jesus personally that we are able to accept the miracle and grasp hold of the hope of the resurrection. When you commit your life to Christ and devote yourself to loving and serving him, you will begin to fully understand the reality of the Lord’s presence with you.
Conclusion
God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the one true and ever-living God who created this world and this universe; your life and mine. God’s desire for life is goodness, truth, beauty, freedom and love. But we human beings, in our self-centeredness and sin-bound nature make a mess of life. We rebel against God; we cause harm to one another, even the people we love the most; we bring about death and destruction wherever we go. Just look at all of human history, just look at our world today.
In the holiness and perfection of God, we would be judged and lose life and freedom forever. But the Father sent the Son. Jesus came into this world and will come into our lives to offer his for ours. The penalty due us has been borne by the One we call Savior. His death on the cross satisfies my need and yours, for all who turn to him in trust and faith, to have our sins forgiven and our lives restored.
It is in the resurrection of Jesus that God declares to the world the truth of his love for the world and the effectiveness of his grace. Have you seen the Risen Lord? Have you accepted the love of Christ? Can you sing with the Psalmist, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation?” Do you want to have the hope that says, “I will not die but live?” Do you say of Easter day, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it?”
Let us pray together.
“Lord Jesus, thank for this Easter morning. As I hear your word and worship with this church family, I want to turn my life over to you in a new way; with renewed confidence and joy in the resurrection.
You died for me showing the amazing depth of your love; and you rose again promising life everlasting, the fullness of life, eternal life for all who trust in you.
Lord, I trust in you.
May my life from this day forward along with the whole church
be a demonstration of that love and hope to a world in need and to the people closest to me. To the glory of God, my creator and redeemer. Amen.
