Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Sunday April 4th, 2010

EASTER SUNDAY
April 4th , 2010

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. AMEN.

Text: Mark 16:1-16
A PORTRAIT OF THE SAVIOR
I. RISING II. REINFORCING III. RULING
In the name of Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord, dear fellow redeemed children of God;
It would have been one of those scenes that would have brought Chopper 4 to the scene with “breaking news.” Reporters would have been calling in via “Skype” and cell phone technology. Had those technologies been available in those dawning hours of Easter, the news channels would been covering every angle. But God in His wisdom had the events of Good Friday and Easter happen at the time He knew was just right. The portraits of the Savior on that first Easter morning we have are recorded in God’s Word. It is a portrait of the Savior that brings joy and peace and comfort. We see 3 portraits of the Savior I. rising, II. reinforcing and III. ruling.
Has it even happened to you that after you have gone all the way through the grocery store with a huge heaping cart full of groceries that you reach the check out and find that you have forgotten something very important- like your wallet or your purse? The women had that experience on that first Easter. After Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross on Friday afternoon and placed in the tomb, the women rested on the Sabbath. Then when the Sabbath was over on Saturday evening they bought all the spices that were need for giving the body of Jesus what they thought would be a proper burial. First thing on Sunday, they were off to the tomb. As they were on their way they had one of those moments where they realized they didn’t have something or someone important along- a stone mover. “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
But the stone moving had already been done. “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.”
The angel moved the stone to show everyone that the tomb was empty. Jesus was not dead anymore. Now the sight of an angel in the cemetery just after dawn would be a little disconcerting for any human. But did you notice what the angel said to these terrified women? "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' " So there wouldn’t be any thought for the women that maybe they were at the wrong tomb the angel makes the identification, “You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here.”
At the site of the pyramids at Giza there is the great pyramid and then two pyramids that are a little smaller. As you approach the pyramids, one might think that the center pyramid must be the great pyramid. Actually it was the burial place of the son of the pharaoh who build the great pyramid for his own burial place. His son built his pyramid on higher ground to give the illusion that his pyramid was bigger. People thinking that his pyramid was bigger would make this pharaoh’s son smile according to the article I read. That sort of tomb competition might make us shake our heads a bit but it also shows the difference between the kings of this world and Jesus. Jesus wasn’t interested in having a huge pyramid that would be around for centuries to hold His body. His tomb would only be used for three days. He has risen!
The portrait of Jesus rising from the dead brings comfort for us today. The angel’s words still speak to us today. “Don’t be alarmed. He is risen! He is not here. Come and see the place where they laid him.” Jesus rising from the dead is all important for us. In the first part of our service this morning we heard the Apostle Paul talk about what a terrible thing it would be if Jesus hadn’t been raised from the dead. “If Christ has not been raised your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” Our sins that we thought were drown in the depths of the sea would still be hanging around our necks. But the angel’s voice chases away those fears. “Don’t be alarmed. Jesus has risen. Come and see the place where they laid him.” Your sins are forgiven. The empty tomb is your receipt. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Death could not keep its hold on Jesus and because it could not keep it’s hold on Jesus it will not keep its hold on you. Jesus said, “Because I live, you too shall live.”
Now I will have to be careful when I drive today to grandpa’s house because the soda and the cupcakes will be in the trunk. No one wants to eat cupcakes that have overturned or soda that has sloshed around in the trunk. The followers of Jesus went back and forth and sloshed all about between belief that Jesus was alive and doubt that Jesus had kept His Word. The second of the portraits in God’s word shows us the Savior reinforcing His followers.
“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” Don’t you have to marvel that the bible is not a “spin machine.” It doesn’t just report the things that make the disciples look good. It says in a straight forward honest way that some of Jesus’ disciples had their doubts at first.
We can’t really cluck our tongues at those followers because at times we have our doubts too. We have doubts about whether God really can do what he promises. Is He really going to take care of me? Is he really going to be with me? I can’t see what he is doing so he must be doing nothing! The Savior didn’t cut off his followers but assured them that he was indeed alive. He reinforced them with an honest rebuke when it was needed and gave proof that he really was alive.
Finally there is also the portrait of the ruling Savior. We live in a world where there are many things to be afraid of. But Jesus’ tomb being empty just as he said, calms our fears. You see the one who said he who rise in three days and then did, has also made comforting promises to you and me. He says in his word, “For God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to the end.” When we are worried about where our next payment is going to come from, when weary of going to the doctor, when our knees are shaking, let’s come once again and see the place where Jesus laid and know that the Lord who watching over us is a living Lord. Even when we stand face to face with death, Jesus, the one who was dead and is now alive again calms our fears. His empty tomb allows you and me to say with our last breath, “Death where is thy sting? Oh grave thy victory! Thanks be to God he gives us the victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
We can see an example of Jesus’ rule. He sends His disciples out. “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” When Christians stand at the empty tomb and know that they, like Jesus, will rise and live forever, it changes everything. It changes our lives. We live for him. We serve him. We reflect his love and forgiveness and unselfishness and patience in our dealings with others. And of course we talk to our friends and our neighbors and the people we work with and play with about Jesus and his love. Let’s not be afraid to talk with others who don’t know about Jesus but let’s also not be afraid to talk with those who already know about Jesus. Sometimes we think, “O they already know all about Jesus so we miss a chance “ to encourage one another with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Don’t be afraid. Talk to your friend who just lost a loved one about the empty tomb. Tell your discouraged child or parent or brother about the powe of the risen Lord Jesus who takes everything and works a blessing.
Does the name Metin Senturk mean anything to you? Last week he became the world's fastest unaccompanied blind driver. With a former rally driver in a car behind guiding him over the radio, Metin maintained an average speed of over 181 mph. We never have to feel like we are blindly driving through life. Our Savior is alive. He is with us. With love and wisdom he guides us along the way.
Someone once said that the best news in the world came from just outside Jerusalem. Jesus is alive. The living one draws pictures of Himself in His word. Pictures that show Jesus rising. Pictures that show Him reinforcing, pictures that show Him ruling. Amen.

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