resurrection - so what?

Proclamation

It is Easter again, already – where has the year gone?

And we hear the familiar story, a story of procession, of eating, of praying, betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial. And this morning we hear of the resurrection, because it is Easter Sunday and we hear it every year.

This is a story we know.

Matthew has his own twist, the earthquake and angels, but basically, Jesus is killed, Jesus is alive.

So what? Yes, I know it isn’t the usual sequence of events.

 

But what does this mean to us?

We could talk about the reaction and responses of the women and the disciples, we could think about what it was like for Jesus, we can ponder the how of the mystery of resurrection.

But if that is all we do: talk about the historical reaction, have a philosophical discussion, what difference does it make?

Jesus was a trouble maker, he upset the neat ordered world of Rome.  The Emperor was considered divine, God. Sure they let the people of Israel worship their God, just as long as the religious leaders kept the people in line. Then along came Jesus, he upset the religious and civic leaders. And he didn’t even stay dead. They thought they had gotten rid of this agitator and  troublemaker, and then … he’s back!?

On Facebook this week a friend asked the question:

“Easter is about resurrection right? So I was wondering in what ways churches could witness to resurrection on Easter Sunday? In what ways can we embody resurrection not just talk and sing about it?” [Phil Newton] 

The first thing is do we believe in resurrection, do we think anything happened that we can witness to, that makes a difference?  We may say we believe that Jesus rose from the dead, but what does that matter in 2014?

The tomb was empty, The guards were told to say the body was stolen.  Which brings another question – when does an empty tomb mean resurrection, and when is it just a blank space?

 …

We live in a world where it is easy to see the pain of Good Friday; tragedies of suicide; terrorism; famine; child abuse; violence in the home; ….

But where do we see resurrection?

In our own lives we are aware of our need for God’s grace, forgiveness and love – but do we recognize God’s grace, forgiveness and love in our life?

It isn’t so easy to see signs of resurrection, new life, transformation.

It is easy to focus on the problems of the world, and on our own problems.

Resurrection is about being transformed.

This morning isn’t just about an empty tomb
This morning is about possibility
Hope
New life

 

On Friday I said it isn’t about you – Jesus dies because it was his nature to love.  Well now you get to make a decision – what do you make of the empty tomb – not only in your head, but in your heart and hands and feet and life.

It is and was and always will be the nature of God to love.

What do we do as people who are loved, who are offered transformation?

 

The angel said: do not be afraid.

Jesus said: do not be afraid.
I think it is code for –
you don’t know what might happen next
or strap yourself in for a wild ride
because being part of the resurrected body of Christ is not ordered and regimented like life was under the Romans.

A quote:

“The proof that God raised Jesus from the dead is not the empty tomb,

but the full hearts of his transformed disciples.
The crowning evidence that he lives is not a vacant grave,
but a spirit-filled fellowship.
Not a rolled-away stone, but a carried-away church.”

(Clarence Jordan).

In what ways can we embody resurrection not just talk and sing about it?”