Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008
By pastor John Jorgenson
This event changed the lives of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Their message shared with the disciples is given to us as well: “He is not here; He is risen! No longer need we be afraid. We now can go and share the good news that life is no longer a time of sadness no matter what has happened to us. We now have a joy filled reason to live and to share that wonder-full gift.”
This is Matthew’s report of what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary found. The tomb was empty. These two were devoted followers of Jesus. They gave of their resources to enable Jesus to begin His ministry. In our beginning study of Bad Girls of the Bible we spent several weeks learning about Mary Magdalene and how she and several other women were dedicated supporters of Jesus ministry. She and the other Mary followed Jesus on the way to Golgatha. There were witnesses of the crucifixion. They saw Jesus placed in the tomb and they were first at the tomb on Sunday morning after the Sabbath and they were concerned about who had taken the body away and wondered what had happened to it. They were among the first to see that Jesus had not only died on Friday, but then had risen from the dead as He had promised. They ran to tell the disciples and they met Jesus on the way. He greeted them and took away their fear and anxiety. He urged them to rejoice and go tell the other disciples to come and meet Him at the shore of Galilee.
There are three thoughts from this text that are helpful for us this morning. First of all, as we read the text we are urged to believe as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were urged to believe. Well now, just how do you do that in today’s world? How do we make sense out of the thousands who die each day from hunger, the thousands dying from disease, the thousands whose lives are ended or drastically changed from the impact of war and from various kinds of violence and hatred? Can Easter provide that?
Secondly we are urged to share the good news with others. Yes but, how do you do that when the paper and television is so full of ugly news? Would people believe me? Would our message of kindness, respect and happiness even be heard over the noisy clamorous yelling and screaming that results from such hatred and distrust? Would we really be taken seriously?
Third we are urged to rejoice. What is it to rejoice? How do we do that? Do we have an Easter party? How do we rejoice when we read and hear so much about the ugliness of today and its world wide political misleading, about its corporate selfishness and greed, about its unconcern for those around us who are abused in various ways? And we are to rejoice? Really now is that practical? You got to protect what you have. The scammers and cheaters and liars are out after all of us. Just yesterday I heard of some guy calling older people and telling them their grandson had an accident and the towing company needs money to tow the car. Then a gruff guy comes on and says he will be at the door shortly to collect the fee. Anyone facing that is urged to call 911 and have an officer present when this guy comes. And we are to rejoice? Come on be Real!
Well that is what we are going to do. We rejoice now that Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter are completed for another year. We have spent sixteen weeks studying, learning, growing and understanding what the essence of our faith includes and what Jesus taught. Now, as we rejoice, we will spend the next thirty-six weeks checking out and testing to see just how helpful and meaningful what we have learned is in our everyday life.
Does that mean we will be silly, unrealistic or stuffy? No not at all! With our Advent preparation thinking, the Gift we received at Christmas, the beginning of Jesus ministry during Epiphany, the impact of that teaching during Lent and now the awesome ending with the death of our Teacher, the choice of Barabbas instead of Jesus on Good Friday and now the outcome of what that ugly action that has brought us to realize how important what Jesus taught is even today.
Now we can rejoice as we confront the ugly, greedy, selfish, unthinking aspects of life today. We rejoice that we have been given a basic idea, a fundamental thought about just Who God really is and What God wants from each of us. We rejoice that Jesus has presented us with this gift that never ends, this gift that enables us to face whatever life presents, no matter what happens to us. We rejoice that we belong to God and that we need not fear, we need not be anxious, or we need not be uneasy. Instead we rejoice that we can be the confident, competent, cordial and cheerful people that God has created and presented to our world.
Look in the mirror. See what God has done. Look in the faces of those we meet each day. Where there is sadness, we reach out. Where there is anger, we listen. Where there is anxiety, hunger and desperation, we respond with food and friendship. Where there is loss, we respond with acceptance and understanding. Where there is loneliness, we respond with welcome.
On a mailing that will be going out in April, there is a message about the importance of parenting and the opportunity of service in caring for an older relative or friend. We will be offering a small group study program for both. On the bottom of the card is an invitation. The invitation says that: “This is the little church that would welcome you. Come and see!”
We are that welcoming church. We are responding to what Jesus taught and to what God expects of us. Easter has changed us. Easter has given us each a measure of hope. Easter has given us each a future to enjoy. Easter has given us a gift to share! Yes, indeed we do rejoice!
Amen and Amen.