“What is Easter anyway?” Easter Sermon 03.27.2016

John 20:1-18 • March 27, 2016

Brothers and sisters in Christ grace and peace to you from God our Father and risen Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

First…I need to offer a word of thanksgiving to my colleagues in pastoral ministry here at Good Shepherd – Pastor Bob and Pastor Pam. And thanksgiving to the staff of this holy place. They consistently go above and beyond, including working on Christmas and Easter, in order for all of us to have an opportunity to grow in relationship with each other and with our God. And, finally, thanksgiving to the dozens of people who volunteer their time and talent in service during Holy Week and Easter worship. I am forever grateful for the many ways that the risen savior Jesus Christ is alive and working through each one of you. Please join me in showing our appreciation for the work that God is doing through these fine brothers and sisters in Christ.

In his book, Wounded Lord: Reading John Through the Eyes of Thomas, theologian Robert Smith claims that “from the beginning, the Fourth Evangelist has been mulling over the meanings of Jesus’ dying.” (pg. 128)

Smith’s claim that the writer of John’s gospel is in search of meaning in Jesus’ death beautifully lifts up one of the challenges that Holy Week and Easter present for those of us who are followers of Jesus in post-resurrection time. We claim to follow someone whom we believe was crucified, died, was buried but is now alive – risen from the dead. And even 2,000 years after the resurrection, the powers of the world around us continue to say that Jesus is dead and that God doesn’t even exist. It’s one of the reasons why I believe so strongly that Good Friday and Easter are the two most significant days in the faith life as Christians.

If Good Friday and Easter do not happen, if these events are only a figment of our imagination or a really good idea for a Hollywood blockbuster movie script, then our worship together today – or on any other day of the year for that matter – is really quite pointless. Jesus was just an ordinary dude in the ancient world who was killed by crucifixion. End of story. Who cares.

The first printed words in your bulletin today ask the question “What is Easter anyway?”

I would be willing to bet that if you and I walk around town today and took a poll of people who claim to follow Jesus with that question – nearly everyone we ask would say something like “the day Jesus rose from dead” or “the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.”

But, I’m also willing to bet that many of those same people – which does include all of us by the way – will have a more difficult time trying to explain the importance of Jesus’ death or what the resurrection actually is or what this ancient story has to do with our life and faith today. If you and I do truly believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the cross and tomb are still empty today, then the resurrection is the single most significant event in the history of creation.

The resurrection of Jesus is difficult to explain and equally difficult for some to believe. But rather than throwing a bunch theological jargon and resurrection theories at you today, let’s simply take a look at the resurrection story again. From the first people to actually witness it as it happened. What does this ancient story of Jesus’ resurrection in the gospel of Saint John and the experiences of the three disciples in this story, have to do with our life of faith today?

In a lot of ways, even though around 2,000 years have passed since that first Easter morning, you and I are still among the first witnesses. And in so many ways, you and I are just like the 3 disciples who find the tomb empty and can’t quite make sense of it.

Three disciples.

One who sees the grave clothes neatly folded and believes.

One who sees the same thing, yet isn’t quite sure if he believes anything that he has seen.

One who in a way is surprised into believing by hearing the sound of her name from someone she didn’t recognize even though she knew him well.

The writer of John’s gospel could have written a less complicated story. Something like – “Mary Magdalene, Peter and the other disciple went to the tomb. They saw the linen wrappings lying there and believed Jesus had risen from the dead.” Period. End of story.

But you and I know that faith and belief in the resurrection in such a simplistic way is not reality for followers of Jesus. Especially as we live in a post-resurrection and ever increasing post-Christian and post-religious world. That’s why I think it’s important for us to see John’s story of the resurrection as one that leaves room. It leaves room for each of us as we sort out our own response to the question “What is Easter anyway?” That’s what’s happening with the three disciples.

John’s gospel leaves room for when you and I see and believe. Room for when you and I see and are still not sure. Room for when you and I hear Jesus call our name and only then will we see Jesus and believe. (this section is inspired by a commentary written by Barbara Lundblad)

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, here’s the good news for all of us today regardless of where you find yourself. I quote from a sermon preached in 1987 by Pastor Bruce Laverman that rings just as true today as it did nearly 30 years ago. “Today,” Pastor Bruce said, “even though we may have missed him, he comes looking for us right where we are. If we have slipped and fallen – ignored him, missed him – he comes looking for us this morning in the cemetery of our human experience, in a Good Friday-Holy Saturday mood – to find us in the garden on Easter morning!” (excerpt from Rev. Bruce Laverman’s sermon at Christ’s Community Church, April 19, 1987)

A young dad walked in on his children playing one afternoon. He thought his kids were just playing house because that was one of their favorite things to do. Much to his surprise, it turned out they were playing church. And they happened to be at the end of the worship service when he walked in. He witnessed the giving and receiving of the benediction in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The dad was impressed. He shared his enthusiasm with his children and asked them if they knew what the cross meant when the pastor gave the benediction at the end of worship. Here’s what they said. “When the pastor makes the sign of the cross at the end of church it means that…some of us should go out this way, some of us should go out this way, and the rest of us should go out over there.”

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, whichever way you go out from this sacred time of worship and into the world today, go knowing and believing that Easter is for you. And the next time someone asks you “What is Easter anyway?” Share with them the good news that God has raised Jesus Christ the Savior of the world from the dead and because that happened, God has conquered every death that you and I will ever experience. In the resurrected Christ, there is time after the end, life after death, restoration of what was broken, the brightening of what had gone dark. That’s what Easter is today, tomorrow, and for all eternity. Thanks be to God. Amen.