The Beginning of the Story

April 9, 2023 – Easter
St. John’s United Church of Christ, Union, Illinois

Matthew 28:1-10[1]

It was just another morning as they went to see the tomb
with deep and aching sorrow as the day shook off the gloom.
Magdalene and Mary had been there, now two days past
as their Lord prayed, “Why forsaken?” cried out loud, and breathed his last.

The story which had ended, sealed away inside the grave, 
had made a tomb around their hearts; there was no hope left to save.
We’ve been there, if we’re honest, having lost our faith and trust.
When all the plans we’ve made, all our accomplishments, are dust.

The world we know is not unlike that ancient Galilee
When every day the news comes in of loss and tragedy.
Hope’s in constant danger, might makes right, and riches rule.
The suffering of the poor and sick seems endless, cold, and cruel.

Just like them we need to know that someone out there cares.
So often we’ve been shaken by this fragile life we share
They threw their hopes upon this man who seemed to them so bold
He’ll make our nation strong again if he can be controlled.

That Jesus was arrested, even killed, is no surprise;
he knew the risk, the violence and betrayal in their eyes.
He’d been arguing for days with the chief priests and the scribes.
He called them out for arrogance, injustices, and lies.

Then the Roman power whipped him, and in a spectacle of pain
hung him up there on the cross, the symbol of their reign.
Crucifixion was a warning: peace through violence was the way;
keeping people in their place, no rebellion here today.

The disciples all had scattered; even Peter failed the test;
only Joseph took the body wrapped in cloth and laid to rest.
The Marys never saw it coming. For all they knew they were alone.
Then the angel flashed like lightning, shook the earth, and moved the stone.

He is not here; he has been raised! Their hearts could beat once more.
New life and joy flowed through them shining light through every pore.
An empty tomb, a risen Lord, a message they must share:
He’s gone ahead to Galilee; go and tell them he’ll be there.

How we want to celebrate, to sing a triumph song
The Romans did their worst to him, and Life still carries on.
The evil-doer has been crushed, the bad guy’s on the run.
We want to cry out “Victory!” The wrath of God was done.

But they didn’t rally to the cry, take up the sword and kill.
That’s not who we are called to be, that’s not what Jesus willed.
When tempted in the wilderness Jesus did not take the crown.
Rebellion in Jerusalem would only burn the city down.

Yes, death was overcome this day, the grave did not hold sway;
but marching on in majesty was not the apostles’ way.
The forces that had crucified would still seek out the rest.
Three hundred years of savagery would put them to the test.

Now, some would turn against the Jews, saying they had made him die.
Only Pilate, and the Empire, could execute, could crucify.
When pilgrims came for Passover to celebrate their freedom,
the brutal Roman governor used terror to demean them.

If we would honor Jesus in the way we live our lives
We cannot harbor hatred, using violence and lies.
How should we treat our enemies, our neighbors, and ourselves?
The way, the truth, the life is LOVE that builds no boundary walls.

We’re all immigrants and slaves-set-free, refugees and tribes.
As Christians, Muslims, Jews and all we’re meant to be alive.
No one can win when others must be crushed so we can rise.
We must seek the face of God each time we look another in the eyes.

I believe that Jesus rose that day, but I’m not willing to pretend
that evil was defeated, and I’ll never sin again.
There are times we all still struggle, we’re all broken now and then;
but new life can rise within us, set us free to start again.

I believe that Jesus rose that day, though no one saw the deed;
and I believe that there is proof, but it’s not inerrancy. 
The proof is in the lives transformed, the people who were changed;
the resurrection witnesses did not remain the same.

This group of scared disciples who did not dare to see him die
found the courage to tell all the world they’d seen Jesus alive.
Some would go to prison, even death for saying so.
Now they could taste and see the life God wants us all to know.

The power of this moment doesn’t come from strength of arms.
Instead, it comes despite the risk that we might come to harm.
To stand with the oppressed, the poor, the sinners, and the lost
is the reason Jesus walked this road and chose to pay the cost.

This was the moment that changed the world, and today we still can see
the resurrection world is not the one that used to be.

Before when something threatened power, like mercy, justice, peace,
the world could just kill it and it would be gone; but with Jesus that cannot be.

 

The new life of Jesus is planted in us, the new life that God has restored.
Mercy and justice cannot be dismissed with a cross or even a sword.
When people of faith stand together as one, we move mountains and vanquish our fear.
We have a dream, we open our hands, we say, “You’re welcome here.”

No longer afraid, we know that now we’ll never walk alone.
We’re ready to say, “Here am I, send me.” When you’re ready, call me home.
Tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me again.
Jesus gathers the scattered sheep back where the story began.

 

In ministry he had healed the sick, and called the children blessed,
had compassion for the suffering, and offered the weary rest,
taught the crowds in parables, and fed them with two fish.
The story is not over. It begins again with this:

The powers of evil did their worst. The light of the world still shines.
“I am with you always, to the end,” he said, “fear not, for you are mine.”
The ministry that he once did belongs to you, my friends.
The story begins with the love we share, and I pray it never ends.

Amen.

___________________

Resources who influenced my writing:

Eduard Schweizer, “Resurrection” in Donald W. Musser and Joseph L. Price, Editors, New and Enlarged Handbook of Christian Theology (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), p. 425.

Nadia Bolz Weber, “Sermon on Empty Tombs and the Suddenness of Dawn.” Online: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/2014/04/sermon-on-empty-tombs-and-the-suddenness-of-dawn/

Rachel Held Evans, “Hearts of Flesh.” Online: http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/hearts-of-flesh

Alex Joyner, “The Empty Tomb.” Online: http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/article/entry/4913/the-empty-tomb?utm_campaign=eNews10Apr2014&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=The%20Empty%20Tomb

Pascal Deng, “The Incredible Need for Emptiness.”

The Rev. Geoffrey A. Black and The Rev. Sharon E. Watkins, “UCC, Disciples leaders offer prayers, consolation following Kansas shooting.” Online: http://www.ucc.org/news/kansas-shooting-statement-04152014.html?utm_source=kyp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=kyp041514%22

Kathryn Matthews Huey, Reflection on John 20:1-18 for Sermon Seeds. http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/april-20-2014.html.

Roger Wolsey, “A Kinder, Gentler, more Grown-up Easter.” http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogerwolsey/2014/04/a-kinder-gentler-more-grown-up-easter-2/

The Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, “Is Easter Happy?” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-dr-susan-brooks-thistlethwaite/is-easter-happy_b_5174128.html

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[1] The scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.