Easter 2009

The sun had not yet begun to pierce the eastern sky with its warming rays of light.  The darkness hung heavily in the pre-dawn air, as two shadowy figures quietly wound their way from their humble homes to the garden cemetery outside Jerusalem.

Why they have chosen such an unusual hour for a journey to visit a grave site, I am uncertain.  Nevertheless, with the sounds of a heavy hammer pounding huge nails still ringing in their heads, these two women shuffle along in silence.  However, one thing of which I am certain is this—just two days earlier, they had been witnesses to the most horrific scene ever known to mankind.

The most unusual friend of these two women—from whom they had experienced such unprecedented life-change, encouragement, hope, and strength—had been falsely accused, mockingly tried, humiliatingly stripped of his clothing, inhumanely beaten, and finally nailed to a cross.  Surely Mary Magdalene and the other Mary have been drained emotionally.  Now with spices in hand, they approach the guarded sepulcher as representatives of many whose lives had been touched by the hand of the man in the tomb.

Quietly questioning who might be able and available to roll away the stone, affording the burial attendants access to the newly-hewn tomb, the two Mary’s must have been taken aback when they discovered the displaced boulder.

Can you not see their eyes darting from open grave to each other to surroundings as their hearts raced and adrenaline traced through their bodies?  But as doubts and fears filled their minds, the kind but commanding voice of a heavenly messenger interrupted their pre-dawn perplexity.

The familiar story is recounted for us by the converted tax collector Matthew.

 (Matt 28:1-20 KJV) In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tellhis disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

 11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

From an angel whose presence had only moments earlier caused rugged Roman soldiers to faint with fear, now comes a calm assurance to “Fear not;” a clarion announcement, “He is not here,” and a clear command to “Go quickly and tell … “

Nearly two thousand years after that initial announcement, may I say to you who read these words and celebrate the fact of the empty tomb, those three simple elements are still in play today for you and me.  Let me rehearse them with you briefly:  

First, the angle admonished, “Fear not!”  Almost every time God wanted to do something miraculous in the Scriptures, he reminded his people to “Fear not.”  Abraham heard those words in Genesis 15:1.  Moses heard these words.  The same words were spoken to Joshua, Zacharias, Joseph, and Mary.  Simon Peter and the Apostle Paul heard them, also. 

In each of the four Gospels, as the two Mary’s approach the opened sepulcher, they are afraid, and Matthew tells us that the angel of the Lord who rolled away the stone, consoles them with the words, “Fear not!”  I can’t help but wonder as I look at the fearfulness of these who were so close to the Master of ocean, earth, and sky – who had watched him perform multiple miracles – and yet were afraid – what is it that causes me to fear when I should be courageous?

In spite of three years of His teachings, His disciples had forgotten those things He taught concerning His death, burial, and resurrection.  How do we know they had forgotten?  They all went into hiding and mourning, as if there was no hope.  The women came to the tomb with spices in hand for anointing the lifeless body, because they had forgotten what he had taught them concerning his resurrection.  Two disciples walked along the Emmaus Road, interacting with him, yet not even recognize him until he vanished.

Our celebration today should be a powerful reminder to us of the power and promises of God, lest we forget also.  He has already set before us the examples of His power numerous times both in his Word and in our lives.   In addition to these examples, we also have His instructions—tasks to perform—that will require that we fear not and forget not. 

The instructions given to these disciples of Christ were direct and simple – “Go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.”  Interestingly, this is the same basic message that we are to share with our world today—the hope of eternal life is … paid for by his vicarious death on the cross;  sealed with his burial in that tomb; and guaranteed by his resurrection from the grave.   

(Rev 1:18 KJV)  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Can you imagine the hopelessness that would have consumed those early disciples had those who had received the miraculous news “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” and who knew the truth had kept it to themselves? 

But I ask you, O church of God—what about the hopelessness in our world of 6.7 billion eternity-bound people, most of whom have not heard the good news of the Gospel?  Should we allow our fear to cause us to draw back? No.  Should we allow forgetfulness as an excuse? No.  Should we allow ourselves to resign to the fact that not all will believe? No. 

(Rom 10:14 KJV) How … then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  

On this 1976^th Easter morning, may I say to you that through the eternal Word of God we, like the women of that first Easter morn, have been to the tomb and seen that it is empty—let us not fear!  We have the encouragement of a weekly gathering of the church of God—let us not forget!  We have the Divine instruction of God to go quickly and tell—let us not fail!