The Rev. Canon Dr. Brett Cane, April 4, 2010
Easter Day: 8:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion
“What Is God Up To?”
Acts 10:34-43; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12
Opening Prayer:
Lord Jesus, on that first Easter morning the news of your resurrection was met with astonishment and disbelief; come to us now, by your Holy Spirit, and address our wondering, fear, and scepticism; remind us of the truth of what happened then so that we might meet you today and come to experience the love of our Father in heaven. Amen.
Introduction
Easter is a great occasion for celebration – in church we rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of new life. Outside, we see the signs of spring and marvel at how nature has survived another winter and will soon burst into full bloom. Families and the elderly cheer that the long confinement of winter is gone and they can venture outside without having to fuss with extra clothes. Students look with anticipation to the end of exams and the prospects of the approaching summer. All is well with the world!
But we all know that the problems and challenges of daily life don’t disappear with Easter or Spring and we still have lots of questions. There are questions about the future; questions about health; questions about finances; questions about relationships; questions about meaning; and questions about God. I would say that questions in the last category – questions about God – often underlie the others. In the midst of all our opportunities and disappointments we want to know – what is God up to?
This is the question I want us to look at this morning as we examine Luke’s account of that first Easter Sunday. As we look at the story of the perplexed women, the frightening strangers, the unbelievable news and the sceptical disciples, we will explore the question, “What is God up to?” and end up with an a answer that is really another question, “Have you met the risen Jesus?” That may seem like a funny question to ask – but if what we are doing today has any basis in fact – and it does – it is a very good question. If Jesus is risen – that is, alive today – it is possible to meet him and meeting him is going to answer an awful lot of questions!
Wondering
You may say, “Well, I’m interested, but I have a lot of questions – I’m wondering about the whole thing.” You’re in good company. Your situation is the same as the women who came early to the tomb of Jesus that first Easter morning. “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this…” (Luke 24:2-4). The women had come to perform the customary rites of caring for the dead but there was no body the be cared for – and so they wondered.
If you were in the same situation as those women, wouldn’t you wonder, too? “What happened to the body?” “Who would do such a thing?” “What’s going on?” Perhaps there are many of you here today who have come wondering about whether all this Christianity is true or not; wondering where God fits into your lives; wondering whether you have blown all your chances with God; wondering if it’s possible there is something more to life than what you have been experiencing. God wants us to wonder. He wants us to ask questions. If we don’t ask questions, we will remain where we are – in the dark, confused, uncertain, just as those first-century women at the empty tomb. Wondering is a good place to begin.
Frightened
But God does not want to leave us wondering. He wants to answer our questions. But sometimes, in order to speak to us, he may have to do it in a way that is frightening or upsetting. This is exactly what happened that first Easter morning. “While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground” (verses 4, 5). Two messengers appear to answer the women’s questions. But there is something different about them – they are out of the ordinary – frightening. But this was God’s chosen way of communicating good news to the women.
Sometimes we have to go through frightening or shocking experiences in order to hear what God wants to say to us. For some here today, you may have been in a state of shock or disbelief over a breakdown in a relationship or betrayal; for others, a major challenge to your health may be causing you to reassess your whole life and purpose; for others, financial difficulties may be driving you to despair. Maybe the death of a family member or friend has jolted you into re-examining what life is all about; others of you may be tormented by questions of sin and guilt. Some of you may have had a horrible confrontation with the spiritual forces of evil; others still may have been frightened by a dream or vision or even the appearance of angels – yes, they are still around – even in 2010!
Whatever shocking experience you have undergone or are experiencing, God has not allowed it to happen because he is capricious or cruel. Let him turn the situation around and use it as a means of getting your attention. Just as with the angels by the tomb, he has something to say to his wondering, frightened children. He has something to say to you.
Remember
What did God have to tell those women? “The men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ Then they remembered his words” (verses 5-9). The women were to remember. They were to remember that Jesus said he would suffer and die and rise again. They were to think back to Jesus’ words which would lead them to the truth that the messengers declared – “He is not here; he has risen!”
This is exactly what we are doing today! If you have come wondering or frightened – you are now being reminded! A tremendous story is being retold – and it is true! We have the evidence of eyewitnesses (in the Scriptures), as we heard from the book of Acts: “God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:40-41). These stories of the resurrection do not, in spite of their unusual features, read like invented fairy-tales. They have a ring of truth. The apostles are depicted as male chauvinists, discounting the women’s story; Mary does not expect what she sees; Thomas doubts; Jesus has to convince the apostles by eating food that he is really alive. The five accounts in the Gospels and 1 Corinthians are not the same in all details – they are not copied from one another. They have all the features of eyewitness accounts.
Through all of this, be reminded of what Jesus has done. When he rose, it showed that He had conquered death and opened up the possibility of eternal life to all who trust him. In Him we have forgiveness for our sins and new life in the Spirit. Be reminded of what Jesus has done.
Sceptical
But you may still be sceptical. You’re in good company – so were the disciples. “When (the women) came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (verses 9, 11). Why were they sceptical? They had preconceived notions. First – about the messengers: their chauvinism discounted the witnesses – they were women whom they thought were easily misled and over-emotional. Second – the message: Jesus was alive and such things just don’t happen. The disciples’ preconceived notions led them to say, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind’s made up!” They needed to question their own presuppositions.
I have often challenged people who have asked me about whether the resurrection is true or not by saying first, “Before I answer your questions, I want to ask you – if you had been there that first Sunday and seen Jesus rise from the tomb, would you then be willing to give him your life?” I have had the answer, “No, I wouldn’t.” Look into your hearts to see the real reasons why you can not believe the evidence and deal with unfounded preconceived notions. But for those of you who answer, “Yes, I would give him my life if you can give me evidence” then I recommend you take one of the sheets on “Evidence for the Reality of the Resurrection” available in the narthex. Then take the Bible and read it for yourself with an open heart. You will not be disappointed. What turned the frightened band of apostles who ran away at the arrest of Jesus and even denied Him into a powerful force of roving missionaries, turning the word upside down and facing courageous deaths? No psychological manipulation or auto-suggestion could possibly account for the change that came upon the reluctant disciples – nothing short of the literal resurrection itself! Address your skepticism.
Have you met Jesus?
“Wondering,” “frightened,” “remember,” “sceptical,”…but there is one thing missing. At the end of the Gospel passage for today, we are left hanging. “Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened” (verse 12). Peter is able to overcome his skepticism enough to go and look for himself but he and the women and the other disciples have yet to meet the risen Jesus. I am happy to announce that they all do so in the remainder of the chapter, but today’s story leaves us waiting to meet him.
Is that where you are today? As you come wondering, perhaps frightened, and now remembering but sceptical – have you still to meet Jesus? Do you know Him as your personal friend, as your constant companion, as your Saviour, as your Lord? He is alive and makes the invitation to you today as He did in the book of Revelation, chapter 3: “Be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me” (Revelation 3:19-20). Take up his invitation and meet the risen Jesus. Then you will begin to discover what God is up to.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus,
Help me in my wondering;
Speak to me where I am frightened;
Remind me of all you have done for me;
Reveal my preconceived notions and take away my skepticism.
I want to meet you in a new and powerful way;
I want to be your friend and do your will.
I repent of all within me that has hurt and prevented our friendship.
Come into my life, Lord Jesus;
I open the door of my heart;
Thank you for making me yours forever;
Thank you for giving me eternal life.
Help me to live out that life in love and obedience
In the days you have given me here on this earth;
Until I see you face to face
In the Resurrection at the last Day.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
