St. Marks United Methodist Church

Easter * March 23, 2008 * St. Marks UMC

“When God Became a Jewish Carpenter”

Part XII- “Not Even the Tomb Could Stop Him from Living”

By Terry L Pontius

Reading- John 20:1-18

 

It’s late Friday afternoon.  At last, it’s over.  Jesus’ body hangs limp, head slumped over.  Beneath the thorn-crown his hair is tangled, matted with sweat and blood.  Those once compassionate eyes stare the unseeing, empty gaze of death.  Those loving hands which blessed the children are hardly recognizable.

The soldiers cut down the limp body and lay it out on the rain-splattered, blood-splattered ground.  At that, the few remaining begin to leave.  The religious leaders are light-hearted and satisfied.  The hardened soldiers look a bit shaken and talk about getting good and drunk tonight.  Soon, only Jesus’ mother, the disciple John and some faithful women are left alone with the body.

“My dear son!” moans Mary.  “When you were born, I had no place to lay you, but a manger.  Now that you’re dead, I’ve no place to lay you!  It’s three hours till Sabbath.  What shall we do?  You deserve better than this!”

Just then, two Jewish leaders in fine robes come hurrying up.  It is Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both members of the Jewish Council, both believers in Jesus.  Joseph offers Mary a newly carved tomb in a nearby garden.  Nicodemus offers 100 pounds of spices for Jesus’ burial.  Mary bursts into tears and embraces these men she thought to be enemies.

They carry the body to the nearby garden, where they lay it on a cloth and wash it.  Then, they wind long, narrow strips of cloth around the body, laying sweet spices between the layers.  They wrap the body mummy style, much like the swaddling clothes he wore at birth.  They wrap the strips up to the shoulders and lay a cloth over the face.  The body is then laid face-up on a shelf in the tomb.  “It’s almost Sabbath,” urges Mary Magdalene, “We’ll have to finish on Sunday morning.”

A monstrous stone, flat and round like a millstone, rests in a groove that dips down across the tomb entrance.  The creak of the stone grating against stone hurts the ears, as Joseph and Nicodemus strain against the great stone rolling it down into place, sealing the entrance.  With heads bowed, tears in their eyes, the band of mourners steal away, making sure they aren’t followed.  They return to the Upper Room to grieve with the others.

All that night, all day Saturday, Jesus’ closest followers gather behind locked doors for their personal wake; but also for fear of their lives.  What happened to Jesus could very well happen to them.  There, in hiding, they share their tears, their disappointment and their fear.

Peter turns to his brother, “Andrew, I’m so ashamed, so confused!  I don’t know what to think anymore.  I just feel numb!  I was so sure that Jesus was God’s Messiah.  I think I still believe it; but how can a dead man lead God’s people?  He talked so much about life!”

Huddled in the corner, Mary Magdalene begins weeping again, “When I met him, I didn’t care if I lived…then he filled me with life!  Now HE’S dead!  What will we do without him?  I’ll never stop loving him!”

That night, Mary’s restless sleep is interrupted with visions of Jesus’ face.  His tender voice echoes in her heart.  It’s well before dawn; but she can stand it no longer.  All Mary knows is that she wants to be near her Lord.  She dons a heavy cloak and steals into the darkness alone.

As she reaches the garden, the eastern sky glows a faint promise of sunrise.  The birds are still silent.  Everything is colorless in the half-light.  The leaves are saturated with dew.  The air is damp and chill.  As Mary hurries down the path the wet leaves drench her cloak.

When she reaches the tomb, she stops short in disbelief.  The monstrous stone disk that had sealed the opening is laying flat on the ground, as though it had been wrenched from its place and tossed aside.  Peering inside, she can see that the body is not there!  Sobbing, Mary blindly races down the path, branches whipping at her face.

Mary pounds on the door, where the others are hiding.  Gasping for breath, she reports, “The tomb is empty!  Jesus’ body is gone!  Where could they have taken him?”

Ignoring the danger, Peter and John race for the garden.  Mary, out of breath, follows far behind.  John arrives at the tomb first, but stops at the door.  Peter rushes past John and steps inside.

As Peter kneels by the burial shelf he beholds an amazing puzzle.  The grave clothes are there, but not messed-up and strewn around.  It’s as though the body has evaporated from inside the folds.  And the cloth that covered Jesus’ face is neatly rolled and placed over to the side, as though someone has just made the bed.

John enters, takes one look, and then it hits him!  “’I’ll rise on the third day,’ he said. ‘Tear down this temple, and I will build it again in three days,’ he said. It never made sense until now!  Could it be true?  Did he really do it?  Jesus must be alive!”

Peter and John return to tell the others; but Mary has just arrived and needs to be alone.  By now, the sun is warming the chill air and the dew is evaporating into mist.  The birds are greeting the dawn as shafts of sunlight stream between the branches.  But Mary Magdalene doesn’t notice the hopeful dawn.  All she knows is that her Lord is dead.  Not even his body is left to mourn.  She sobs out her heart as she peers into the empty tomb.

But the tomb is no longer empty.  Two young men in white robes sit on either end of the burial shelf.  “Why do you cry?” one asks.  “Wasn’t it enough that they crucified my Lord?  Now they have taken his body…and I don’t even know where to look!”

Just then, Mary senses a presence behind her and wheels around to see a man standing there. “Why are you crying?  Who are you looking for?” he asks.

Thinking he is the gardener and that he must know something, Mary demands, “Sir, if you are the one who has taken my Lord away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away!”

Then Jesus says it; just one word.  It isn’t so much what he says as how he says it.  “Mary!”  Mary is startled!  “Only one person has spoken my name with such compassion.  Teacher!” squeals Mary, in joyful recognition!  She opens her arms to embrace him; but Jesus says, “Do not touch me yet.  I have yet to ascend to my Father.  Go, tell my brothers!”

Mary bolts down the garden path one more.  Only this time the birds are singing louder and the sun is shining brighter than ever before!  She bursts through the door and dances around the room… “I’ve seen the Lord!  He’s alive!”  Not even the tomb could stop him from living!

What a beautiful story this is…full of wonder and mystery.  More people come to church on Easter than any other Sunday to hear the story one more time.  But how believable is it?  Do you think it really happened?  And what difference does it make for us, if it did happen?

In spite of the many flavors of doctrine and styles of worship throughout Christendom, one core belief still held tenaciously by most all who claim to be Christian is that Jesus himself, bodily came back alive from death and busted out of the tomb…and that he is as alive today as he ever was!

So how should WE regard this story of a dead man walking around? The same as we regard sightings of Bigfoot or Elvis?  Is there some scientific explanation for what people THOUGHT they saw?  Was the story intended to teach us some symbolic, spiritual lesson?  Or, as unbelievable as it seems, did it actually happen?

If the Easter story is no more real than the Easter Bunny…then we should be embarrassed for dressing up in bright colors, putting flowers around the altar and singing, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.”

BUT, if Easter really happened, the ramifications for us are HUGE! If the story is true, then Jesus really IS the Son of God he claimed to be, the giver of life he claimed to be.  And if the very Son of God, the giver of life is alive today, then I can trust in him…know him…experience his presence…draw upon his strength…feel his touch…be filled with his life!  If Jesus actually came back alive, I don’t have to fear death…I have all eternity ahead of me!    But even if it really happened, how can I believe it?  Better yet, how can I experience the living Jesus?

There are several evidences we could point out to argue that Jesus came back to life, but the most convincing evidence is the transformation in Jesus’ followers after the resurrection. 

It took some convincing even for them to believe the resurrection had actually happened.  Before Sunday morning, they were ready to say their goodbyes and return to their former lives.  They were hiding behind locked doors for fear of their lives.  Their leader, who had promised eternal life, was dead.  Their hopes were shattered.  They thought it was over!

They refused to believe the first reports that Jesus had risen.  Thomas was a hard case- “Not until I can place my finger in his nail prints, will I believe!”

It took several personal appearances from Jesus to fully convince them…but once they believed with their hearts, the power and presence of the risen Jesus burned with in them.  Those cowards came from behind locked doors, out onto the streets of Jerusalem, telling anyone who would listen, that Jesus, who was crucified, is alive and powerful.   When they were arrested and ordered to keep their mouths shut, they answered, “We cannot help but proclaim what we have seen and heard!”  They were ridiculed, beaten and most of them martyred because they would not stop telling about the risen Jesus!

Do you really think they got together and said, “Ok guys, let’s go to Plan B.  Jesus is dead; but let’s keep this thing going anyway!  Let’s go out there and tell people that Jesus came back alive.  We’ll probably die for doing this; but maybe a few will believe us!” I don’t think so! Nothing short of the living Jesus could have inspired and empowered that dejected, frightened band to all of a sudden risk death to proclaim the risen Jesus.  The light of the living Jesus shined so brightly though them that thousands believed…and that light of Jesus shining through those who trust in him is STILL what draws people to trust in him today!

The transformation in the lives of those fearful, hope-shattered, heart-broken hearts is the strongest evidence that Jesus was alive….because his living, breathing presence within them shined through them and drew thousands to him.

But what about us…what about today?  All that happened nearly 2.000 years ago.  It’s been said, “The argument for the Risen Christ is the living Christian.” (Kirkland)  Still today, exhibit #1, the strongest evidence that Jesus is alive, is the transformation of those who have come to know him…the shining of his life from their inside out!

Have you ever met an Easter Person?  When you do, you’ll know it!  There’s something about them, a quality about them that shines through how they live.  That quality is the reflection of a relationship they have with the Living Christ.

An Easter Person most always is connected with a Church community; however, going to church is not what makes you an Easter Person.  In fact, many who go to church have not yet become Easter People.

Becoming an Easter Person begins with a satisfied mind, believing for a fact that Jesus is indeed alive.  But that’s not enough.  To believe in your head that the Resurrection actually happened, just having a satisfied mind, doesn’t necessarily impact your life or connect you with God.

The first Easter People, the first followers, didn’t stop by believing in their heads that a miracle had happened….they encountered the living Jesus.  They grasped his nail-pierced hands and said, “My Lord and My God!”  They talked with him…worshiped him…trusted him.  They knew him.  And after Jesus went back to heaven, his Spirit, his power and presence continued to live in them and to transform and inspire them.

Becoming an Easter Person isn’t just about a satisfied mind.  It’s more than accepting the Easter Story as a fact.  Nothing matters until you begin to know and trust the Living Jesus the story is about!  It’s all about a relationship!   Not just believing facts in you head…it’s about trusting the living Jesus…conversing with him in your heart.  The transforming power and presence of the living Christ begins when you open your heart and take his hand and follow his lead.

So, if you’re still looking for evidence of the Resurrection you might start looking for an Easter Person.  I think there are several of them sitting here.  You might find one where you work or on the golf course.

First, they probably don’t wear sandals and a robe, like Jesus.  In fact, don’t expect them to be just like Jesus.  An Easter Person is someone who has struck up a relationship with Jesus and it is changing their life.  But they’ll be the first to tell you, they’re a long way from being just like him.

An Easter Person still screws things up…still struggles with their attitude…has many problems to fight through…has things go wrong with their life.   Yet an Easter Person has an inner something that shines through them…an authenticity about them that rings true…a desire to love well that speaks of compassion.

An Easter Person has cracks and imperfections and may be damaged goods.  An Easter Person is not perfect…but forgiven.  Hasn’t yet arrived…but is becoming.  And is honest enough to admit that.  An Easter person may struggle through a storm, yet draws on an awesome inner strength.  An Easter Person experiences times of confusion, doubt and frustration…yet always seems to get reoriented, re-centered by some inner compass.  When you hurt, an Easter Person is likely to share with you their own deep pain and unhealed wounds to help you find healing.  When you mess up, an Easter Person is likely to extend grace, another chance, because they have received grace from somewhere.

Don’t look for a perfect person…but when you are drawn to someone because they have a vulnerability that makes them real…a belief base that keeps them anchored…an inner compass that keeps them centered…a compassion that shows open arms and an open heart…you have likely found an Easter  Person.   And you will probably want that transforming, life-giving something else that draws you to them.  And that something extra, that something that speaks of real life and deep love…is the Living Jesus, whom they know, shining through their cracks and imperfections.

Jesus promised, “I am come that they might know life and know it to the full.”  Having that fullest quality of life today, and forever is found in knowing the Living Jesus, whose presence and power are as alive and real right here, right now, as it was on the first Easter.  He is waiting for us to take his nail-pierced hand.  He is waiting to fill our hearts with his living presence. 

If you’re still searching for that something-extra, that something- missing, most Easter People are like a beggar who is eager to show another beggar where he has found bread.  Talk to that Easter Person you’ve been drawn to.

But there would be no better day than on Easter to, with doubting Thomas, take his nail-pierced hand in yours and to say, “My Lord and my God!”