He Is Risen
Zephyr United Methodist Church
Early First United Methodist Church
Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007
Rev. Eddie Smart
John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
John has shared with us this morning the Resurrection story. There is no doubt that those closest to Jesus believed that Jesus was resurrected. John R. Killinger in an Easter Sermon some years ago listed three major pieces of evidence that the disciples had no doubt about Jesus being raised from the dead.
1. The empty tomb
At least four followers of Jesus saw the empty tomb and reported it.
2. The appearances of the risen Christ
Mary saw Jesus in the Garden.
Two disciples met the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus.
Ten disciples encountered Jesus in an upper room.
Thomas was with those ten the next day in the same room.
Several people witnessed the risen Christ by the Sea of Galilee
There were more than 500 at once.
Paul came face to face with Jesus on the Damascus Road.
3.The incredible change in the attitudes & behaviors of followers.
Peter went from denying Jesus to delivering Pentecost Sermon
Paul went from persecutor to patrolling the world for Jesus.
Something happened to altar the very nature of their beings.
They encountered the risen Christ
New life -- that's one way to describe the incredible change in Jesus' followers after the resurrection. The resurrected Christ brings new life. There is no doubt that the lives of the disciples changed, but it didn't happen instantly.
Let's look at the initial reactions of the three who John described as coming to the tomb. First there's Peter. The last we saw of Peter he was standing in the courtyard of the high priest denying that he knew Jesus. Peter looked into the tomb and saw that the body was gone. Then he went home. There is no evidence that seeing generated any faith in Peter.
It does not say that Peter believed.
Next there's the Beloved Disciple. When last seen, he was standing at the cross John tells us that he saw and believed. His belief came with only slight evidence. He believed on seeing an empty tomb. This in contrast to Thomas, who had to see & touch Jesus. However the belief of the Beloved Disciple did not lead to any action. Just like Peter, this disciple turned & went home.
Faith = Response to God's Revelation
By that definition,
The Beloved Disciple believed,
but did not have faith.
There was no response.
And what was the response of Mary Magdalene? It started “Someone stole the body." She asked the angels to return the body. She asked who she thought was the gardener to return the body. She saw the empty tomb & didn't believe. Then she saw Jesus, but did not recognize him. Jesus called her name and she believed.
Mary Magdalene was filled with joy. The hymn In the Garden gains its inspiration from this holy encounter.
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
none other has ever known.
At that moment, Mary was the only one to experience the joy of new life which comes with an encounter with the resurrected Christ. She was the first to see, to believe, and to respond to the risen Lord.
Jesus told Mary, "...go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’" AND MARY WENT AND TOLD THE OTHERS! Mary saw, Mary believed, & Mary responded. That made Mary the FIRST to share the Gospel message, the good news of the resurrected Christ.
In the Garden, Mary experienced what could be called a sacramental moment. A time when God's grace touched her in a very personal and special way. Mary responded to that sacramental moment. Mary responded to the grace of God given her.
Peter and the Beloved Disciple had experienced one of those sacramental moments days earlier. They were there when Jesus took the bowl and towel & washed their feet. They were there when Jesus took, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to each of the disciples. They were there when Jesus spoke of the blood of the new covenant. They were present later when the risen Lord came to them in that locked room. Sacramental moments when they experienced God's grace.
God comes to us in sacramental moments. We experience God's grace in moments like Mary's in the garden. I pray that this morning is a sacramental moment for you.
A time when we can experience new life, resurrection life. The question is, "What is our response?" How do we react to these moments? What is our response to the resurrected Christ? What is our response this Easter.
Like Peter on that first Easter morn? Do we come to see & maybe to feel and just go home. There are some who come Sunday after Sunday to see and then go home doing nothing.
Will we respond like the Beloved Disciple on that first Easter? Do we see and we believe? Do we believe in the resurrected Christ? Do we believe in new life in Christ? BUT is there no response. Do we just go home.
Or do we respond like Mary Magdalene on that first Easter? Do we see, do we experience, do we believe, and DO WE RESPOND?
DO WE PROCLAIM, "CHRIST IS RISEN!"
A story is told of a rabbi in a European village, who one day summoned the towns people to the village square. He said he had an important announcement. The people gathered, but not without much grumbling at the inconvenience. The merchant resented having to leave his business. The wife complained because she had so many errands to run.
But, out of respect, they went unwillingly to the town square. When all were present, the rabbi said, "I wish to announce there is a God in the world." That was all he said. But the people understood. They knew they had been acting as if God did not exist. --Hal Brady, Dallas, Texas
You have gathered here this day. I wish to announce, Christ Is Risen!
How do we respond?
Like Peter?
Like the beloved disciple?
Like Mary Magdalene?