There is really only one statement
of importance to be spoken Easter morning, "He
is risen!" And,
there is only one question of significance that must be asked, "Do
you believe it?"
The great Easter message is not only that the hope of eternal
life is real, but that there is also the possibility of new life
now. Accepting God's grace enables you to be a new person.
Just as the Velveteen rabbit tells us that "love doesn't
happen all at once," so, too, becoming a new person usually
takes a great deal of time.
You have to hear the Good News story. You have to think about
it, experience some of it, believe it in faith to the point of
acting on it and maybe even reject it before coming to a place
of acceptance. A man by the name of Garret Keizer wrote in the
May 17, 2003 edition of The Christian Century, "On the
day when I can no longer believe in the Resurrection, I shall
no longer be able to follow Christ. It's not that I require
a reward after death; it's just that I refuse to have a
dead guy running my life."
This story comes from Kent C. Miller and was found at the Web
site of Trinity Presbyterian church in Denton. A family in the
church shared that they were watching a movie on the life of
Christ. Jesus' crucifixion and death were realistically portrayed.
Tears flowed from the eyes of the little girl as Jesus was taken
from the cross and placed in a tomb with a guard posted outside
of it. Suddenly, a big smile came to the girl's face and
she bounced up into her father's lap announcing with great
anticipation, "Now comes the good part!"
"Now comes the good part!" Is it not the case that
we who can be very skeptical want very much to believe that the "good
part" is indeed real. Without it the Good News is reduced
to just another story about a wise and loving person whose goodness
offended others to the point that they put him to death.
John Irving captures the uneasiness some people feel as Easter
approaches in his novel, A Prayer for Owen
Meany. Johnny, the
friend of Owen Meany says, "I find that Holy Week is draining;
no matter how many time I have lived through his crucifixion,
my anxiety about his resurrection is undiminished; I am terrified
that, this year, it won't happen, that, that year, it didn't.
Anyone can be sentimental about the nativity; any fool can feel
like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event;
if you don't believe in the resurrection, you're
not a believer."
The truth is that an increasing number of people including
many scholarly theologians no longer believe in the resurrection.
It simply defies human logic. Their arguments are inviting. These
are very fine people who attempt to live their lives following
the teachings of Jesus. I respect the individuals I have met
who are led to this conclusion. I just don't happen to
agree with them.
If God is the creating power of the universe then God has no
trouble with the act of resurrection. The problem is we cannot
prove it. Maybe it is the case that we look for proof in the
wrong places.
When Jesus was finishing His earthly work with the earliest
disciples He, according to John 20:22, "breathed on them
and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." It is
this same Spirit that enables faith to begin, to develop and
to grow into belief. It is this same spirit that enables us to
see evidence both in our study and in our life's experiences
that allows us to believe as we do.
I am indebted to John R. Steward who wrote a story similar
to something I experienced as a boy. I lived about six blocks
from my grade school. I made the round trip twice a day during
the school year as we came home for lunch. Six blocks was a very
short distance but it provided numerous opportunities for a young
boy to get distracted. The distractions always seemed to occur
on the way home at the end of the school day.
I was expected to be home by a certain time but was often late
because of becoming involved in games or explorations with other
kids. My parents put up with it for so long and finally took
away some privileges which didn't have any lasting effect.
My father promised more drastic measures if I didn't change.
It wasn't many days before an opportunity for an after
school basketball game presented itself. By the time the game
ended, my Dad was already home from work and waiting for me, "Go
to your room. We will discuss this at supper."
When I was called to the table I was met with quite a surprise.
On my plate was one slice of bread and near it was a glass of
water. The rest of the family was having roast beef, mashed potatoes
and gravy with creamed corn and homemade pie.
The other plates were heaped with food. My sister was taunting
me as only sisters can. My mom's eyes were sort of teary,
like this was not her idea but she would have to go along with
it. I wondered as grace was said if God really loved little boys
and if I could survive on bread and water.
The blessing ended, and then a strange thing happened. My dad
took my plate and put his plate in front of me. Without a word
he ate the bread and drank the water and excused himself from
the table. I sat there looking at the food on my plate, food
I didn't deserve. My Dad had meted out the punishment and
then took the punishment for me. It was the worst punishment
I ever received and I was never late again. Only much later in
my life did I realize and accept that Jesus did the same thing
for me. Because He loves me, He took what I deserved and gave
me what was rightfully His.
This story reminds me of another with which I conclude this
Easter sermon. It comes from a French writer, Henri Barbusse
and is found in the April 11, 2004 issue of "Synthesis."
During WWI this story came from a foxhole of wounded men. One
man who knew he was dying said to a comrade, "You have
led a bad life and are wanted by police in many places. My name
is clear. So quickly change wallets with me. Take my identity
papers, my good name and reputation and hand me yours so that
I can carry away your crimes in my death and you can have an
opportunity for a new life in my name."
In Jesus God has given us an opportunity for a new life. He
is risen! Now comes the good part! Do you believe it? |
