Easter Sunrise, April 8, 2007 “Jesus Defeated……..?”

Matthew 28: 1-10

In June of 1815 a great battle took place between the French forces under Napoleon and the allied armies of Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia, led by the British Duke of Wellington. After years of warfare it appeared that this would be the climactic battle, and that Europe's history would be shaped, in one direction or another, by what happened there at Waterloo. News of the battle was being sent to London from a ship anchored southeast of England, and was relayed by a series of semaphores, or signal flag operators, the last of which was on the top of Winchester Cathedral, the highest point in London at that time.. As news of the battle's outcome was being transmitted, one letter at a time, the signal man at the Cathedral received this message: "W ELLINGTON (Wellington) DEFEATED (defeated)" and just at that moment a thick fog descended, cutting off any further messages. The news "Wellington defeated" spread all across London and there was heartache and worry and desperation. But after a time the fog lifted, and the flag men resumed their message, the whole of which was "Wellington defeated the enemy!” And then the celebrations that broke out were all the more intense, emerging as they did from that deep despair.

Early on the first Easter morning the news in Jerusalem seemed to be "Jesus defeated," (God defeated... life defeated... love defeated.....) Everything Jesus' life had stood for seemed to be overturned. He had been a beacon of love, compassion, mercy, and peace, but the forces of ignorance and hatred and power had snuffed him out. Crucifixion was more than a way of killing someone. It was a public humiliation, stripping the man not only of his life but of all dignity, honor and respect. Those who had dared to believe in Jesus died a slow death with him that day - a death of all the joy and hope and faith he had stirred up in their lives. If there had been newspapers the headlines would have read "Jesus Defeated," and perhaps the sub-headlines would have read "Hate and death still in control"

Legend has it that when the Emperor Charlemagne was converted to Christianity, he roared with anger the first time he heard the account of Jesus' crucifixion. "If only I had been there with my mighty sword and my armies it would have been different!" he is said to have raged. He would have liked to have staved off Jesus' apparent defeat - unable at that point to see the amazing, illogical, unbelievable truth that this awful execution is a necessary part of an ultimate triumph.

The women go to Jesus' tomb, early in the morning as soon as the Sabbath is over. "Jesus defeated" is still the headline news and they are going to the grave to mourn. But the fog of grief lifts and the message is completed: "Jesus defeated the enemy!" The Almighty God, whose power and wisdom are expressed in Christ, has the final word. Jesus defeated death, Jesus defeated hate, Jesus defeated fear! Angels say to the women "Fear Not! (Interestingly those are the first words of announcement about the beginning of Jesus' life, to the shepherds at Bethlehem, and now they are the words for his life's conclusion.) "Fear Not! I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is risen as he said.... Come see the place where he lay and then go tell the disciples he is risen...." The women run to do so. They're still somewhat fearful (who wouldn't be?) but also filled with wonderful joy, and as they are rushing off on their mission they encounter the Risen Jesus who says again those wonderful words "Do not be afraid....."

The full message, glimpsed at last on Easter dawn after the terrible darkness of Friday and Saturday is this: Jesus defeated the enemy! When Wellington defeated Napoleon it signaled a new era in Europe's history, but even more decisively we Christians affirm that Jesus' conquering of death is the sign of a new reality for all of creation. Oh, there are still many times when the world's message still seems to be "Jesus' defeated," or Truth defeated," or "Life defeated." Evil is still a rampant force, as we know from terrible news reports that can come from any corner of the world. Suffering and sorrow still come to our lives, and death is still the last stage of earthly life, whether we live 5 years or 105 years. Some people live under burdens of sadness that seem like Good Friday over and over again, but we face all of these harsh realities with the hope that comes in God's victory on Easter because we know the entire message.

God is the one who brings life out of death. Whatever death-like sorrows we may be facing, the God of life is at work. It’s in that spirit that we celebrate Holy Communion and share these signs of the life of Christ. The bread and wine tell of suffering - “my body broken for you; my blood shed for you” – but because they are the body and blood of the one who entered death and emerge triumphant, they are also a victory feast. We share the bread and wine today in the company of the Risen Christ

Jesus defeated? No, Jesus defeated the enemy. Thanks be to God, Amen.