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We have been on a journey with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during the season of Lent to the cross at Golgotha. Jesus endured a kangaroo court trial, verbal and physical abuse and an extremely painful walk carrying the beam of His cross to be hung on at Golgotha.
And in this morning’s scripture lesson, John 20:1-17, we learn,
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So Mary Magdalene 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.” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin which had been on Jesus head, not lying with the cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in and he saw and he believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. The two angels said to Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Mary turned and said to Jesus in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (Which means teacher.) Jesus said to Mary, “Do not hold me for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to the brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
This past week someone asked me in the community, Pastor, how do you know that this story of Easter, of Jesus being beat, carrying a cross through crowds of people, being spit on and yelled at, let alone being hung, dying and coming back to life and then going up into heaven really happened?
Let’s be real pastor, this story is not feasible! I DON’T BUY IT!
I stand here this morning to tell you that I believe in the Bible and I believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day.
I believe that on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away.” And that Jesus told Mary not to hug Him, as He did not want to be held, as He knew His Father’s plan for Him to ascend into heaven. Not that Mary could hold Jesus on earth if His Father wanted Him but that this was in God’s plan for Jesus at that time to not be touched.
Let me phrase it this way, “How do you know that Christopher Columbus actually discovered America in 1492? How do you know that Neil Armstrong actually walked on the moon in 1969? After all, there are still people in 2008 who believe that what we saw on TV was actually a Hollywood TV Studio.
Were you there to verify that Christopher Columbus supposedly, actually… discovered America? Were you there beside Neil Armstrong, when he supposedly stepped onto the moon?
If you were not there then how do you actually know these two events actually took place? How do you know they are not a wise tell?
After all there are those who also believe the International Space Station is a hoax. Have you been there to prove otherwise?
Let’s look at this morning’s scripture lesson John 20:1-18: Mary went to the tomb early in the morning with a heavy heart because Her master, Her Lord and Savior had died and all life was now in doubt. And when Mary realizes this man in front of her is not the gardener she shouts in joy “RABBONI” “TEACHER” for she is thrilled to see her Lord and Savior alive. And from that, John tells us that Mary must have leaped into Jesus arms and Jesus told her, “Not yet Mary.”
Then Jesus tells Mary to do something that is the churches, you and I. Responsibility, in fact it’s our job description, John 20:17-18; “Jesus said to Mary, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord; and Mary told them that he had said these things to her.”
In this Scripture Lesson the other disciple the other disciple with Simon Peter was Jesus’ favorite disciple John.
And in studying this scripture lesson several things stand out. The first being who was the first person Jesus appeared to after His death and crucifixion? Mary Magdalene! Do you realize in 2008 Mary Magdalene would have been plastered all over the Internet and in magazines? I mean after all she did have a reputation which is why she went to the well in the heat of the day to get water as nobody with any decency wanted to associate with, let alone be seen, with Mary.
And which disciple showed up at the empty tomb first to look inside? Simon Peter who denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed.
Why didn’t Jesus pick someone with prestige and education to find Him on such an important occasion? Someone with some class, who is respected in the community. After all, Thomas doubted Jesus and the disciples had forsaken Jesus. Then again who did Jesus hang on the cross with? Two criminals and one mocked Jesus, “IF YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE THEN WHY DON’T YOU SAVE YOURSELF AND US?” And the other criminal told the criminal who was mocking Jesus to back off. As Jesus had done nothing wrong to deserve this treatment, but they deserved what they were receiving. Then he asked Jesus if he would remember him as he, Jesus, entered into heaven. Jesus told the guy he would be with Jesus as he entered into heaven.
Why do I JOHN WALTER MOCK, believe in the resurrection story? I believe because someone told me many years ago. Yes there are not photographs; yes there is only a Bible, which has been translated into English so that I could read it. Yes, in the translation the original words may sound different as in one may say “come on over now” and another may say “You all come on now” while both are Americans and both speak English.
Why do I believe the resurrection story is true? First in my heart and soul I believe and second I find the story of Jesus interesting as well as His death and resurrection when I have not only studied God’s Word but also seen God’s Word in action.
There are some who struggle believing, because of who God picks as His spokesperson. Do you think it is possible that God calls on those who have or who are, struggling because; ‘who better to have serve’ than a willing servant. Do you think it is possible that God calls on those who have, or who are, struggling for; ‘who else to have a witness’ then one who has been there and back?
And God, in His wisdom makes His choices, of who He will pick to serve Him. …You know who God often picks? I have personally experienced who God often picks and it isn’t always the intellect.
1 Corinthians 1:18-26
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
Jesus Christ was born in a manger… surrounded with twelve Disciples and walked this earth riding a donkey into Jerusalem, associating with people from all walks of life.
I have seen first hand Jesus resurrection work in people’s lives. I have seen the resurrection raise people from the despair of life to the joy of a new life. In His wisdom God does not care if you have a college or graduate degree. God does not care what our IQ is. God only cares where our heart is and where the heart is appears to be who God may call to be His messenger.
I believe that Jesus Christ actually walked this earth, was killed on the cross at Calvary, for the forgiveness of our sins and on the third day Jesus rose from the grave and ascended into heaven. I believe not because a Ph. D wrote a book, but because the resurrection story has stood the test of time. It is not something here today and gone tomorrow. I believe the resurrection story. For I have lived the resurrection story in my heart and soul when I have been in the depths of hell looking up.
We can sing the great hymns of Easter, we can hear the familiar stories of scripture, we can enjoy the beauty of Easter. Easter can be experienced in many ways but the real power of Easter is the way people’s lives are moved and whom God chooses to be His spokesperson.
You see; the only difference between a grave and a rut is the dimensions. It’s a folksy way of saying that the resurrection is not just for the afterlife; it is also for the here and now. It is the power of having a reason to be alive and to live.
Because He lives, I can see tomorrow. Because He lives, I have no fear. Because He lives, there is a future and life is worth living because He lives.
Let me ask you, “How do you know that the resurrection story is true?” Share the story of the resurrection with others through your heart and not your brain and then others will know the truth of Easter morning as well.
Father God, there are those who question the resurrection story of your only Son Jesus Christ. There are those who question the validity of the story for they look at life through titles and education. May we remember the greatest story ever told the story that is the bases of our faith as Christians is about Jesus Christ not a college degree. Thank you Father God that you look at our heart and not our brain. Thank you for the promise of life everlasting for those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. May we all rejoice and sing, I love to tell the story because I know it is true. Amen.
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