Easter 2014

BASE HEADER LEVEL: 2

“After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”” (Matthew 28.1–10 NRSV)

Friends, do not be afraid. The tomb has been emptied. Jesus has been raised.

On another Sunday morning as the sun came up, something truly new had happened. It was the first day of a new week. You have to think that Mary and Mary, the women that went to mourn at Jesus’ tomb, were thinking that at least this new week couldn’t be as bad as the previous. That previous week (that no one yet had the nerve to call “holy week”) gave way to mob mentality, a terrible injustice, snide remarks, good people turned violent, an innocent friend tortured and dead. And worst of all, the hopes and dreams of people who thought they had found a new way, a new life, a new chance to be real people came to an end. Jesus, the best chance to end the reign of terror, the best shot to help them worship God without fear was hung on a cross as an example and sealed in a tomb as the end of a revolution. Pilate ordered the tomb be made as secure as possible.

And just when you think it couldn’t get any worse… when all that these poor women want to do is pay their respects to their friend…

… there was an earthquake. Can’t they let the poor man rest in peace? And now the Mary’s are afraid. Even the guards are afraid. Something is happening. Something truly different. Truly new.

An angel appears, the first words out of his mouth: “Do not be afraid.” After the week they’ve been thru? Ha! It was a week designed to make followers of Jesus afraid. Their friend and teacher was crucified to make them afraid. That what crucifixion is for. It’s a terribly inefficient way to kill someone. But it’s public. It’s humiliating. It says, “if you also step out of line, look what will happen to you. Be afraid, be very afraid.”

So what could have possibly happened on an early Sunday morning that we should no longer be afraid?

Jesus Christ is risen today.

Resurrection changes everything. In the past, in the future, now. The empty tomb means that this past week of suffering and betrayal truly was holy. Resurrection means the cross is no longer a sign of fear, but a sign of love. The empty tomb means that the healing, the wholeness that Jesus nurtured in this world was not just a naive idea he had, but was (and is) the real thing.

It changes everything in your life. Resurrection means that you do not have to be afraid. Whatever week you’ve been through, whatever month, year, lifetime you’ve been through truly was holy. Probably not easy. But holy.

Holy because the tomb is empty. Whatever struggles you’ve been through, whatever mistakes have been made, fear does not get the last word. Do not be afraid: The tomb is empty. Death itself is dead.

Holy week is behind you. Jesus goes ahead of you. Calling you into a future without fear. To live your life in a truly different, truly new way. A way that sees life in death, power in weakness, wisdom in foolishness.

Everything that stands between you and God was nailed to that cross and sealed in the tomb.

Friends, do not be afraid. The tomb is empty. We have nothing left to fear.