Easter 2019

NLT

Grief has overtaken the moment. Friday we gathered for the expressed purpose of being left wanting…Jesus Hung on the cross for 6 hours on Friday. For 6 hours people had to watch as the life slowly left His body…until He cried it is finished.

Even though they watched…even though they knew that Jesus was dying no one wanted to believe it.

They held on to the very end waiting hoping for a miracle…one that did not come…at least not yet…It is finished…it was abrupt and shocking and no one has gotten over it yet.

Anticipation had turned to disbelief, confusion and an overwhelming sense of Loss…the followers of Jesus were without a champion…they were emotionally, mentally, spiritually and perhaps even physically numb.

This is what Mary was dealing with when she made her way to the tomb…She was in Extreme mourning. She was not thinking clearly she was contemplating the loss of a friend, a teacher, a guide…and a Messiah.

She thought Jesus was the Messiah, the one who would rise up to free them from their oppressors, from poverty, from hardship. She thought he might save her too—a powerful hope for a woman in a world that looked down on women, a world that years and cultures later would often still seek to discredit her.

Her grief was so great that she traveled to the tomb alone, John says. And while other Gospel accounts say there were others with her, they are always still just women.

She was going to the tomb at a time that would have been dangerous for the followers of Jesus.

But Mary still went.

Tears in her eyes, grief in her heart—when she witnesses the miracle of all miracles. He is Risen…He is Risen Indeed!

When it seems like it is all over God reveals himself to those of us who are truly looking. This is what is happening here. This is Easter.

Jesus is still showing up today…But like Mary many times we may not recognize Him.

1. It makes sense that she doesn’t recognize Jesus.

Jesus had just died and she missed him.

She is crying out of deep pain, and as anyone with deep pain knows, it is hard to focus on anything but the pain of that moment.

There have been studies done on the effect of grief on people, and brains shut down to their very basic functions when faced with such extreme emotions.

Unnecessary or even routine tasks are nearly impossible to do, and it is easy to forget simple things due to the impact of grief on the brain. This impact on brain function can account for her inability to recognize Jesus because she is operating in survival mode.

Her one source of hope comes from her ability to honor his body for his burial, and her grief would be compounded by losing that ability. There is no closer no way of working through her extreme grief there is only unfinished business….

Her one source of hope comes from her ability to honor his body for his burial, and her grief would be compounded by losing that ability. There is no closer no way of working through her extreme grief there is only unfinished business….

Nothing is more haunting than unfinished business. Words not said, trips not taken together, goodbyes not exchanged…then it happens:

2. Jesus calls her by name.

a. When her name is spoken there is a powerful moment of recognition. Kind of like hearing your first middle and last name yelled by your mother.

Being named by Jesus has power. Jesus sees her, knows her, and calls out to her. She is not just another person grieving; she is his disciple whom he loves.

Not only does He Call her by name He also gives her a new identity.

She is now given the name of evangelist as Jesus tells her to tell the others.

She is given a task that wouldn’t have been given to women because their testimony lacked credibility. She is no longer just Mary; now she is Mary who has seen the risen Christ, Mary the evangelist.

Jesus sending Mary communicates to us that resurrection is something to be shared.

We like Mary have been called by name. Jesus resurrection power flows through those of us who enter into relationship with Him.

As such we now carry not only the same power and ability but the same mission.

That mission is to bring the message of salvation and the resurrection of Jesus to the entire world.

a. We are called to be a resurrection community.

We, like Mary and the disciples, are called out of sin and death.

We live in hopeful expectation that, just as Christ was raised, we too will be raised. With that hope, and in that hope, we go like Mary to share the news of the risen Christ and the hope of resurrection life with the world.

When we find dead places in the world we are equipped to breathe resurrection life into them.

We join the Holy Spirit in the work of sowing seeds of resurrection. We walk boldly, despite the dangers that might exist, to share with those who haven’t heard yet.We illuminate dark places with light.

4. The way to resurrection is through death.

We find those who are locked in rooms of fear, like the disciples, and we share with them the news that they do not need to live in fear.

Because Jesus overcame the barbaric Cross by being raised from the dead we literally have nothing to fear when faced with any form of darkness.

i. This means laying down our greed, selfishness, pride, etc.

ii. This also might mean laying down our very lives for those around us.

iii. It means doing hard things and going to unexpected and hard places.

We go into the worst places of the world trusting the hope of resurrection.

The resurrection community (The Church) does not fear the worst places but seeks to bring hope into them.

The Church is called to find the darkest and most dangerous places of the world to cast the light and life of resurrection.

The Church knows that in the power of the Spirit, they can do hard things.

This means we should stop settling for easy wins and go after the big evils of the world. There is resurrection in all circumstances.

There is resurrection for the dead places of our hearts and of our worlds.

There is resurrection in all circumstances.

i. For places embroiled in racism, sexism, and any form of hate, there is resurrection.

ii. For places consumed by poverty and hopelessness, there is hope in the resurrection.

iii. For places battling drought and disease, there is resurrection hope.

iv. For places overcome by violence, there is resurrection.

Can you see it? Can you believe it?

We are gathered hear today to celebrate probably the most unbelievable thing to ever happen…Jesus returning from the dead.

So it stands to reason that if Jesus has been resurrected from the dead we can tackle the great problems of this world in the name of God and not man.

As the resurrection community, we are the ones who are called to go.

i.Even when it is hard and difficult.

ii. The gifts of the body multiply our work.

iii. We are not abandoned but are gifted by the Holy Spirit.

iv. We declare through our lives, our words, and our actions that even the most forgotten places, even the worst places, can be redeemed.

CONCLUSION

We are the community of the resurrection.(The Church) Knowing Jesus was alive was not enough for Mary. She was sent to share the good news with the world.

We remember and celebrate that Christ is risen this morning, but it is not enough for us to celebrate here in this space. We, like Mary, are told to go and tell the others.

We are called to breathe resurrection, to live resurrection, to sing resurrection, to do the work of resurrection in the world, that the dead places and dead people might come to life.

Jesus is calling you and me by name. He is resurrecting our identity as people with purpose. Will you answer when Jesus calls your name?

Think about a community of faith that lives out their God given purpose by allowing the resurrection power of Jesus to replace personal will power.

This event called easter has radically changed the world not only because of What Jesus did on this day but because His followers leaned into the mission of being a resurrection community.

I believe this Church is one of those communities. I believe that Jesus has a mission for us that is greater than what we think we can accomplish.

When we come to the Table this morning let us come with joy and courage to live in the resurrection power and mission that God has made possible in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

He is risen! He is risen Indeed!

Commit by filling our card and leaving it on the altar as you received the Sacrament of Communion.

Communion/Commitment Time

Lord,

We are Compelled to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ or Lord; for He voluntarily gave His life for us, and has taken away the sins of the entire world. By His death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us eternal life.

Benediction....

And now, may the God of peace,

who brought back again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

equip you with all you need for doing his will.

May he produce in you,

through the power of Jesus Christ,

all this is pleasing to him.

To him be glory forever and ever.

Amen.