Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

The Centrality of the Resurrection

Outline

We often talk about the centrality of the cross

And that is very true for without the cross there is no salvation - we have not been separated from our sin, we are still estranged from God

But the cross is a prelude in that it is like releasing someone from prison.

They walk out the gate and now what?

Is there life after prison?

Here we find the centrality of the resurrection, for in that we are joined to Jesus it shows us life after the nothingness or death of life without Jesus.

In other words, it is not just “a happy ending after an unjust execution.”

That is the difference that we see in John

Mary knows that the tomb is empty, but she does not know that Jesus is raised.

This could be more bad news.

Peter and the Beloved Disciple run to the tomb; it is only when they see that the burial clothes are still there but empty, that the head-cloth is laid aside showing the empty inside that they realize this was no theft but a living body somehow passing through the heavy burial clothes.

They do not know where he is, but they know he is somewhere.

And that somewhere is where their hearts are.

Mary will come back and will seek him, but it is only when she turns from where he is not to look away that she encounters him, and he is her future.

Peter in Acts points to Jesus as part of the church’s future

“This man God raised [on] the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance” - that is presence

But with spiritual experience there always comes mission: “42 He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.”

There is indeed a future.

But so that it is not read as a negative future for his hearers he adds: “To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

So, Sisters, Paul gives us the meaning for us

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.”

We may partake in the cross, but our minds and hearts are with Jesus in his present rule.

Our earthly passions and desires have died with Christ (although, as the Imitation of Christ tells us, we have to work this out) and our present and future is with Christ, including sharing his honor status when he appears.

That is why most semi-scholarly attacks on Jesus are attacks on his resurrection, not his crucifixion.

And that is why the spiritual forces arrayed against us want us focused on our past and our sufferings and not on our union with Christ in the present and the future.

So the cross is central to our deliverance, but having been delivered the resurrection and the resurrected Christ are central to our present and future.

Readings

FIRST READING

Acts 10:34a, 37–43

34 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.

37 what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power.

He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39 We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and [in] Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.

40 This man God raised [on] the third day and granted that he be visible, 41 not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.

43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

RESPONSE

Psalm 118:24

24 This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice in it and be glad.

PSALM

Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

his mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:

his mercy endures forever.

16 the LORD’s right hand is raised;

the LORD’s right hand works valiantly.”

17 I shall not die but live

and declare the deeds of the LORD.

22 The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

23 By the LORD has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

SECOND READING

Option A

Colossians 3:1–4

CHAPTER 3

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

OR

Option B

1 Corinthians 5:6b–8

6 Your boasting is not appropriate.

Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?

7 Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened.

For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.

8 Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

1 Corinthians 5:7b–8a

7 Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened.

For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.

8 Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

GOSPEL

Option A

John 20:1–9

1 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

4 They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5 he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

9  For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

OR

Option B

Luke 24:1–12

CHAPTER 24

1 But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. 5 They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.

They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?

6 He is not here, but he has been raised.

Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” 8 And they remembered his words.

9  Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.

10 The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, 11 but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.

12  But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

OR

Option C

Luke 24:13–35