An Unexpected Surpise
Notes
Transcript
Some surprises are better than others. I recently heard the story of Joe Buck, the baseball and football announcer, when he first met the slugger Barry Bonds. Mr. Buck was talking to manager Dusty Baker who asked him if he wanted to meet Bonds. Buck said: “That’s okay, I heard he’s not real sociable.”
At that point, Dusty Baker said: “Oh come on. Barry’s bark is worst than his bite,” and the two men made their way to the home run king. Dusty Baker said: “Barry, I’d like you to meet Joe Buck, son of Jack Buck and baseball announcer.” And at that, Bonds said: “So what.” Joe Buck turned to Dusty Baker and said: “You were right. Nice guy.”
Some surprises are better than others.
In this Scripture, there is a series of reactions and responses. For the disciples, their reluctance to believe in the resurrection of Jesus made for an incredible surprise when it occurred. Their world stopped. And they were frenzied, as any of us would be if we were there. It is to Luke’s account that we turn this morning. Let us first observe that...
That first Easter the devoted women went to the tomb to perform a devoted service to Jesus.
That first Easter the devoted women went to the tomb to perform a devoted service to Jesus.
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Why did the women bring spices to the tomb? Maybe they were going to show respect and devotion to the body of Jesus. Whatever the reason, they expected to find a body.
Jesus died on Friday; his body laid in the tomb late afternoon. The women and the other disciples obeyed the sabbath. It is now early Sunday morning.
Each of the four gospels records the resurrection of Jesus. Each of the four state that it was on the first day of the week (which is why Christians worship on Sunday, which alone is a strong proof of Jesus’ resurrection. Why else would Jews stop worshipping on the Sabbath and start worshipping on Sunday morning?
And each of the four gospels mentions the stone having been rolled away. This was especially noteworthy, for it would have taken something like an earthquake, for the rock was most likely huge and wedged, making it impossible for the grave to become opened, without the help of strong men.
The angels announced what was evident.
The angels announced what was evident.
Then there is the reaction to seeing the angels. Awe and fear are the normal reactions when seeing heavenly beings. And that is just what the women did.
But the angels have a question: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Luke 24:5-8
5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words,
Jesus regularly predicted His death, burial and resurrection many times. For instance, He did so after Peter’s confession at Caeserea Philippi in Luke 9:22
Luke 9:22 (ESV)
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
And later in Luke 9:43 with the preceding statement: “Let these words sink into your ears.”
It reveals our capacity for selective hearing. Only in Luke’s gospel do we see the angels reminding these ladies of the three passion events which state the mission of Jesus.
The empty tomb speaks for itself.
The empty tomb speaks for itself.
And so the women ran and told the eleven. And notice the men’s reaction. They dismissed what the ladies had said as “idle talk.” Laurence Porter points out: “Their story is received with incredulous skepticism. (Nevertheless) The fact of the resurrection is one of the best historically attested facts of ancient history.” (Laurence Porter, “The Gospel According to Luke,” New Testament Commentary, 249).
All but one. Peter, rose quickly and ran to the tomb. Peter remembered and wanted to see for himself. John accompanied him. You can see this depicted in Swiss Artist Eugene Burnand’s Painting “Resurrection Morning,” (1898).
As human beings, we want evidence for ourselves. We crave evidence. Missouri is called “the Show-Me state.” In other words, we have to see it to believe it.
And upon getting to the tomb, he saw the linen wrappings lying there.
We are overcome by trauma. It is hard to have hope. But if something blows that trauma up, something that is greater than that trauma, then we can overcome it.
I do not know why many fail to see the inspiration associated with Easter? Why do we get distracted by a make-believe bunny that hands out chocolate? Why do we yell and cheer at an athletic event, but we are indifferent to a God who raises the dead? It baffles my mind. Maybe its the hardening effects of sin; that we become numb to the things of God, and that many Christians still live in hopelessness.
But Jesus rising from the dead was a miracle from God. Dead men do not rise, as a rule. But something supernatural happened on that morning that cannot be explained through science.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the resurrection of Jesus a puzzle. He wrote:
“For the world there remains an unsolvable puzzle, which in no way can compel faith in the resurrection of Jesus. For believers, however, this puzzle is the sign of the reality about which they already know, a mark of divine activity in history.” (Bonhoeffer, God is on the Cross, 104).
But not only do Christians see the resurrection as God stepping into history and doing something spectacular.
And out of its truth, the Christian is given hope in the midst of death; and power for a changed life.
John Calvin, the great 16th century reformer, commenting on that part of the Apostles’ Creed that we believe: “…on the third day He arose again from the dead… ,” said:
“By His resurrection we have the unshakeable assurance of obtaining victory over the rule of death. The fact is that he could not be held prisoner by death’s chains. By exercising all his power he came out of it, thus breaking in pieces its weapons in such a way that they can no longer strike us mortally. His resurrection, then, is the certain fact, the basis and foundation not only of our own resurrection to come, but also of this present resurrection which enables us to live a new sort of life.” (John Calvin, Truth for All Time, 72-73).
That, my friends is a beautiful statement and a wonderful surprise on the landscape of history!
Not only is it the most recorded event in ancient history, but it puts the resurrection of Jesus right here, in both head and heart, and explains that Jesus rising from the dead is a life-changing, life-giving event! And it gives tremendous hope.
Hope in the face of death. And power for a changed life. No longer to be doomed by the grave; no longer to be controlled by the guilt and power of sin. Praise God! He is risen! He is risen indeed!