10.30am Easter Sunday 11 April 2004
Rev Des Botting
Readings: Luke 24:1-12; Acts 10:34-43
The resurrection of Jesus, which we celebrate today, marked a turning point thats changed the whole course of human history. The world has never been the same since Jesus rose. His resurrection shines like a brilliant light in the midst of the humankinds darkness and despair bringing confidence to live this present life and a hope for the future to billions around the world. It is this event that inspired the statement - All history is HIS STORY. And yet what happened on that first Easter Sunday took everyone by surprise, not least Jesus own disciples. This morning let us look at the events of that first Easter Sunday.
We read in Lukes Gospel how the women came to the tomb very early on Sunday, the first day of the week. These are the same women who Luke speaks of at the end of the previous chapter, whod been present when Jesus died, and had watched Joseph of Arimathea take the body of Jesus down from the cross and place it in a tomb hed had hewn out of a rock that had never been used before. Theyd then gone to prepare some sweet-smelling spices for his burial, but had rested on the Sabbath as the Law of Moses required. The Jewish Sabbath was always on the seventh day of the week because that was the day that God rested after hed finished his work of creation. Luke names who these women were later in the passage we read. Mary Magdalene, the woman out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons, and Joanna are mentioned as far back as Luke 8. Theyd been part of the group that had traveled with Jesus from Galilee. Mark adds the name of Salome to those Luke mentions here.[1]
As soon as they possibly could on the Sunday morning, these women went to the tomb. They obviously werent expecting the tomb to be empty otherwise they wouldnt have taken the spices theyd prepared to embalm the body of Jesus. They felt that this was the very least they could do. They were so intent to do what they could for one whod come to mean so much to them, that they hadnt given any thought as to how they would get into the tomb. Its Mark who tells us that on the way to the tomb they were asking one another, Who will roll the stone away from the entrance for us?[2] Resurrection was the last thing on their minds.
Note two things that come our of this story so far.
1. These women were faced with an insurmountable problem. There was no way they could shift the big[3] stone, as Mark describes it, that had been rolled against the entrance of the tomb, and yet that didnt deter them from going to the tomb anyway. They believed that somehow the problem would be overcome so that they could do what they could for the one they loved. How often has that been your experience? An obstacles been put in your way from accomplishing what youve wanted to do for Jesus, but you havent let that daunt or deter you. Youve pushed ahead in spite of it and then discovered when youd got to that place that it wasnt a problem at all. You found as others have found before you that Gods in the business of doing the impossible.
What is it today that youd really like to do for your risen Lord? Whats the desire hes put in your heart? It may be to start some kind of helping ministry for disadvantaged people. It may be something that youve gone through yourself and youd like to be able to help others who are going through a similar experience. It may be a very practical skill that you do well and would like to teach others. Whatever it is, if you feel strongly that its something God wants you to do for him, go for it. Talk about it with others, and Im sure youll find others who share the same vision as you, and together you can form a team to get things started. Dont wait until youre asked to do something. God rewarded the faith of these women on that first Easter day, and hell reward your faith, too.
2. The second thing thats very beautiful about this story, is that although Jesus had died, these women still wanted to do what they could for him. The least they could do was to make sure that Jesus had a proper burial. I believe thats all God asks of us. No matter how hopeless the situation may be, were to do what we can to help. Its like when the woman broke open the bottle of very expensive sweet-smelling perfume and poured it on Jesus head, and some of those present complained of the waste and started saying cruel things to the woman. But Jesus said, Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? Shes done a beautiful thing for me. Shes done all she could by pouring perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. You can be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, the people will remember what shes done. And tell others.[4]
Notice, too that in both these things, it was women who were involved. They took no thought to their own safety in going to the tomb even although they knew that a guard had been placed there, whereas the men were hiding behind locked doors. These women were doing what they could for Jesus. We must do the same.
Looking at the story again, when they arrived at the tomb, they got the surprise of their lives. The big stone that had been across the entrance had been rolled away and when they went inside they found that the tomb was empty, and Luke tells us they didnt know what to think.[5] You could imagine them standing there looking at one another wondering what to make of it all. Then suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. Now they were really scared. The Greek word used here means they were terrified. It was then that the men broke the news to the women that Jesus had been raised. He was alive, just as he had said he would be, but they hadnt believed him at the time. They couldnt wait to tell the other disciples.
What Jesus says is always true. Because hes perfect, he never says anything thats wrong. His words are completely trustworthy, like a solid rock that never moves. We can trust it implicitly.
When they returned to the disciples to tell them what had happened, Luke says that the apostles wouldnt believe them. They thought it was nonsense. Luke uses a medical term to describe what the disciples thought of what the women had said. It is a term that refers to the babbling of a fevered and insane mind, the kind of talk someone says when in a delirium, They were utterly skeptical of the whole idea, and refused to believe them.
How often have you found that what your wife or women friends have said to you has proved to be correct? You thought you knew better, but you were wrong. Ive lost count of the number of times when Grace has been right and Ive been wrong. Ive had to eat humble pie many times and acknowledge that Id made a mistake. At least its non-fattening and good for the soul.
Here in Luke, it wasnt only the apostles who didnt believe the women. It must have been true of the whole company of disciples as a little later on in this chapter when Jesus met up with the two disciples who were walking to Emmaus, it was obvious they hadnt believed the women either.
But note what Peter did. He went and checked it out. There was one way to find out if what these women were saying was correct, that was to go to know the truth. Luke tells us Peter ran to the tomb.[6] He was eager to find out. When he got to the tomb he found it exactly as the women had said. Jesus burial clothes were the only things that were there. We know that a short time later the same day Jesus did appear to Peter on his own. What a meeting that must have been? What an encouragement for Peter, who probably thought hed blown it completely when hed denied knowing his Lord those three times. This is just like Jesus. He wants to encourage us all the time.
You may be wondering about Jesus resurrection, too. Did he really come back to life? Or is it just make believe? You can do no better than to check it out like Peter did. Talk to Christians about it. Read the accounts of Jesus resurrection in the Bible. Read some of the books that have been written on it, like Who Moved the Stone? the book by a lawyer who set out to disprove the resurrection, but ended up becoming convinced that it was as the Scriptures say, because of the irrefutable evidence in support of it. The Bible always commends those who examine its statements. It was said of the people in Berea, Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things (ie what the apostles had shared) was true.[7] Christianity will stand up under the closest scrutiny.
Very briefly there are three things in this passage from Luke that help us accept its truth.
Yes, Jesus is risen! Hes alive and her today. As Peter shared in the home of Cornelius, Jesus is the one (God) has chosen to judge the living and the dead all who have faith in (him) will have their sins forgiven.[9]
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
[1] Mark 16:1
[2] Mark 16:3
[3] Mark 15:46
[4] Mark 13:3-9
[5] Luke 24:4
[6] Luke 12:12
[7] Acts 17:11
[8] Cf. John 20:11-18
[9] Acts