It’s Easter. The day we celebrate the resurrection and the empty tomb. This morning, we read John’s version of this magnificent story, but we hear this story of the resurrection time too often. Most of us probably know it by heart, but I wonder if we know it so well that perhaps we forget what’s really going on here. So let’s take this scene from John’s gospel forward a few centuries and see if we can find a new way to hear it.
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But what if Jesus were to die in this modern age – perhaps even here in Windom? His body would be taken to the funeral home and be prepared for burial. ON the third day or so, his funeral would be scheduled.
Suppose for a minute that the staff from the funeral home arrive and they carefully wheel the coffin in to the back of the church. Quietly, they bring in the flowers and the guest book and the memorial cards so that all is in readiness for the funeral itself. The time for friends and family to say goodbye for the last time. One of the last things they do is open the left side of the coffin.
But what do you think would happen if one morning the funeral director had to return to the funeral home before he opened the coffin. Just suppose that on this particular day I was anxious to say my own goodbye and so opened the lid myself while no one else was here. And suppose I pulled open the lid and there was no body? Imagine for a few moments - what would happen?
I gotta tell ya, I’d be more than a little surprised. I’d probably get a really strange look on my face. Maybe I’d wonder if I was awake or not. Then I'd take a second look - this time putting my face a little deeper into the coffin. I could not imagine that they had made a mistake – they are too caring and too careful.
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What could have happened? Could they have made a mistake? Did they have to do something more? Could they have taken him out for some reason and just not had time to put him back? Could they have misplaced him or brought the wrong coffin?
My first thought would not be resurrection. Next, I’d probably regain my composure and run into the church office and call the funeral hime on the phone. I'd ask, ‘Is there any chance that you brought the wrong coffin?’ No doubt, there would be a long pause and the funeral director, who is always so composed, would say, ‘Excuse me?’
We would exchange a few more words as I explained my discovery – and what do you think would happen next? He would think I was nuts, but he and one or two others would drive over to see for themselves. They would look into the coffin and probably become just as surprised and puzzled as I was. Maybe they’d ask me if this was some really bad April fools joke. Next, he’d probably reach in and hold up the discarded clothing – ‘Well, you’re right. The body is missing. Here are the clothes he was wearing. I just don’t understand what could have happened.’ Then he’d probably return to the funeral home to see if he could find out if anyone there knew something about it.
- and I would just stand here wondering what to do next.
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The funeral director and his colleagues might believe that the coffin is empty, but they still wouldn't know what had happened. Neither do the disciples in this morning's scripture. At first, they think Mary is crazy, but even with they know she's not crazy, they don't understand what could have happened. For as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead - so they went back home. Mary has seen the empty tomb also - and she can't even bring herself to go home. She just stands there weeping.
Wouldn't it be sad if that were the end of the scripture? Wouldn't it be a shame if that was all there was to the Easter Story - just an empty tomb and some puzzled disciples? Wouldn't it be awful if we never had any answers? If we never knew what had really happened, but only wondered?
But there is more to the story - Mary turns around and looking through swollen, tear-filled eyes, she sees Jesus - and doesn't even recognize him until he calls her by name - Mary!
-- and then she gets it. Jesus is alive – standing there in the flesh – glorified flesh at that. How would we react to something like that?
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Everything would change. Sorrow would turn to joy. Crying would turn to laughter. Down turned faces would look upward full of smiles.
Jesus gives Mary a message – Go and tell the others – and Mary Magdalene becomes the first Christian missionary when she does go and she does tell.
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No sense seeking the dead among the living. The resurrection of Jesus is not the same as the resuscitation of Lazarus. Lazarus came out of his tomb wearing his funeral cloths – he would need them again. Jesus left his behind because he never would. Lazarus would die and be buried again – but Jesus will soon ascend to heaven and live to eternity.
Mary encountered the risen Jesus, heard him call her by name – and the world has never been the same.
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The reality of the empty tomb is essential to the Christian message, but that is not enough. An even greater reality is that no one ever came to faith by looking into an empty coffin or an empty tomb. No one ever came to faith by agreeing that something was true. No one ever put dedicated their entire life to a fact – to an idea maybe, but not just a fact. An exercise of logic won’t do it. Faith requires so much more than that. Faith requires relationship.
People come to faith when they have an encounter with the risen Lord. When they fall in love with Jesus and through the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, they that love is returned. And so have millions and millions of people through the almost 2,000 years since it happened.
The good news of the gospel is so simple that little children can understand it, “Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.” It is so deep that we could study for the next two millennia and never fully understand it.
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In this morning's scripture segment, Mary recognizes Jesus when he calls her name. In John 10:27, Jesus tells us that - My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. In Revelation we read, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”
Jesus meets us where we are and calls us by name - this is how people come to faith - the risen Lord calls us by name - and when we hear his voice, our tears of sorrow turn into tears of joy. Our weeping turns into laughing. Coming to faith, accepting Christ as our savior, turning back from a life lived in spite of the love of God to a life lived because of God – is the most best and most joyful thing we can do.
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The empty tomb is not enough – but we have the witness of the risen Lord and that is what makes all the difference. The one who promises to never leave us or forsake us. The one who promises to comfort us in our sorrow. The one who promises to lead us into all truth – and at the end of this life, to give us glorified bodies and share eternity with us.
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The empty tomb is not enough. Even admitting that there was an empty tomb is not enough. It’s all about faith – and relationship – and love – and forgiveness. And if you think that perhaps you and the Lord need to have a long talk about any of these things – today is a great day to do it. And if you’re not sure how to even start – just let me know as you leave - give me a short phone call – drop me a little note.
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We’re all about being in loving relationship with Jesus here. We’re all about helping people to faith and we’ll be glad to talk about it with you.
Amen!
Happy Easter!
