Sermon - 2018-04-01 - Easter
It is difficult for us to capture the same surprise, joy, and amazement that those women and men who were the disciples of Jesus Christ had. We have gathered for this three-part worship service of Jesus’ final day on earth and his death. We gather together today for his joyous arrival back among us. However, for many of us, we know the story. We know what it is going to happen, while the disciples did not. It is like reading a book and then watching the movie.
However, it is Easter on which most people focus. They focus on the joyous celebration, the triumph and victory. We so often focus upon it that we can forget the details or reason for the celebration. We can forget the days that led up to this. The days that we still experience in our daily life. However, along with this journey of life and faith, we can so easily get caught up on the one instance. An instance that holds our gaze. It holds all our attention, our time, and our energy, that our life becomes focused on it. We do this often at the death of a loved one. When things are going wrong and there seems to be no chance of a hope. We get caught up at the cross.
We gather together as a church to love and care for one another on this journey of life and faith. Still, some of us get caught up at the empty tomb. (The little girl and the scholar)
A prominent theologian and Biblical scholar was presenting to a packed auditorium at the local college. Going into great detail he was explaining the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. He had many pictures and paintings that depicted many of the events. He went through the Greek of the words that were spoken by Jesus and shared many of the Jewish customs that were followed and how they were changed. When he came to the end of the presentation, he ended with a picture of the empty tomb and the hope of the Easter message. The crowd sat in silence at all they had heard. When out of no where, a little girl in the crowd asked. “All done?” Many in the crowd turned to look at the girl and then back to the speaker. The speaker smiled and said, “For today, but tomorrow we shall get to work.”
We were not expecting this, we do not know how to move forward or what to do next. We find ourselves in shock, in amazement, and in wonder. We want to understand, how, why, what’s next? We find ourselves getting lost in the questions.
Why do we celebrate Easter? Is it because Jesus Christ is raised from the dead? Not only that, but he was raised to glory, honor and into the presence of God. Now, this very gift was given to Jesus Christ and is given to each and everyone of you. Did you ask for it? Do you deserve it? NO, but it was a gift given to you out of love. Does it make sense? No, but it is still given for you. For you see, the world does not know how to give life, but God does. The world does not know how to give hope, but God does. So today, we celebrate the gift of life and the gift of hope given to each and every one of us. Happy Easter.
However, it is Easter on which most people focus. They focus on the joyous celebration, the triumph and victory. We so often focus upon it that we can forget the details or reason for the celebration. We can forget the days that led up to this. The days that we still experience in our daily life. However, along with this journey of life and faith, we can so easily get caught up on the one instance. An instance that holds our gaze. It holds all our attention, our time, and our energy, that our life becomes focused on it. We do this often at the death of a loved one. When things are going wrong and there seems to be no chance of a hope. We get caught up at the cross.
We gather together as a church to love and care for one another on this journey of life and faith. Still, some of us get caught up at the empty tomb. (The little girl and the scholar)
A prominent theologian and Biblical scholar was presenting to a packed auditorium at the local college. Going into great detail he was explaining the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. He had many pictures and paintings that depicted many of the events. He went through the Greek of the words that were spoken by Jesus and shared many of the Jewish customs that were followed and how they were changed. When he came to the end of the presentation, he ended with a picture of the empty tomb and the hope of the Easter message. The crowd sat in silence at all they had heard. When out of no where, a little girl in the crowd asked. “All done?” Many in the crowd turned to look at the girl and then back to the speaker. The speaker smiled and said, “For today, but tomorrow we shall get to work.”
We were not expecting this, we do not know how to move forward or what to do next. We find ourselves in shock, in amazement, and in wonder. We want to understand, how, why, what’s next? We find ourselves getting lost in the questions.
Why do we celebrate Easter? Is it because Jesus Christ is raised from the dead? Not only that, but he was raised to glory, honor and into the presence of God. Now, this very gift was given to Jesus Christ and is given to each and everyone of you. Did you ask for it? Do you deserve it? NO, but it was a gift given to you out of love. Does it make sense? No, but it is still given for you. For you see, the world does not know how to give life, but God does. The world does not know how to give hope, but God does. So today, we celebrate the gift of life and the gift of hope given to each and every one of us. Happy Easter.
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