March 25, 2013
Pastorgraphs: “An Easter Surprise”
Having delivered over 40 Easter
sermons, I wanted to find a new approach to one of the most familiar stories of
all time. So I read anew the account of Mark, whom most scholars agree was the
first of the gospel writers to document the Easter story.
"When
the Sabbath had passed, Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of James and Salome
bought spices to go and anoint his body. Very early in the morning on the first
day of the week, when the sun was rising, they went to the tomb. They kept
saying to each other, 'Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb
for us?' They looked up and they saw that the stone had been rolled away,
for it was very large.” (Mark 16:1-3) William Barclay translation.
As the
women made their way to the tomb that early Sunday morning, they were concerned
about the logistics of opening the tomb. The women knew the authorities had
sealed the tomb to insure no one could get in (or out). But God had already
taken care of that (which would have been most difficult for the women to do by
their own strength) so they could experience and understand something much more
profound – the Resurrection. Matthew added “for the angel of the Lord descended
from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.” (I like that
the angel sat upon the stone, signifying human power is no match for the
spiritual power of God.)
Concern
over how we will roll away the stones in our life reminds us that:
1.
we
spend too much time worrying about things over which we have no control,
2.
we
depend upon our own power and strength when God’s power is already working for
us,
3.
and,
we often miss the big picture because we are focusing on the little stuff.
In all
fairness, nothing like this had ever happened before. Although Jesus told the
disciples he would be arrested, tried and executed, and that he would rise on
the third day, they still didn’t get it. They thought he was speaking in
parables again. Although they were prepared physically to anoint Jesus’ body, a
common decency denied him at his burial, and were devising a way to physically
move the enormous stone, they clearly were unprepared spiritually to receive
the greatest Good News of all time. Knowing what we now know, it is easy to
second guess them; to ask “Where is your faith?” Had any of us been with them,
getting past the giant stone would have been our concern as well. [Sidebar:
Thank God for the women in our churches who take care of the logistics of
church life!]
So where
are the stones in your life? Your health, your job, your family, your finances?
Stones represent those obstacles that prevent us from experiencing the joyful
abundant life Jesus wants us to have, just as it separated the women from
discovering the greatest joy of their lives. Our stones may include anger,
bitterness, un-forgiveness, anxiety, and certainly include the lack of faith,
hope and love. In my own life, I have seen God move many stones I could have
never been able to move by myself. When God has a plan for your life, don’t
worry about excavating the landscape; He has rolling away the stones all under
control.
So there is
yet another powerful sermon in this ageless story. I hope to share it Sunday at
10:00 AM with the family of believers at Christ Ministry Center and Exodus
Church. Here is a sneak peek.
When God
rolls away the stone:
1.
Worry
rolls away into Praise
2.
Sadness
rolls away into Joy
3.
Impossibility
rolls away into Accomplishment
4.
Death
rolls away into Life
Luke
recorded how the angel inside the tomb asked, “Why are you looking for him who
is alive among the dead? He is not here; he is risen.” That remains the
essential question of Easter.
The
Resurrection is the most important event for Christians. Upon this single event
hinges the basis of all our being. Paul said, “if Christ be not risen, then is
our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” But he hastens to add: “But
now IS Christ risen from the dead.”
May God
roll away the stones in your life that separate you from experiencing the power
of the resurrection in our daily life.
Pastor Bill
[Image
used by permission. ©James Steidl - Fotolia.com]
From the
Quote Garden:
“Easter is not a time for groping
through dusty, musty tomes or tombs to disprove spontaneous generation or even
to prove life eternal. It is a day to fan the ashes of dead hope, a day to
banish doubts and seek the slopes where the sun is rising, to revel in the faith
which transports us out of ourselves and the dead past into the vast and
inviting unknown.”
~ Author unknown, as quoted in the Lewiston
Tribune ~
Easter
Joint Worship Service:
You are invited to a joint
worship Easter Celebration Sunday, March 31, 10:00 AM, sponsored by Exodus
Church and the Methodist congregations at 33rd and Meade. Everyone
is invited to attend. Multiple choirs will sing, and I have the honor of
preaching the Easter Sermon. It will be a glorious day, similar to
multi-congregational services we have experienced in the past.
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
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