Sermon for Easter Sunday
Some Easter eggs (the deluxe - and more expensive ones) are full of luxury chocolates, some have just a small pack of smarties, others are empty (not that I have done extensive research you understand!). Perhaps you feel cheated with an empty chocolate egg? But in nature an empty egg is one from which new life has come. Like the empty tomb of Jesus.
The empty tomb is part of the evidence for the Resurrection. Of course, at the time it wasn't so clear cut. In Matthew's account, the discovery of the empty tomb is linked directly with the appearance of the Risen Christ. Matthew Is writing with hindsight. The other evangelists imply that at first the disciples, men and women, feared the authorities had stolen the body. Even today some say this is the case. But if that was the case why didn't the authorities produce the body to refute the disciples claim that Jesus had risen from the dead?
Others say the disciples stole the body and pretended Jesus had risen from the dead. There are two problems here: it hardly seems possible that the disciples of Jesus would do such an immoral thing- knowing what we do about the integrity of their master. Secondly if they had done such a thing how could they then go on and courageously face persecution, even death for some of them, for something they knew to be untrue.
And, believe or not, having exhausted these arguments there are some who say he hadn't died. So, the Roman executioners didn't know how to do their job? Joseph of Arimathea did not notice that Jesus was still alive when he placed him in the tomb? And a man who had recently been flogged and nailed to a cross for six hours and then had a spear thrust into his side was able to unwrap himself from his grave clothes, get up, roll away a massive stone from the entrance to his tomb and then make himself presentable to meet his disciples?
And then there is the view that such a thing as resurrection cannot happen. It is scientifically unverifiable. It is physically impossible. Any evidence, of the empty tomb, of changed lives, is disregarded. Science cannot deal with a one off event such as this - it needs repeatable and predictable and quantifiable data to work with. All I can say to this: Big Bang. Was that not a one off event - the effects of which we are still observing and living with.
The fact is that those who refuse to consider the evidence for the resurrection simply have closed minds. And although I am no scientist I had thought that a closed mind was the last thing a respectable scientist would want to have. Indeed the so called New Atheists accuse Christians of having closed minds. Bit ironic!
Going back to the Gospel; it was not the empty tomb which convinced the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead. It was when they encountered the Risen Christ that they could, like Thomas say 'My Lord and my God'. Only then were their lives really transformed and they experienced for themselves a personal resurrection of understanding and outlook..
And this remains true today. God is not at the end of an argument. He is in an encounter. An encounter with Jesus Christ. Today, in this media age people are wary and suspicious of words and arguments. But people will listen to lives lived with integrity and hope and love; lives and communities which are faithful and welcoming and accepting. Lives which have moved out of the tombs of fear, bitterness, prejudice, materialism, destructive habits, even religiosity which once contained and held them and entered into the outgoing love of Jesus.
For this is the only way people will meet the Risen Christ and so come to a saving, healing relationship with God. God who is Holy Being from whom comes all being that ever was, and is and shall be for ever. Amen. .
|
