Loving God, just when everything seems hopeless, you enter the scene and do amazing new things.  Help us to believe and trust in your presence and power as we gather together today, casting out our fear and replacing it with your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    Right before we get to the gospel reading that we heard today, the religious leaders are afraid.  They know that Jesus had predicted his own resurrection from the dead, and they sense a trick coming.  They are convinced that Jesus’ disciples are going to come and steal his body and then tell everybody that he is risen from the dead.  And so they go to Pilate, the Roman governor, in order to request some security.  Matthew tells us that the tomb was made as secure as possible, as they sealed the stone at the entrance and also posted some guards.  Isn’t it just like God, though, to break right through humanly devised security measures?!

    Early Sunday morning, as the two Marys made their way to the tomb, they simply expected to visit Jesus’ grave.  Instead, they are greeted by a message.  Initially, they feel the message – they feel the earth shake under their feet as an earthquake hits.  In this case, all of creation is involved in telling them to sit up and take notice.  God is doing something here!  Perhaps this year more than ever we are tuned in to this particular detail.  Yet, we do need to be careful about assuming that every earthquake is a message from God.  Elijah, too, experienced an earthquake when he was on Mt. Horeb, and in that case, “the Lord was not in the earthquake” (1 Ki. 19:11).  On Easter morning, though, the earthquake is part of God’s message.

    Next, the two Marys see the message.  They see an angel of the Lord - God’s messenger - coming down and rolling away the stone and sitting on it.  They see the heavenly light that emanates from him, and the empty tomb.  They see that God is definitely doing something here!  (So much for all those security measures...)  And then, before they can run away, both Marys hear the message.

    The basic message, which they feel and see and hear, is actually quite simple: “Jesus is risen from the dead.”  Death could not hold him, the tomb could not hold him, and nobody came to steal the body.  Jesus is alive.  We’re getting close to the end of the gospel of Matthew here, and you probably thought that this would be the end of the story – but it’s a surprise ending!  Because Jesus is risen, the story continues, as does his presence and power with us.  Because Jesus is risen, the message given to those women at the tomb is also for us.

    The first part of that message, which is spoken by the angel and also by Jesus in today’s gospel is this: “Do not be afraid” (Mt. 28:5, 10).  So many of us seem to need to hear that message.  I suspect that if we were to ask every person here today what makes them anxious or what makes them afraid, we would come up with a pretty long list of fears.  Natural disasters?  Illness?  Loss?  Nuclear meltdown?  Finances?  Rejection?  Death?  Small, enclosed spaces?  Those are just a few possibilities.  Yet, biblically speaking, the message always begins with “Do not be afraid.”

    Our God, who created us, and who loves us, and who even died for us, has power over every single thing that we are afraid of.  In fact, we are reminded in the Scriptures that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18).  One author that I was reading recently (Neal Lozano) says that fear and love cannot co-exist with one another.  In other words, when we are afraid, our hearts cannot be filled with the love of God at the same time.  In the same way, when we are secure in the love of God, there is no room for fear.

    However, for most people, getting there is another story.  Faith and trust in God grows over time, by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we spend time in God’s presence and live out our faith.  It is only as we get to know God better through the Scriptures and through worship and prayer that God’s immense love for us really starts to sink in.

    And so, do not be afraid.  God has power over earthquakes and over sealed tombs.  God has power over death.  And God’s love is far greater than fear.  And so, do not be afraid, and go and tell the story!  Go and tell them.  Jesus is risen.  It is just like he said.

    Perhaps we should add to our list of fears the fear of talking to others about our faith!  The women at the tomb are not given a course in how to preach or any evangelism training.  They are simply sent with a message.  Go and tell them about God’s power.  Go and tell them that Jesus is alive.  Go and tell them that God gives new life, even when you least expect it.  Go and tell them what you have felt and heard and seen.  Go and tell them that they will see Jesus.

    That last part is just as much a promise for us as it was for those first disciples.  “You will see him” (Mt. 28:7).  There’s a song that I learned a number of years ago that asks, “Have you seen Jesus my Lord?”  It talks about seeing Jesus in a beautiful sunset or in the motion of the ocean.  It talks about seeing the love in Jesus’ eyes as he endures the pain of the cross.  It talks about seeing Jesus as a brother or sister in Christ looks at us with the love of Jesus in their eyes.  The chorus says, “Take a look, open your eyes.  He’ll show it to you.”

    We might see Jesus in the face of another person who is hungry or thirsty or in need.  We might see Jesus in the love and compassion of another person.  We might see Jesus in a particularly moving worship experience, or in a storm on the water, or in the meal of bread and wine.  We might see Jesus in the pages of Scripture or in prayer.  And some people actually get to have experiences where they quite literally see Jesus with their own eyes.

    Ultimately, even those who do not believe in Jesus during their life on this earth will see him at the time of their death.  There have simply been too many near death experiences recorded where even those who don’t believe meet Jesus.  You will see him.  It’s only a question of when!

    Do not be afraid.  Go and tell the story.  You will see him.  The risen Christ is among us, even now, and continues to give life and health and salvation.  Can you see him?  Well, go and tell the others!  And do not be afraid.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Amen.

The Resurrection of Our Lord (A)                        Matthew 28:1-10
April 24, 2011
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2011 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved