THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
We hear good news in lots of different ways, and I am glad that we got to hear the Easter story told by some of our children this morning. There is something about hearing a child tell this great story that gives it new power.
I can no longer hear the Resurrection story without thinking of little Brendan, the four-year-old grandson of a former colleague of mine. He was visiting his grandmother the week before Easter a few years ago, and one afternoon he came with her to the church where I was working at the time. He went around with his grandmother and greeted everyone when he arrived, and somehow after those greetings, most of us ended up gathered in the Senior Pastor’s office, where Brendan was encouraged by his grandmother to share the Easter story he had been learning about in church.
Without hesitation, the little boy began reciting word-for-word and from memory Matthew’s account of the Resurrection. Now, in typical four-year-old fashion, he was sort of rolling around on the floor as he told the story, and he was talking quite quickly and somewhat softly, and it was little hard to understand him. But I will never forget how clear and pure were his final words, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen!"
As little Brendan said the word "risen," he shot his fist up in the air and got a huge grin on his face. "He is not here; he has risen!"
It is the biggest announcement and greatest news of all time, and somehow in his own bold testimony, little Brendan managed to capture all of its meaning and significance and power.
(From a sermon by Clair Sauer, The Big Announcement, 4/21/2011)