"Overcoming Doubts, What Will It Take?”

In Jesus Holy Name Easter II 2020

Text: John 20:25b Redeemer

“Overcoming Doubts, What Will It Take?”

He is Risen! He has risen indeed!

The disciples on Easter morning had forgotten a promise of Jesus. He had told them that he would be arrested and crucified, but he would to rise from death on the 3rd day. Overwhelmed with grief, they had forgotten. The Gospels tell us that the women, in the pre-dawn light made their way to His gravesite. The Romans would not bother the women. The men, well, they remained sheltered in. Sadness and gloom filled their hearts and room.

Neither his friends nor his enemies doubted that the great leader was dead. The experts, as well as numerous eyewitnesses, were willing to attest to the fact. Even so, rumors began to circulate and people began to believe that their leader was not in his grave. That explains why a small group of people came together in the graveyard to see for themselves. They had to know; was their leader there or was he not. And if he wasn’t in his grave, what had happened to his body? Sound familiar? Well perhaps it is not as familiar as you might think.

On this Sunday, the Sunday after the “church” celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, I’m not talking about Jesus. I’m talking about Abraham Lincoln. In the years after the great president’s funeral many people came to believe that his body had been stolen. Such a belief was not without foundation. After all, more than one attempt had been made to steal President Lincoln’s corpse.

That is why in 1887, the Emancipator’s casket was opened. His super- secret honor guard saw for themselves; The President’ body remained where it had been placed. The rumors were silenced, the case was closed.

At least the case should have been closed. The date was September 26, 1901. On that date President Lincoln’s body was to be placed into its final, and more secure, resting place. But before it was enclosed in a great, steel cage, surrounded by tons of concrete, it was decided that Lincoln’s casket should be opened once more. Over the decades rumors had returned. Some still believed that somebody had managed to steal the President’s corpse.

In 1901, solemnly, 23 people filed past the box. All agreed, more than 30 years after his death, Lincoln’s remains were there. Yes, his black suit was now covered with a yellow mold, his gloves had long disappeared, but his face, his beard, the mole on his cheek were all recognizable. Today we know the corpse of Abraham Lincoln awaits the day of resurrection in its crypt underneath the giant monument at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. The rumors were finally laid to rest.

It’s true that Jesus had predicted that he would be put to death and then be raised to life. But his followers did not understand it. A resurrection was the farthest thing from their minds after His crucifixion. They were afraid of being caught by the same soldiers who had arrested Jesus. They were “sheltering in”. They were afraid of what they might encounter if they left their safe space.

Forget the predictions of Jesus. The disciples had given up. Who really expected a resurrection on that Sunday morning? Not the disciples. Of course. No one rises from the dead. Not after three days. Not after being scourged. Not after hanging on a cross for six hours. Not after having a sword thrust in His side. Not after being covered with 100 pounds of spices and wrapped in a burial cloth. Not after being sealed in a tomb. No, the odds are against it. It was impossible.

The women who had been at the cross, saw the Savior die. They followed his funeral procession to His borrowed grave. They knew its location because it was their intention, when the Sabbath Day restrictions, of enforced “sheltering in” would be lifted, they would return to the grave and pay their final respects.

They had no inkling that Jesus might actually defeat death…which is obvious by their predawn trip to Joseph’s tomb in which the corpse of Jesus had been placed.

When they arrived. The stone was rolled away. The tomb empty. Their first thought? Someone had stolen the body of Jesus.

The women did not have the slightest idea what had happened. They weren’t

looking for a resurrection. Luke tells us that when the women told the apostles what the angel had said, they “…did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (Luke 24:11). Nonsense! So two of the doubters, Peter and John ran to the tomb. They found it empty. They saw the linen shroud still lying on the stone slab. It was not crumpled up like your bed covers when you arise from sleep in the morning. No! It was undisturbed, like a deflated glove, after the hand was removed. The resurrected physical body of Jesus just passed through the linen shroud, leaving it deflated.