Always Open
Have you ever set out on a journey not knowing what was in store? I remember when I was very young our family would catch a bus each year for our summer holiday. I had no idea where we were going or what it would be like when we got there. I suspect that some of the younger ones here today will find it hard to believe, but my family didn’t own a car – so, every year, it was onto the bus with loads of other families and off into the unknown – or at least that’s how it seemed to me at the time! I was never quite certain whether it was to be a week with my favourite great Aunt or, even better, two weeks in a caravan at the sea. I just had to wait and see.
Nearly 2000 years ago there were 3 ladies who also set out on a journey not really sure of what would greet them at the end. And they had good reason to be uncertain. In the past seven days their world had been turned completely upside down. A week before they had watched and probably joined in the tumultuous welcome given to Jesus as he had entered Jerusalem. “Hosanna!” the crowds had bellowed at the tops of their voices, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” But no sooner had the echoes of those shouts faded than they had witnessed his arrest and trial. I’m certain they would have screamed in anger and frustration as they heard the same crowd who had welcomed Jesus, now refuse to allow Pilate to release him from the death penalty. And finally, just two days before, they had wept at the sight of their beloved friend hanging on a Roman crucifixion cross. It is impossible to imagine the trauma they had suffered during those few short days.
But on that first Easter morning in the quiet of the early dawn they set off to the place where Jesus had been buried. They carried spices to anoint the body but, as they walked towards the cemetery, I’m certain that all sorts of thoughts would have been going through their minds. Would Jesus’ body really be there? If it was, would the guards let them in? But before all that, they probably asked themselves, how could they possibly roll away the gigantic rock which sealed up the entrance to the tomb? All in all they must have felt like just sitting down on the ground and bursting into tears.
Therefore imagine their utter dismay when they arrived. Not only were the big burly guards they dreaded nowhere to be seen, but the rock was rolled off to one side and the tomb was wide open. As they gingerly tiptoed into the darkness they were horrified to see that the body was no longer there on the ledge where it should have been. Their worst fears were coming true. Jesus had gone. Then they jumped back in horror as two men appeared out of nowhere dressed in gleaming white clothes. Who were they? Why were they here? Were they the ones who had taken their beloved Jesus away? Where had they taken him? Question after question after question racing through their minds…
Finally, with their hearts beating so fast they thought they would explode, they heard one of the men say the three most astounding words ever said and ever heard, “He is risen!” “He is risen!” Jesus was alive – risen from the dead.
It was true, everything he had ever told them, even that he would rise again from the grave, it was all true. “He is risen!”
A journey which had begun, clouded in fear and uncertainty, had ended in triumph and revelation in the open tomb.
As I thought about this story and imagined some of the thoughts and feelings that might have been going through the minds of the two Mary’s and Salome that morning it occurred to me how much this is a reflection of our lives as Christians. So often we are confronted by uncertainty – in fact, despite all the advances we make in the realms of science and technology, it often seems that this only serves to increase our doubts and fears.
Our doctors have learnt so much about disease and illness but this doesn’t lessen the dread of the word ‘Cancer’. Psychologists can explain the stages of grieving but can never take away the devastation of losing a loved one. Behavioural scientists can write book after book on the best way to bring up your children but they can never provide a guarantee against the wrong peer group or the possibility of drugs. And not even the Governor of the Reserve Bank can assure us that our salaries and pensions are going to be worth anything tomorrow.
The truth is that none of us is immune to fear and uncertainty. It is ever-present.
But there is another ever-present truth that our Easter story brings us this morning. And it’s a simple one – the door to the risen Christ is always open. Those three ladies had no idea how they were going to enter the tomb that morning but when they got there the door was open. When we are confronted by fears and uncertainty and have no idea how we are going to get through,
the door to the same risen Christ is still open today.
The apostle John wrote a general letter to the early Christians in which he expressed his concern for the uncertainty they were experiencing. In the fifth chapter of this first letter of John we read these words in the fourteenth and fifteenth verses, “This is the assurance that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And, if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we ask of him.”
He hears us! What a promise from God’s word. He hears us – the door is always open because Christ is risen. Of course there is the proviso that we ask according to His will – and, dare I say it, I’m fairly certain that asking to win the Lotto next week is unlikely to be part of God’s will!
Which reminds me of the story of Abe. Abe was very upset that he hadn’t won the lottery and he went to see the rabbi and told him that he would no longer be coming to Schul. “Why’s that, Abe?” asked the Rabbi.
“Well I’ve prayed to win the lottery every day, and it’s still not happened.” Abe said.
“Well,” said the rabbi, “Why don’t you try praying for a little longer, keep coming to schul and let’s see what happens.”
So Abe prayed every day and kept coming to schul but still no win on the lottery. Finally he had had enough and off he went to see the rabbi. “That’s it,” Abe told him, “I’ve done as you said; I’ve prayed every day but still no win. That’s the last time I’m coming to schul.”
“Just try once more Abe,” pleaded the rabbi, “One more prayer and see what God does.”
“OK one more prayer.”
Abe went home and got down on his knees and prayed that God would let him win the lottery. Suddenly there was a loud clap of thunder and a deep voice began. “Abe this is God. So you want to win the lottery and you want Me to help?”
“That’s right,” whispered Abe.
“Well then, Abe” said God, “why don’t you at least meet Me half way and buy a ticket!”
Well I’m sorry to have to tell you that no matter how much you meet God half way and buy a lottery ticket He still won’t guarantee you a win!
But He will keep His promise and guarantee to listen to you, to hear your prayers. His door is always open.
It is open when you are confronted by sickness and disease. Paul gives us this promise from God in 2 Corinthians 12: 9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
His door is open when you lose a loved one. In 1 Thessalonians 4: 14, Paul again tells us, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus all those who have fallen asleep in him.” And Jesus, himself gave us this promise in the sermon on the mount, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.”
He listens when you are stressed and pressurised. Again Jesus himself made this promise, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”
His ears are always alert when you face uncertainty in work or the home. Matthew again records these words of Jesus. “So do not worry saying, ‘What shall I eat?’ or ‘What shall I drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … Your heavenly Father knows you need them “.
His door is always open and He stands there with this promise on His lips, whatever the circumstances and whatever the trouble. In Romans 8: 28 we read this incredible assurance. “All things work together for good to those who love God.” Yes, “All things work together for good to those who love God.”
It is true that God’s door is always open but it is equally true that for us to enjoy the benefits of that open door, like every other open door in our lives, we need to enter.
In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, John records these words of Jesus revealed to him in prophecy. In chapter 3 and verse 20. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
The invitation is there for each one of us – to open the door of our hearts and invite the risen Lord Jesus into our lives. Invite him in as Saviour, as friend, as counsellor. It’s our decision to make, each one of us individually.
2000 years ago it was the two Mary’s and Salome who set out on a journey into the unknown. It ended in the glorious news of the resurrection of their Lord Jesus. That same journey can start for each one of us here this morning – as much as the risen Christ appeared all those years ago, he is still here today.
Hear once again the most thrilling sentence ever spoken, “He is risen.” Alleluia.
