For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day are: Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2.14-24 ; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 and John 20:1-18.
A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb ......... with a great stone sealing the opening.
Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, she asked: "And what do you think were Jesus first words when He came out of that tomb?"
A little girl in the back of the room shot her arm into the air and leaped to her feet and shouted excitedly "I know, I know!"
"Good" said the teacher, "Tell us, Bethany what did he say." Extending her arms high into the air she said: "TA-DA!" (Pause)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was indeed for the world a "TA-DA".
It has touched the lives of believers throughout the ages.
Yes, ...... "TA DA" Christ is Risen (Pause)
On Easter day Christ came out of the tomb and into our lives with power and victory.
Easter is a great celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (Pause)
The Anglican Church has a wonderful acclimation that is proclaimed beginning with Easter Sunday.
The Priest says: "Alleluia Christ is risen"
And the people reply: "The Lord is risen, indeed Alleluia"
But how do we know it is true?
Professor Charlie Moule, the famous New Testament theologian once said:
"The birth and rapid rise of the Christian Church... remains an unsolved enigma for any historian who refuses to take seriously the one and only possible explanation to be offered ..... the resurrection." (Pause)
The truth of the Resurrection ignited the early Church.
Every week we profess our faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead when we say the words of the Nicene or Apostles Creed:
Hear these words from the Apostles Creed:
" I believe ......in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord who was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead and buried He descended into Hell; The third day he .......rose again from the dead"
The Resurrection is paramount to our faith
St. Paul put it like this in his epistle to the Corinthians:
"..if Christ has not been raised from the dead, your faith is futile" (I Cor. 15: 17)
St. Paul, a first Century witness, records the importance of the Easter story. Hear Gods Word:
BIBLE "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: i) that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ii) that he was buried, iii) that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and iv) that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. END (1 Cor. 15:3-8).
Paul records 513 men as having seen the Risen Lord. (Pause)
Now, Have you ever wondered why John mentions only four post Resurrection appearances of the Risen Jesus.
In this Chapter, John 20 we read of three of these. He appeared
i) to Mary Magdalene
ii) to all the disciples except Thomas and finally
iii) to Thomas
And in the following Chapter, John 21 we read of Jesus appearing to seven disciples including Peter, James and John, Thomas, Nathaniel and two unnamed disciples and having breakfast with them.
If the resurrection is paramount, so important, why didn't John share more of these encounters in his Gospel?
I am convinced the reason John did not record more post Resurrection encounters is because it did not fall into context with the aim of his Gospel.
What do I mean ?
John summed up the aim of his Book as follows: BIBLE "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
But these are written .......that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name." END (Pause)
In other words, John is not writing a history book as we know history books .....rather he is writing a Book (P) to awaken faith.
And so these three post resurrection events in John 20 have been recorded ....... to awaking faith.
John, I am convinced, is saying: "You are either going to believe or you are not going to believe...... and I have given you enough in these writings ...... to believe." (Pause)
So what is so special about these three encounters with the risen Lord in Chapter 20 of Johns Gospel?
I would like to suggest that each encounter shows a barrier to faith -- which can be overcome .....through an encounter with Jesus Christ.
And they are all barriers that we as Christians will experience sometime in our lives.
The first of these barriers to faith is Grief.....
And it was overcome by..... hearing the voice of Jesus.
Mary Magdalene, could not see Jesus clearly due to her grief.
It was only when she heard Jesus call her name ....... "Mary" that she realizes that He had risen.
And she cried out Rabbouni (Ra Bone I) which means teacher.
Jesus spoke to her ...... and by speaking to her ...... released her from her grief. (Pause)
Beloved ...... there are going to be times .... when we all suffer from grief.
We may grieve for the loss of a loved one. A parent, a spouse, a child, a friend.
And it is in those times ...... that we need to listen....... listen for the voice of Jesus.
Remember Jesus promise .... to those that are of his flock.
My sheep hear my voice.
It does not say they might hear my voice, ..... or they should hear my voice, ..... or they could hear my voice.
Jesus words to us are very clear, his promise is crystal clear, "My Sheep hear my voice."
Beloved ...... Grief is overcome ...... by the voice of Jesus.
The second barrier to faith Fear...... Fear which is overcome by experiencing the presence of Jesus.
It can be the fear of the unknown.
The fear of things that we do not quite understand.
Remember whenever two or three are gathered together in his name ..... Jesus is in their midst , Jesus is in their presence. (Pause)
Little Philip, born with Downs syndrome, attended a 3rd grade Sunday School class with several other 8-year old boys and girls.
Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with all his differences, and often made fun of him.
One Sunday ...... the teacher brought L Eggs pantyhose containers, ....... the kind that look like large eggs.
Some of you may remember those L Eggs containers.
Each child was instructed to go outside on that lovely spring day and find a symbol........ of new life, .... and put it in the egg-like container.
So...after running around on the Church's property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed their containers on the table.
Surrounded by the children, the teacher began opening them one by one.
After each one, whether a flower, a butterfly, a leaf, ..... the class would ooh and ahhhhh.
Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside.
The children exclaimed, "That's stupid! That's not fair! Somebody didn't do their assignment!"
Then Philip spoke up, saying, "That's mine!"
The children turned on him, saying, "O, Philip, you don't ever do things right!
There's nothing there!"
Philip insisted, "I did too (P) do it!
It's empty. (Pause)
The tomb was empty!"
Silence followed.
And from then on Philip became a fully accepted member of the class.
He died not long afterward from an infection that most children would have shrugged off.
At the funeral, this class of 8-year old's marched up to the altar, not with flowers, but together with their Sunday School teacher, each one of them laying on the altar ...... an empty pantyhose egg. (Pause)
Fear of the unknown ....... fear of things that are different can grip us. If we let them. (Pause)
The disciples were gathered behind closed doors in fear .
Jesus had been crucified....... and they were fearful that they may be next.
Jesus came to them and spoke words of comfort.
Jesus said .....: "Peace be with you."
Then He showed them his crucified hands and St. John records: "The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord" (John 20:20)
Fear can cripple us. It can make us irrational.
And at those times, we need to seek Jesus presence. To allow him to enter into our lives.
And it is only in His Presence, that we will truly know peace. (Pause)
(Lift 1 Finger) The Barrier of Grief was overcome by the voice of Jesus.
(Lift Second Finger) The Barrier of Fear was overcome by the presence of Jesus.
And The (Lift 3rd Finger) third barrier to faith is Doubt which is overcome by the touch .... of Jesus.
Thomas seems rather unfairly ...... to have received a rather unflattering title for the last 2000 years.
The title Doubting Thomas has even entered into the English language dictionary.
Quote (You might call someone who does not believe something a "Doubting Thomas") Un-Quote.
But remember that Thomas was not with the other disciples when they first saw the risen Lord.
He did not benefit in what they had seen.
He could not comprehend that Jesus had risen ....... it was something outside of his experience.
Our faith Beloved .... is not an unreasonable faith.
Our faith has to be based on a firm foundation -- and Jesus realized that Thomas needed that confirmation.
And When Thomas saw Jesus he simply said: ......."My Lord and My God".
What Thomas asked for was very reasonable and Jesus gave him what he needed.
If we are honest.
There are times when we need a special touch from God. (PAUSE)
A man was walking down a street when he noticed in a store window a beautiful painting of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
He stood there gazing at the picture for the longest time than he realized that a little boy was standing beside him.
He patted the little boy on the head and said, "Son, what does that picture mean?"
The little boy said, "Doncha know?
That there man is Jesus, and the woman that's crying is His mother, and them others is Roman soldiers. They killed Him."
The man smiled and then started walking away.
In a few moments he heard someone running, turned and saw that it was the little boy.
He came running up to the man, out of breath, and said, "Mister, mister, I forgot to tell you ..... he didn't stay dead." (Pause)
Beloved ......Praise God He didn't Stay Dead.
Ta Da Christ has Risen
Jesus encounters each person individually.
Jesus encounters each person's needs differently.
(Lift 1 Finger) Mary simply needed to hear the voice of Jesus ..... and her grief was healed.
(Lift 2nd Finger) The disciples needed to receive the peace of Jesus ...and their fear was released.
And (Lift 3rd Finger) Thomas needed to see ... to receive a touch from the Risen Christ ....which released his unbelief.
Each of us has different needs -- we each ask different questions ....but there is only one answer ..... Jesus Christ the Risen Lord.
May this Easter Sunday be a time when we look for and receive a touch from the Risen Jesus.
A touch that will transform us;
A touch that will conform us to image of Christ.
That Touch transformed them that first Easter Morning and it is available to you this day.
Beloved ....... TA DA Christ is Risen
Amen and Amen!
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