Luke 24: 1-11 "Fiction or Non-Fiction"
True or False! Fact or Fiction! Fiction or Non-fiction!
These are the questions which plague us this morning and which plagued the women and the disciples 2000 years ago on the first Easter morning. Had Jesus really risen from the grave? Did the women tell the truth? Was this an idle tale as it says in the last first of the gospel lesson?
To answer these questions, I would like to share with you some of the thoughts that must have gone around the minds, hearts and souls of Mary Magdalene and Peter as they viewed the empty tomb.
First Mary. The women were going to the tomb soon after sunrise to finish preparing the body for burial. This was the job of women. I imagine they did it this time out of loving devotion, loving hearts, as their final act of service to this man, this man who claimed to be God, who made them feel whole, respected and worthwhile as no other man did in that time.
So they approach the tomb. They begin to wonder how they will slide the rook away. But when they come, the rock is moved they rush in, but no body. Then all of a sudden, two men’ two angels in dazzling apparel appear and tell them He is risen, saying: "Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified and on the third day rise "
And Mary thought to herself, "Oh yes, yes I remember those words how. I remember wondering at the time how this could he possible. But then why not? He raised Larurus from the dead, and the Jarius daughter, and the boy at Nain and yes this is indeed possible. I must hurry back to tell the others. I cannot wait for the rest, I must run, I must fly to tell the others this wonderful news."
As she ran she stops fast in her tracks and a sudden sickening thought races across her mind, "What if they don’t believe me, what if they regard my excitement as foolish!!""How can I tell that them we’ve all been set free? I’m only a woman! They won’t listen to me!! They’ll think I’m imagining..... Out of my head......Will the others believe?"Will they beat me or scoff at me? Put me away?. . It’s my duty to tell . ...But what will they say?"
Mary begins again her journey to the upper room, a bit slower with a bit less excitement in her voice and in her heart. She arrives and says:" He is risen. The tomb is empty. The angels told me and the others that he is risen as he told us he would. Remember his words? The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."
The people in the upper room starred at her in disbelief. How can this be true, they thought? How can it be tune?
’’but these words seemed to them an idle tale and they did not believe them."
Is what happened 2000 years ago an idle tale, a story of fiction, or is it true, real, non-fiction, a fact to be reckoned , with?
Let us now turn to Peter and see his thoughts after Mary tells them what she an d the women had seen.
Peter thinking to himself says:
"Mary just told us Jesus had risen. I want to believe that, I want to believe with my whole heart. But it can’t be true. How can someone who was dead come alive again??
"I didn’t see Jesus die, but John told me he was dead. The words that Mary brought from the tomb spoken by the two angels sound familiar. I think Jesus did say something like that not once but several times. I remember him even becoming angry with me for saying it would never happen!!"
"Oh, how I wish I would have paid more attention to him instead of my own thoughts and emotions. I wonder I really wonder if this can be true!!"
"God could have raised Him, maybe He did?? Boy I don’ t want to deny anything about Christ again, three times is enough!!!"
"I know, I’ll get up an go to the tomb and check it out for myself. Then I will know, yes that is what I will do."
Peter gets us, leaves the room and John follows. They arrive, go in and find Jesus’ body is gone. John believes and hurries back to tell the others.
Peter wanders the hillside thinking, wondering, fighting with himself, wanting to believe, but not being really sure.
As it says in John’s gospel, Peter returns to the upper room by darkness, then Jesus appears to the disciples saying, "Peace be with you."
After Jesus leaves these thought race through Peter’s mind:
"It is true, Hallelujah, it’s true, He has risen. I had hoped it was true. I struggled all day wondering, hoping. Tonight as we talked among ourselves I became even more convinced that He had risen as we shared together, remembering what he taught and said. Lord, I will believe!!! Hallelujah!!!"
An idle tale told by woman,a story of fiction by no means, a true story, a fact,or as you would find this story in a library reference listed under non-fiction.
IT IS TRUE....JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN HE IS RISEN INDEED
This true story has been passed on by generations now for over 2000 years. This story has withstood the test of time, the trails of faith, the doubts of people, the unfaithfulness of many, the disbelief of generations and the most powerful enemy of all the apathy, the indifference of too many to count.
This story has been kept alive my many who have been ridiculed, torture, killed and suffered numerous inhumanities so that the truth of this day might live on saying Jesus Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
What have you done lately to keep this story alive? Have you passed it on, or have you become indifferent, apathetic to this good news? Do you take Easter, the resurrection for granted?? Does your life reflect the excitement of the resurrection each day or is today the safe day, to make a stand for Christ amongst so many?
I would like to share with you one women’s way of passing on the good news one the women story of this day, one women’s faith.
The following poem was written by Gertie Mork as she has been sharing her poetry with me these last couple of years as she and I pass on the story of the resurrection:
The sun was rising and all was still.
In the distance stood the empty cross upon the hill.
But where was the mob that tortured Jesus that day?
Where was the group that tore his clothes and taunted him in every way?
Where were the one who pressed the crown of thorns upon his head
And nailed him upon the Cross until He was dead?
Where was Joseph, a friend so dear, who lifted down the body as evening drew near?
He wrapped it in cloth of linen so white
And tenderly carried it to the tomb where it would remain for the night.
He rolled a large rock to the door to stay
To keep the body sate until after Sabbath day.
The sun was rising and all was still.
Mary Magdeline, Mary, Mother of James and Salome,
Carrying spices, came down the hill.
As they slowly walked toward the tomb, they wondered more and more.
Who would roll away the large rock from the door
So they could there attend
To the body of their beloved friend?
But as they arrived they stood in awe, not knowing what to say.
As the door was open, and the heavy rock was rolled away.
They entered the tomb to be met by a man clothed in white.
As they looked around they saw Jesus was no where in sight.
The man said, "If you are looking for Jesus, He isn’t here.
He told you that he would come back to life, so have no fear."
"Go and give the message to his disciples, including Peter too.,
That he will go to Galilee, where he said that he will meet you."
Mary Magdaline found the disciples deep in sorrow and grief.
She told them, "Jesus is alive: I’ve seen him."
They stared at her in disbelief.
Later Jesus, he met with the disciples and told them to preach
The good news to everyone, everywhere,
That he would go to Heaven to be with God, His Father, there.
So we, like the disciples, should tell the good news to everyone,
That Jesus is risen and is God’s own son.
By Gertie Mork
This morning we gather to celebrate a true story that can and does make a difference in our lives. We have a risen Lord who is working through His spirit in our lives, our world. We don’t honor a memory of a dead God... we celebrate the glory of a risen God who over come death to be with us and make a difference in our world.
There is a power alive on this earth today because of the resurrection. Jesus works through His spirit in our lives to bring His power of the resurrection , his salvation, victory, redemption, comfort, peace, strength and hope as we face all the less than human qualities that live in our lives because of sin.
I what to leave you with a powerful Easter story which illustrates the great power of this day.
It is a story told by then student pastor Roger Hawthorne.
One of the first Easters of my ministerial career began with a blizzard. I was still a student pastor, and we had arranged to have an ordained pastor come to serve communion. There was a question if he would be able to make it through the storm. To add to the misery, shortly after breakfast, we received word of the death of a woman, one of the 12 brothers and sisters who were members of the congregation. Between the storm, the probable absence of the minister, and the death, I began to anticipate my wife and me having a worship service by ourselves.
I stumbled from the parsonage to the church to be sure it would be warm in case anyone should come, then fought my way back for another cup of coffee. This was a blizzard--I could not see the road from the parsonage.
At church-time, I entered the back room, and there were all the teenagers who composed the choir. Eventually the ordained minister stumbled in and I marveled at his dedication to have fought that storm for more than fifty miles...
The organist slipped out to begin her prelude while the choir, the minister and I consoled ourselves that perhaps at least a few people had come to the service. Then the organ volume lifted and we began to march in.
There in the front row sat the husband and children of the deceased woman; they had driven 30 miles. Around them were aunts, uncles and cousins and they were so packed in the nave that some of them had to stand.
Never before had there been so many people in a worship service there....
The organist moved into the first hymn,"Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia!"In the front row, singing as loudly as any, with tears streaming down their faces,were the husband and children of the deceased woman.....
The custom was they were used to coming forward to receive communion at the rail. We bent the rules so that I could help serve.
The last man I reached with the wine was the new widower, whose children ranged from elementary to high school in age. My eyes must have been asking a question, for as he replaced the communion glass, he quietly took hold of my arm and whispered,"She has gone home, and we thought we should come home today too, especially today."..
Outside the storm raged on, but no one minded for inside the resurrection was being celebrated.
And for a certain divinity it was the first time he ever really understood the resurrection. "If a man die shall he live again?" Yes, for eternity."
Jesus Christ is Risen... He is risen indeed!!!
Amen
Preached by Rev Tim Zingale
