Message: What Easter in 2001 Can Mean to Me
John 20:1-18
By Andrew Chan, Senior Pastor, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC
Tim (The Rock) Raines returns to the Montreal Expos at age 41 Apr. 13, 2001 writes the TheStar.Com.
MONTREAL (CP) - Tim Raines wasn’t prepared for the deafening cheers from the usually quiet crowd when he stepped to the plate in his first game back in Montreal.
For Raines, it was like being in the World Series and batting with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the winning run on base.
``It was that type of ovation,’’ said Raines, who spent his first 12 seasons with the Expos before returning this year at age 41.
Raines has been in the World Series, winning it twice with the New York Yankees. But his comeback from lupus might be an even more impressive feat for one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball history. Raines’ career appeared to have ended on July 19, 1999, when the Oakland Athletics placed him on the disabled list with a kidney inflammation. He was subsequently diagnosed with lupus.
``Lupus took me away from the game, and I wasn’t ready to give it up,’’ Raines said. ``That drove me back.’’
Nobody, other than Raines, understood the odds against him better than his wife.
``He didn’t have any muscle and he was up to about 225 pounds from the lupus,’’ Virginia Raines said. ``With all the medication he was taking, his body was so weak that he couldn’t do much.’’
Gradually, Raines was able to reduce his medication to the point where he now just takes three pills a day, along with vitamin supplements.
And so there was a thunderous reception in Montreal last week. It might have been the most gratifying moment for the man known as The Rock.
``I had tears in my eyes,’’ said his wife, Virginia. ``I knew I was going to get goosebumps, I had those, but then I started crying. It was unbelievable. It was fantastic.’’
The cheers continued throughout Raines’ first at-bat.
This was just one human being playing baseball, coming back as if from the dead.
Fanfare of Lemiuex in NHL, now Jordan too in NBA?
Greatest comeback story is Jesus coming back from the dead in easter story? What does that mean to you?
Do you cheer? Listen to what effect it had on some people in John 20.
1. Despair: (v.1-2)
“… we don’t know where they have put him.”
Feel despair from cry of Mary Magdalene. But who this woman?
Mary of Magdala, a remarkable woman.
A reformed prostitute? She might have been woman who wept at Jesus’ feet wiped his feet with her hair with tears streaming from her eyes.
Had seven demons cast out. Luke 8:1-3 (NLT)
Not long afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women he had healed and from whom he had cast out evil spirits. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
Tell impact of Jesus on her life. Love brought her to the tomb. Her faith and hope were gone. She wanted to do something, anything, for Jesus.
Forgiven, healed, clean, loved and while he was alive, she followed him lovingly serve and give him worship like a rock star fan, financial support. Suddenly this one man who has accepted her, with her questionable past, instead of being discarded like yesterday’s news, crucified, killed on cross. And she had left was the body and that too was taken away from her. Can you see why she despaired?
Easter event can lead to despair, for u see maybe Jordan can make a comeback in NBA, Raines in pro baseball, but a certified dead man, comeback to life? Trying to kid who? Sell some swamp land in Florida, ok?
If we just live on just story of Good Friday with Jesus buried, dead, gone, and no where to be found. Sure it’ll be despair.
Do u live as if Jesus never rose from the dead? If pray, it’s like talking to air, feel God is kinda dead? Where is Jesus to be found?? Perhaps you have seen Jesus in pages of the Bible before, but have not reached out to read it recently. u don’t know where u put the Bible even, perhaps suddenly from under your feet all that you built your life upon is swept right from under your feet, and you’re flat on your face in despair?
2. Denial: (v.6-7)
“…the cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen”
Second scene we see Peter’s reaction to Easter. Read 6-7. Peter looks a lot like the guy from that old cop tv show “Just the facts ma’am, just the facts.”
If body stolen, what robber would do that? Unless the robber is considering an award from Better Home and Gardens Mag. Or is related to Martha Stewart, what kind of robber would do that? If the disciples they won’t bother unwrapping. They would have got out that with wrappimg and all instead of doing hosuekeeping. Here is Peter with the Easter resurrection story starring in his face, and what happen? He went home it seems unaffected, denied as if it could happen (v.10) and later (v.19) he was in fear. If see from Peter’s reaction, Easter can mean denial.
Illus: Luke 16:19 ff. The Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus.
“If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets (i.e. black and white recorded factual historical documents) they won’t listen even though someone rises from the dead.”
People are good at denial… even if facts are in front of you.
See that in law courts … evidence says guilty, but somehow lawyers can twist facts and say not guilty.
Or – deny guilt because of technicality.
Easter can mean denial for many people, choosing to ignore fact of the empty tomb, that appearances of Christ, these disciples who feared became lions of the faith, countless millions who experienced grace of God, finally choose ignore the plain truth of God word written in black and white to be read, examined and studied.
3. Doctrine: (v.8,9)
“They still not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise…”
Scripture says Jesus had to die and had to rise (1 Cor.15)
Easter could mean like John’s reaction, he saw and believed.
Jesus had been telling he had to rise, yet they couldn’t get that message (v.9). It was John “saw and believed.” Yet that did not changed him (v.19) he feared. I believe some like John saw and believed when the doctrinal truth is preached, YET the heart somehow is not changed. The life is not transformed. because we know he was in v.19 part of the group that still feared, locked themselves up in a room.
Today the same happens, with the advent of tv and the net, newspapers they announced and published the Easter message. It is broadcast and many see but not many get it. Many go the church, perhaps once a year, irregularly, and go home find their hearts are locked up …
Is that true of you? Is there any discernible change?
Jonathan Edwards wrote: “I suppose no one will doubt that some natural men do reach out to the evidence of the truth of the Christian religion on the basis of rational proofs or arguments. Doubtless Judas thought Jesus was the Messiah on the basis of things he saw and heard. Yet he was a devil all along. We read in John 2:23-25 that many believed in Christ’s name when they saw the miracles that he did. Yet Christ did not trust them. Simon the sorcerer believed when he saw the miracles and the signs which were done, yet he still remained bitter and in the bond of iniquity (Acts 8:13,23). So too we read of those who believe for awhile and were greatly affected, even joyfully receiving the word, yet their religious affections were not spiritual.”
4. Existence of…
a) Dread (v.10,19)
“…the disciples went back to their homes…when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear …”
b) Depression (v.11-15)
“… Mary stood outside the tomb crying, as she wept she bent over to look into the tomb…tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Grief blurred her vision. Couldn’t see Jesus. A. Where have they taken him?
1) Despite Jesus’ prediction, she is not expecting resurrection.
a) She has no hope, only grief.
b) All she knows is that body is missing, perhaps stolen.
2) She loves him so much, she offers to carry him back. 20:15
a) Her love offers to do the impossible, as love always does.
c) Delight (v.16-18)
“…’Rabboni’ … ‘Do not hold on to me’ … tell them ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God… ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them …”
delight springs from Jesus’ personal call “Mary” in v. 19 see “Peace be with u” only Jesus’ initiative.
Today you in your heart, hear tugging, don’t deny it, war going on, is this true? I believe it is Holy Spirit doing inviting to. Open heart now, and let risen Jesus be real to you as it was to Mary on that first Easter Sunday. Call out Lord Jesus save me a sinner. You know He can clean you up…
Delight based on mere historical facts of the case is not lasting. Faith must be based on personal recognition of Jesus as your God or else u might as well trust in dinosaur fossils.
Delight, appeared to have somehow made her faith earthbound, she couldn’t let go of Jesus. She had lost him once, ain’t gonna lost Him again.
Earthly existence – tell them, “do not hold on to me” – earthly Jesus, but allowed Him to return to the Father.” 1) Present imperative - let go of me, stop holding on. She was locked on his feet, not letting him move.
B. The old relationship is invalid, we must go on to new ground.
1) Note she calls him "Rabboni" (teacher, master).
2) Probably thinks his earthly ministry will continue. Relationship is no longer earthbound, but with the Father, the Son next to Him.
V. Your father and mine.
A. Emphasis on separateness of relationship?
1) A distinction always made between Jesus and his followers.
2) He will always be God, we won’t. Most important point of passage.
a) We can have a new relationship with God. He can be your God!
That’s the real delight… it’s a new relationship, not tied to earthly boundaries, it’ll be forever with the Father
b) Christianity is not knowing ABOUT Jesus, but returning home to the Father.
Evangelist D. L. Moody once told a story about two men who, under the influence of liquor, found their way to the dock where their boat was tied. The two men wanted to return home, so they got in the boat and began to row. Though they rowed hard all night, they did not reach the other side of the bay. When the gray dawn of the morning broke, they were in exactly the same spot from which they started.
They had neglected to loosen the mooring-line and raise the anchor!
Mr. Moody used this story as an example of the way in which many people are tied to this world. They want to go to heaven, but won’t cast off what holds them back.
"Cut the cord! Cut the cord!" Moody would roar.
There is a time to move on in light of the Resurrected Christ
1) Mary can’t let go of her past relationship with Jesus.
2) Many modern people also cling to past patterns.
a) Our image of God doesn’t change from when we were youth.
Vengeful? Angry? See your dad? See anew in Jesus a God who shares His Father’s love with u….
b) What new thing have you learned from God this year?
1> Where are you growing?
2> Is God closer, or the same?
What does Easter mean to you?
Despair? Deny it? Doctrinal Truth? Truth 2+2 =4? So what?
Existence of dread, depression or delight?
