« Return to the St. Paul Lutheran Website
Pastor Jeremy Schultz
April 24, 2011
There are many things in my life that I am glad to have seen. For example, I am glad that I got to see the births of both of my children. The details of each are completely unique and they're not something I'll ever forget. We've told these stories to them numerous times. I don't believe they'll ever forget them either. I'm also very glad that I've gotten to see the Holy Land, to walk where Jesus walked and to see the places that I've read about my whole life was an amazing thing! I've since told those stories again and again and they always seem to move people toward a deeper hunger for God. But if there's something that I wish I could have seen, that none of us have ever seen, then I wish I could have seen all that the women saw that first resurrection day!
I would have liked to have been the first to come to the tomb and see the angel sitting on the stone, impatiently swinging his legs back and forth and, checking his watch, as he waited for someone to arrive. I would have liked to have entered into the tomb and turned to the right, as Mark says, and have seen a second angel sitting there, ready to share the most fantastic news ever! “He is not here; He has risen.” I would have liked to have stooped down to see the now empty burial chamber with the linen cloths lying there. And to see, as John tells it, the face cloth, not tossed in the corner with the other linen but folded up by itself, which is a Jewish way of showing that He would one day return. I would have liked to have seen all the things that these early followers saw. And why not? The Bible says, “Even angels long to look into these things” (1 Peter 1:12). So come along then, and see through their eyes what even the angels themselves longed to look into - that we might also go and tell!
Love. It was love that compelled the two Mary's to move through the morning fog on the way to the tomb...love and respect. Their arms were full of spices and they were all set to finish the job that was suddenly halted on Friday before just before the Sabbath. It was...all they could do.
They walked in silence that day. It was the first time out for either of them since the Sabbath had begun. But neither had gotten any rest. Their eyes had seen things on that Friday that no eyes should ever see. They had seen Jesus mocked, scourged and spat upon. They had seen Him bloodied and bruised with His beard torn. They had looked at him with red, blood-shot, blistering eyes as He suffered for the sins of humanity. They had drunk their own tears until there were no more to drink. Then it was over. Jesus was dead. Of that they were sure. They heard His loud cry. They saw Him hang His head. They saw the spear. When it was time to get Him down, His body dropped like dead weight from the cross. Crucifixion had done what it's meant to do. I had claimed its latest victim. And all His preaching, his manner of living, his ideas about the reign of God, even his signs and healings and miracles, everything was dead with him. So they didn't speak. It's understandable. It was bound to be a tough morning at the tomb.
You know what I mean. A cemetery is not a nice place to visit really. It's a disaster. So you bring cut flowers, you clean the headstone and pull the weeds. Sometimes you read a letter or leave a picture. But then you go. You leave. You don't linger. You don't turn back. That's because nobody likes being reminded of what's not there anymore. His smile. Her laugh. His unbeatable joy. So the women would simply do their work, pay their respects then go on their way. But this trip to the tomb would be different.
Before they ever saw the angel sitting on the stone, the two of them first almost tripped over the soldiers. “Are they dead? I'm not sure. Maybe they're sleeping. But that's odd.” And that's when the angel suddenly came into view. “Do not be afraid,” he said to them. “...for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen form the dead.”
Come and see, he told them. Come and see. That's what Philip said to Nathaniel, so long ago at the very start of this Gospel. He said, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Come and see” (John 1:45-46). It's what the Samaritan woman at the well said to those in her village. “Come and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ” (John 4:29)? It's what the Greeks who were worshipping just a few days ago in Jerusalem requested of Philip. “Sir,” they said. “We wish to see Jesus” (John 12:21).
So...we're not told explicitly by Matthew, but I suppose that the two Mary's did just that. They went inside to look around. And why not? Even the angels long to look into these things! Only, Mary and the other Mary didn't see a thing...just as the angel had said. This was almost more hope than they could handle. Two things they knew for sure. Jesus was dead and He was laid right there. But now an angel from God had appeared and was telling them that Jesus had been raised. Can you imagine? They must have said. “Wow! It really could be true! He had actually said that He would rise. I do remember that! Oh, Mary. What do you think?”
Well, what Mary thought...what both of them knew was this: Christ had been raised! By the power of God, Christ, who was dead, was made alive! God the Father stepped in and said to death - no more. Death, you shall have no more dominion here! God the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son as a sacrifice of atonement to cover all the sins that have ever been committed. And as a sign that His sacrifice was accepted, God raised Jesus back to life.
Friends, are you ready for more hope than you can handle? You who have come to see this day? This day is not really about bunnies and springtime and girls in cute dresses. This day is not really about cut flowers and special candy. This day is about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it's about your resurrection on the last day too!
Because Jesus lives, you too will live. Death now has no more victory! It has no more sting! The sting of death is sin. That means that we die because of sin. Sin is like a poison in our system. Sometimes it moves fast and sometimes it moves slowly, but sin always claims its victims. But listen to this. The blood of Jesus Christ covers all your sin. All your sin. There's not one sin - not one, not a big one or a little one in your eyes that Jesus Christ did not pay for on the cross. That's why He cried out, “It is finished!” And now that He's been raised, the miracle of bringing life to you is easy! In your baptism, you've already been united to Him by His death and resurrection. You live right now a life of faith. And it's a life you will live eternally. Because on the last day, you will rise. And you will live with Christ in Paradise.
As the women went on from there, we're told that they suddenly met Jesus. And they fell down at His feet and worshipped Him! I can't imagine how He pried them away...except for the task that the angel and now Jesus had given them. Go and Tell! And the good news of what they had seen compelled them to go! They had to go to everyone they could. They started with the disciples...but I'm sure that by nightfall, the entire city of Jerusalem, if not the entire countryside was hearing the news.
You know what I mean. When you've seen something like this, you've just got to go and tell. I recently looked into some research on born-again Christians that suggested they will share their faith, not counting their families, with approximately 2 people in their lifetimes. And I thought to myself. That's pitiful! I mean you talk about the Tigers game with more frequency than that. But what if you told two people today that you had seen the risen Christ in His Word and Sacrament? What if you told two people today that Christ, who died, is now raised? What if you told two people today that they need not fear for their lives even though their sins are great because Christ has paid the price and won the victory for all His followers to enjoy! There would be a lot of people wanting to come and see!
I say tell them. Tell them all that what Jesus has done. Tell them all, “He is not here; He has been raised!” Amen!
© St. Paul Lutheran Church 2011