Easter Sermon 2008
Pastor Wesley Howell

Remember where we were when I saw you last. We were here…in the sanctuary…but it was very different. We were gathered at the foot of the cross. It was dark…really dark…both here…and here in the heart.

Think of how it was for the disciples of Jesus. For about three years they have trooped along behind him on the Galilean highways and byways. They have tried to understand his teaching… which hasn't been easy! Those who would loose their lives will gain them…sell everything you have and follow me…blessed are Peacemakers.

But all of that seems distant to them now - only a dream after the horrible nightmare of the past week.

Now Jesus has been sealed in the tomb for three days. Pilate has shut the door on Jesus once and for all.

Now the disciples hid.

John says that the doors were shut and locked "from fear." And they had much for which to be fearful. But some of them may have been also filled with grief. And well they should grieve, for in the death of Jesus they had suffered a great loss - shut the doors.

God knows exactly where we are and what motivates us. We are hiding from God, from our family members and friends, even from ourselves by trying to push it down...for reasons of fear, judgment, shame, consequences, etc.

That's what the disciples had done. They had closed the doors on their past with Jesus, and they were adjusting to the facts. It's over. It was good while it lasted. Close the door.

And then can you feel how Jesus arms enfold us, with hands that are pierced from what we have just done to him and as our head rests on his bloodied, sweaty chest he whispers in our ears: I love you and I will always love you.

Somehow we beat ourselves up for not getting it. But nobody did! If you knew Jesus was going to rise from the dead on the third day where would you be?! Front row seats!

But listen to the story and find yourself.

Mary came…and other women, with spices to finish the funeral. Mary looks in and the tomb is empty. They (some grand unknown THEY) have stolen the body. When she runs to the others is it to proclaim he had risen or that his body was gone? The disciples Peter and another guy (doesn’t give him a name) come running. They look in and it says they believe…believe what? It doesn’t say! But I think we can get a clue by what they do. They look in and see the tomb is empty but then they …GO HOME. What?

Mary hangs around crying. Through her tears she sees shadowy figures. Where have they taken him? Please tell me where you’ve taken the body. It’s not until Jesus says her name…Mary…then she understands.

Christ came through their locked doors. The dark tomb could not hold him, nor could the dark despair and resignation of his followers. He came back to them, even through their locked doors.

The very first thing that the Risen Christ does is return to the same cowardly and misunderstanding disciples who had so disappointed and forsaken him. He came through their locked doors.

Luther said that when we’re faced with the resurrection we are like cows looking at a new gate. I don’t know how many of you grew up on or near a farm BUT HE SO GOT IT RIGHT! Like the California Happy cows commercial. “What is it Bessy?” “I don’t know…wasn’t there yesterday.” “Fence yesterday…fence today.” We’d try to herd them through and they’d run the other way. I’d put a halter on one and lead her toward the gate and as we got closer her heals would dig in. “Mooooo!” “No way! Fence!” A two-thousand pound cow versus a 180 pound high school kid. Guess who won. Until finally pushing and shoving you’d get one to go through. As her head went through the space it was like “Wow! It’s a gate! New pasture!” Then they’d all go bounding through. 2,000 pound cows bouncing through the pasture like calves.

Now you may not like to think of yourself as a cow -- or a sheep. But put your pride aside for a minute and you’ll get it.

You don't know what tomorrow holds for you, and that scares you.

The Risen Christ can come through locked doors. There is no security system that's been devised that can keep you safe from his incursions. He came to his first disciples and he promises to keep coming back to us, keep intruding among us, keep pressing in upon us, and keep opening the door that we don't know how to unlock. Offering new life.

What’s it look like? I don’t know. I get glimpses now and again. But I’m a cow just like you…looking.

But those glimpses Jesus gives shows a life without fear. A life of possibility not limitations. A life of joy and love and deep relationship. A life of no more hiding. A life of God saying YES not no. But you’ll have to walk through it yourself.

Your faith isn’t based on shouting it louder and the louder you yell it the easier it is to believe. The Risen Christ comes to you, moved through whatever locked door you were hiding behind, breathed his life-giving breath upon you, and says. “Don’t be afraid.”