Houston Congregational Christian Church

Pastor James Manuel
4883 Russia-Houston Road
Houston, OH  45333
Phone:  937-295-3591
Email:  click here

Date:  April 12, 2009    Easter Sunday

Title:   The Miracle of Easter

Call to Worship:   Isaiah 30:18

Scripture Reading:   John 20:1-18

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable unto You O Lord on this Your day.

This morning all over the world   millions of Christians are gathering to celebrate Easter.   We sing—Up From the Grave He Arose  a mighty triumph o’er His foes.      You see my friends with the Resurrection of Jesus comes our own Resurrection.   With Christ’s Resurrection came Satan’s ultimate defeat.    With Christ’s Resurrection is the victory of heaven over hell,   love over hate,    hope over despair,   forgiveness over sin.   And may I say like the early believers we are to share the joy of Easter’s promise.  Christ is Risen.  Christ is Risen indeed.

At dawn on Sunday these grieving women went to the tomb where the body of Jesus was buried.   These women went to the tomb to finish anointing the body of Jesus with their burial spices.   Their lives had been transformed by Jesus and they became His supporters,  followed Him during His ministry  and wept as they witnessed His death at Calvary.  Now they were ready to offer Him their final act of obedience.

When the women arrived at the cemetery they found Jesus’ tomb open.   The heavy stone had been rolled away and the body of Jesus could not be found.     Mary ran to find Peter and the other disciples and boldly said to them,  John 20:2,  ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put Him.’        Peter and John ran back to the tomb and saw the linen and burial cloth folded.  

Despite all that Jesus had taught them the disciples still did not understand that Jesus had really risen from the dead.    John tells us in John 20:10,  ‘Then the disciples went back to their homes.’   They were so poorly prepared for the news that Jesus had risen that they just went home. 

But Mary remained behind  still outside weeping after the men left.   Finally she worked up the courage to look inside.   When she did the tomb wasn’t empty at all.  Instead she saw two angels dressed in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been just the night before.   And they asked her in John 20:13,    ‘Woman why are you crying?’    Not understanding Mary replied v13,   ‘They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put Him.’

Turning around Mary saw Jesus standing there but she didn’t recognize Him.  Again she heard the question this time from Jesus,  v15,  ‘Woman, He said,  why are you crying?  Who is it you are looking for?’    Thinking that Jesus was the gardener she responded v15,   ‘Sir if you have taken Him away tell me where you have put Him and I will get Him.’                                                                                                           

Many of us are like Mary.   We’re looking for a preconceived Jesus.  We may come to Easter service limiting God by looking for Jesus only as we have always seen Him.   How would we answer Jesus’ question---Who  are you looking for?     In what ways might we be surprised if God appeared to us this morning?   Why is it easier to see and believe as we always have   rather to embrace the Risen Christ.   Perhaps we hang on to our perceptions because it’s comfortable and far less demanding.

God surprised Mary that first Easter morning and everything changed for her.  What changed Mary?  Not the empty tomb.  Not the presence of the angels.   Not the presence of Jesus standing before her   she misunderstood all of that.   It was one word that changed everything for her.   One word.     Everything changed when Jesus called her name.  John 20:16,  ‘Jesus said to her---Mary.’     This exchange between them identified Jesus as the Good Shepherd,  as John 10:3 tells us,  ‘He knows His sheep by name and they respond to His voice.’     His promised transformation from weeping and pain to joy   has been accomplished through the word and presence of Jesus.  

Mary’s initial response to this realization was exactly what many of ours would be. She wanted to reach out to Jesus and hold on tight.   Imagine the chance to embrace someone very dear who you thought was dead.  We’d all want to hold on and never again let go.   But Jesus had other ideas.  Mary had an important job to do  and so do we.     Jesus said in John 20:17,   ‘Don’t hold on to me   for I have not yet returned to the Father.  Go instead to My brothers and tell them.  I am returning to My Father and your Father,   to My God and your God.’

It is significant that although Jesus called Mary   and us,  that is not the end.   Jesus then sent her  and us  with a message.   Mary was the first witness to the Resurrected Lord and the first that Jesus appointed to preach the Resurrection message.        By virtue of Jesus’ death and Resurrection the way has been opened for us all to be part of His family and do the same.   Mary saw the Lord first dimly   then clearly.    She hoped then she believed.   She wept  then she rejoiced.   She held on to the presence of the Risen Lord   then she let loose with Good News that He is Alive.  

While at the Cross let us embrace the suffering Savior.   As we see His sacred head wounded in response let our every thought be an act of love for Him.    As we view His nail torn feet  in response let our gentle steps be an act of Love for Him.      As we remember His scarred hands in response let the reach and touch of our hands be an act of  love for Him.    And as we see His side run through by a sword   in response let our every breath and every beat of our hearts be used as an act of love for Him.  

In closing may I say that part of the wonder of Easter is that God had every detail of Jesus’ Resurrection planned long before it happened.  May God,  Himself,   richly bless your Easter with the joy of His springtime.   With the peace of His presence    and with the Love of His Risen Son.        

The Lord Jesus is here,  in the midst of our Easter celebration,  saying---My dear precious child  Come To Me.   And hide no more,   run no more cry no more,   yearn no more,   hurt no more.        My friends the Lord Jesus is here,  in the midst of our Easter celebration saying to us---I Am Here,   I Am Here.     I Am Risen----Love one another.       Sing Hallelujah,   for HE  IS  ALIVE.   The Risen Lord is with us today and always.