- Mary goes to the tomb
her intent… anoint the lifeless body of Jesus
she fully expects to find the body where they had laid it Friday evening.
BUT … tomb empty
She speaks with the “gardener”
He calls her by name; “Mary”
She recognizes him: Rabbouni
In this touching encounter…Mary recognizes the risen Christ.
Mary runs back….”I have seen the Lord”
He spoke to my heart
He touched my soul
Her Easter message: “I have found life where I feared there was only death.”
That’s always the message as God confronts our vulnerability
As God embraces our fears, anxieties, grief, guilt, shame…all the experience we prefer to forget.
That’s the message of Easter. Life is found where we feared there was only death.
Gospel demands hope..allows us to look beyond vulnerability..yes, there will be living in Jesus
- The gospel is the power of God for life. (Rm 1:16)
Steadfast love and forgiveness of God challenges us to hope
Steadfast love/forgiveness…shines light into the darkness
Resurrection makes clear… death not the end of the story
tomb is empty
life/hope prevail
power of God for life will not allow death to be last word
He lives…He is risen…He is risen indeed.
- Our burdens are many and great.
In worship, we connect our burdens to the Lord of life
We connect our:
guilt and need of forgiveness
relationship and family issues
trust issues
health issues
worry and fear and anxiety issues.
We connect our lives with the power of the resurrection…the power of God to bring new life
- Mary went to the cemetery, land of vulnerability and death
she found God’s power for life
She found
God’s power of love and forgiveness
power of death defeated
healing/hope
new life/new reality
Kingdom of God
Found life where once there was death
There will be living in Jesus.
Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life”
Fear/loss/disappointment/anxiety/grief…these are Not final reality
Broken relationships are not the final reality
Health problems…not final reality
Resentment is not the final reality
- Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. I am the final reality
I am the new reality, new Jerusalem, new creation, new heaven and earth
I am the new covenant
I am the alpha and the omega
I am the resurrection…come to me all who are burdened and heavy laden
I will give you life.
No loss. No disruption…is final in Jesus
Light shines in wilderness. Darkness will not overcome light
There will be living where once there was death.
There will be living in Jesus
That is reality of Easter…I am the resurrection and the life
There is living in Jesus!
- As he comes back for us…As encounter the Risen Christ, we learn …
We are loved by God
Get same blessing Jesus did…you are my beloved child
Receive forgiveness…enables enter more deeply into relationships and able to forgive others
Receive sense of belonging/community
Today…we gather around table and know we have come back home.
Like Prodigal Son…get robe/ring/embrace of loving Father
Like Peter…new sense of purpose/vocation…become witnesses and fishers of men
Like woman at well..get living water that sustains
Like Bartimaeus..get new sight
Like woman touched Jesus’ robe…get healing
Like disciples on beach…enjoy breakfast with Risen One
- Jesus says “do not be afraid”
Our fears do not have to keep us divided…not have to keep us hiding behind closed doors.
In resurrection…power of death is broken.
In resurrection…powers that bind us to the past are broken.
In resurrection…power of sin and errors of yesterday are overcome.
In resurrection…our relationships are restored.
In resurrection…we see each other with new eyes, we relate with new hearts.
Jesus came to us…fed us…forgave us…now we can move out in ministry in the power of the resurrection.
Live in the power of the resurrection…Live restored.