Easter Sermon Summary, 4/1/18, “”Witnesses: Mary Magdalene, The First Christian” (John 3:16; 21:1-18)
(I recommend reading the passages from John before this summary.) I’m sure you wonder why I’m here. I’m here because we are Easter people. Rosemary is an Easter person. Is, not was. My Step-Mom is an Easter person. Is, not was. “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph or His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain; and He lives forever with his saints to reign.” Saints, little “s.” Rosemary is a saint. Marian is a saint. “With His saints.” I believe the Easter message. Not because I want it to be true, but because I know it to be true.
When Mary Magdalene came to the garden she had no idea what to expect, least of all the resurrection. None of them did. If they had, they would have been camped out at the tomb with noisemakers and horns awaiting the event. Read the passage again. Mary didn’t. Peter didn’t. John didn’t (it says John believed but I don’t know what. The next line shows he didn’t expect the resurrection.) All the disciples waiting in hiding didn’t. Jesus had told them “On the third day be raised.” But they doubted.
Doubting can be good. It causes us to wrestle with what we believe. Doubt can be God working within us even before we know it to strengthen our faith.
There are strong reasons to believe in the resurrection. God raised Jesus from the dead to show that Jesus was who he said he was, the Son of God. Jesus’ words, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” would have been idle words without the resurrection. The resurrection is the event that launched Christianity.
God raised Jesus to show that he had overcome death. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” He raised Him to show us that Jesus is worthy to be our Savior. “He is the firstborn of the dead so that he has supremacy over everything.” He is Lord.
God raised him from the dead to show us that for all of us, there is life after death. There is eternal life. “shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
If all these things are true, it changes everything! Jesus is God. Jesus has overcome death. We have the promise of eternal life. We reign as saints with him in glory. It changes everything. We are people of hope.
Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb without hope and returns saying, “I have seen the Lord!” Resurrection Joy!
All of the witnesses. All of the apostles lived with joy. And as witnesses to the resurrection, they died with joy. And folks, nobody dies for what they know to be a lie. Nobody dies for a lie. And here’s the great news folks, the resurrection means that Jesus will work backwards to turn all the agony into glory. He will give us the life we always wanted, free from sorrow, free from pain, filled with glory. Amen.
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