Sermon: Easter Sunday

“Then They Remembered His Words”

Somebody ought to write a book titled, Preachers Are Funny Creatures. It makes no difference if they are pastors, priests, rabbis—people who have the wonderful privilege as I do of standing in a pulpit each week are somewhat weird. Like the Reverend Eugene Magee. Magee is an enthusiastic pastor who doesn’t wear a robe. His sanctuary is plainer than most, adorned only by a cross and an American flag. Magee likes to wave his arms to emphasize important points in his sermons.

Unfortunately, he is so animated that he has trouble keeping his shirttails in his trousers. To solve this, he has developed the habit of periodically stuffing his shirttails back into his trousers as inconspicuously as possible, even while preaching.

One Easter Sunday, while admonishing the faithful with great excitement, he fished around behind his back in the usual way and found more material than usual to push out of sight. He persisted doggedly, however. On he preached and on he stuffed. At the close of his sermon he discovered that he had about half of the American flag stuffed in his pants.

He felt foolish, of course. But what would you expect? It was Easter Sunday! What pastor can help but get excited on Easter Sunday?

Luke 24:1-12

In the text I’ve chosen for this morning, Luke gives us a unique message, given to the women, by “Two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning” who suddenly appear (they weren’t there when the ladies entered the tomb): “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?”
Some people today seem to be looking for God among the dead. They have a lifeless faith, and they go to dead churches. They study their Bible as a chore, and they go to church as if going to a memorial service. But Jesus is not among the dead—He lives! He reigns in heaven and in the hearts of Christians—and He is the head of His church; the “Church that Jesus is building.”
Where do you look for Jesus? Do you expect Him to be active in the world and in the church? Are you looking for signs of His power because they are all around you?
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central fact of Christian history. On it the church is built; without it, the church would not exist today. Jesus’ resurrection is unique. Many religions have strong ethical systems, concepts about paradise and the afterlife, and various holy scriptures. Only Christianity has a God who became human—literally died for His people—and was raised again in power and glory to rule His church forever.
People who hear about the resurrection for the first time may need to comprehend this amazing story. Luke tells us that when the men in the amazing robes remind the women what Jesus said about His resurrection, “then they remembered that he had said this.” This text assumes that Christ had told the women that He would be betrayed, crucified, and raised. This information places the women in the inner circle of disciples with whom the prediction had been shared. While Luke regards the apostles as a special group, he does not limit the special experiences with Christ and the Holy Spirit to them alone.
And only the women that morning believed what they saw. Here in Luke the women aren’t commanded to go and tell the disciples as they are in both Matthew and Mark. The women aren’t errand runners for the disciples—they are disciples. It’s entirely possible to say that without these women we wouldn’t be here this morning celebrating Easter.
Earlier this week, an old couple received a phone call from their son who lives far away. The son said he was sorry, but he wouldn’t be able to come home for a visit over the holidays after all. “The grandkids say hello.” They assured him that they understood, but when they hung up the phone, they didn’t dare look at each other.
Earlier this week, a single mother was called into her supervisor’s office to hear that times are hard for the company, and they had to let her go. “So sorry.” She cleaned out her desk, packed away her hopes for getting ahead, and wondered what she would tell her kids.
Earlier this week, someone received terrible news from a physician. Someone else heard the words, “I don’t love you anymore.” Earlier this week, someone’s hope was crucified. And the darkness is overwhelming.
No one is ever ready to encounter Easter until he or she has spent time in the dark place where hope cannot be seen. Easter is the last thing we are expecting. And that is why it terrifies us. This day is not about bunnies—springtime—and girls in cute dresses. It’s about more than we can handle.
Last Sunday, before the final round of the Master’s Golf Tournament, CBS aired an interview with Bernhard Langer, who played in his 41st and last Master’s this year. In the interview he was sharing that when he won his second Master’s he had become a Christian and the final round that year was played on Easter. He shared how neat it was to win what most consider the most important golf tournament on the most important day for Christians. My friends, today you are celebrating the most important win of your life.
Early on that first Easter morning, while it was still dark, the women went to the tomb—they saw—they believed. The darkness did not remain. Dawn broke. Jesus is Risen!