Sermon 3-23-08

First Reading – (Many people believe the resurrection was just ancient legend and that people in those days were easily deceived; after all they weren’t very smart, they didn’t have cars, computers, or space travel as we do. However Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after He had risen from the dead; even secular history in Jesus’ day recorded that He died, was buried in the tomb, rose and appeared to people.)

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Second Reading – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Gospel – (The Gospel lesson talks about the disciples seeing the empty tomb; they saw and believed. We are in a different situation; we’re not there to see. But the Bible says that we can still believe and next Sunday our topic will be Seeing is not Believing. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to believe in the resurrection and in every word that is in the Bible. So if you are struggling with faith issues, next Sunday will be very important for you to hear as we talk about how the Holy Spirit is working through God’s Word.)

John 20:1-8 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.”

Sermon –

As we read today’s Gospel Lesson, did you catch the clue in the tomb? For years I didn’t catch it, but there is a clue that Jesus left in the tomb as He rose from the dead that really tells us something. The clue left in the tomb is very important because it speaks to us about the relationship God wants to have with us. God doesn’t want to be a God that is far off; He wants a close personal relationship with us. The clue left in the tomb speaks not only about our life, but also about our death and what happens after death. The clue left in the tomb is much broader than that also, it speaks about some of the issues we face today. The clue left in the tomb tells us the outcome of the war on terrorism, about the outcome of global warming, about high oil prices and about the difficulties we encounter in everyday life. The clue left in the tomb has bearing on our life and God’s plan for us and our days on earth.

Let’s look at the clue left in the tomb from John 20:1-8; Peter and John were running to the tomb and when Simon Peter arrived at the tomb he saw the strips of linen lying there. In those days when people were buried, they were wrapped in linen with a cloth placed over the face. If you compare different English translations of the Bible, some will say handkerchief, some will say burial cloth, and some will say napkin; these are all translations of the Greek word soudarion. Probably the best translation of the Greek word soudarion is “napkin”, something you use to wipe your face; as you set the Easter table today you don’t want to forget the soudarion. When Jesus was laid in the tomb on Good Friday his head was covered with a soudarion, a napkin.

We know that Jesus really did rise from the dead because when He rose, the strip of linen covering His body collapsed in on itself. The essence of the Greek words used in the Bible show that the wrapping collapsed in on itself. But here’s the clue left in the tomb: the disciples saw the strip of linen lying there as well as the soudarion that had been placed on Jesus’ head, but the soudarian had not collapsed in on itself; it was folded up, separate from the linen. When Jesus rose from the dead, He passed through the linen; it collapsed in on itself and was lying in the tomb. What Peter and John also saw was the soudarion, the napkin that had covered Jesus’ head, had not collapsed in on itself, it was folded up separate from the linen. That’s the clue left in the tomb.

In the first century, in the day of Jesus, when the master of the house was finished at the table he took his napkin and dropped it on the table. However if he was coming back, as a sign for the servant, the master would take the napkin and fold it. That was a sign that he was coming back, expect him, don’t clear the table, he’s returning. See how significant this is? Not only did Jesus tell his disciples before he was crucified that he was coming back, but he actually showed them. Jesus left a clue in the tomb so that His followers would know that He had actually risen from the dead and was coming back. He folded the napkin, the soudarion, so that His followers would know that He was coming back.

And He did return. That evening on the road to Emmaus Jesus did come back, talked to his followers and told them what the plan for life is. He came back! He appeared to the disciples, He appeared to Mary, and He appeared to more than 500 people. He came back! And he said he would never leave us or forsake us! He said He would be with us in Holy Communion! That’s why it’s so important that we understand confession of sin and the forgiveness of sin. We owe God perfect obedience, perfection in everything we do. And according to Romans 3:23, we are falling very short, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But when Jesus died at 3:00 on Good Friday afternoon, He said, “It is finished!” which meant that all our sins, past, present, and future were paid in full. He paid for our sins which healed our broken relationship with God; payment for our sin, our imperfection, our disobedience, was accomplished. Jesus accomplished that for you and for me, and all He asks is that we confess that we need a Savior and believe in Him. With sin forgiven, you can have a relationship with God, you can talk to Him in prayer, and God responds in the Bible. A relationship with God is the greatest thing in the world!

The clue left in the tomb also says a lot about our death. Death really isn’t death. Jesus’ folded napkin says that He is coming back and with your death you’re coming back also. After death your soul goes to heaven, your body gets buried in the ground, cremated, or whatever you want to do with it, but on the last day your soul is coming back. Jesus will raise your body and give you a perfect heavenly body.

The clue left in the tomb says a lot about the war on terrorism. The god that the terrorists serve is going to go the same place that the false god Baal went. No one worships Baal today; God got rid of him. Molech was a false god that everyone worshiped; no one worships him today, he’s gone! The god the terrorists serve is a false god. How do I know that? How can I be so narrow minded? I know because I have direction from the Bible; God tells us how things are going to end. Philippians 2:10 says, “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth (hell)”. EVERY knee – even the knees of the terrorists, even the knees of those that vandalized the churches last Friday night in Massachusetts. Every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. We know this because of the clue left in the tomb, Jesus rose from the dead and He’s coming back.

The clue left in the tomb tells us a lot about global warming. Jesus rose from the dead which means He is God, which means He rules heaven and earth, which means He can handle global warming. After God destroyed the world in a flood, He made a promise. He said, “As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22) God rules everything and He has made sure the climate as we know it will never stop until Jesus comes back the second time. And we know this because of the clue left in the tomb. Jesus rose from the dead and He’s coming back!

The clue left in the tomb speaks about high energy costs. Jesus says to us Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about our body, what you will wear…For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows you need them.” But Jesus doesn’t talk about oil, does He? That’s because in the first century oil was useless, there were no engines and cars. If He were saying this today, He would tell us not to worry about high oil prices. The clue left in the tomb says He rose, He’s coming back, He cares about you, He wants a relationship with you. Jesus says “Don’t worry, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Verse 33). And “all” means that all those difficulties: wars, climate worries, high prices, running out of resources - all those difficulties of life are here to direct us to Him.

When Jesus returned on Easter evening and talked to His disciples, they were confused and they asked, “What does this all mean?” Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures and said, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” (Luke 24:45) That’s the plan for all of us who are witnesses to His resurrection - that confession of sin, and Christ’s payment for what we owe will be preached in His name. The goal is that people will confess, “Lord, I’m a sinner, I need your forgiveness and I trust in Christ who died and rose and paid for my sins.” Have a relationship with God and all the promises in the Bible pertain to you.

God lets all those difficulties continue because He’s trying to get people to turn back to Him. That’s the plan and He’s not going to stop! Hell is so bad that He’s not going to stop until He gets everyone in this world to turn back to Him. The public school system scheduled Parents Night at the high school on Maundy Thursday. People should be in church on Maundy Thursday worshiping and praising God for one of the greatest events in the world, but it’s not important to them. Or Good Friday, what an important day, but for so many people it’s just life as usual, they see no need to come into God’s house, no need to worship Him, no need to say “Thank You God for paying for my sins.” God is not going to let people get away with that and He’s not going to let this country get away with it. He wants people worshiping.

Yesterday I went online to the AOL news page. It wasn’t hard to tell that Good Friday had no impact on the world; the news headline was “OPRAH UP TO 246 POUNDS - BREAKUP WITH BOYFRIEND CAUSES EATING FRENZY”! That’s what the headlines were! So God keeps working in the lives of people and Hell is so bad that He’s not going to stop. Remember the clue left in the tomb, Christ is coming back and He wants people to return to Him and worship Him so that the AOL headline news story is “CHRIST PAID FOR SINS, TURN TO HIM!” That’s the important event and that’s what we need to work for and pray for. Can you imagine if this were just an ordinary weekend for us? Can you imagine what we would be missing out on if the only big news story was Oprah’s 246 pounds? That’s life??? No, there’s so much more because the clue left in the tomb tells us that Christ is risen, He’s victorious, He’s healed our broken relationship with God; He’s coming back and He’s coming back for you! That’s the great news. He is risen; He is risen indeed!

Prayer –

Heavenly Father, Thank You for revealing the resurrection. Thank You for the clue left in the tomb which tells us that You are coming back. Thank You, Lord, that Your presence will come to us this morning in Holy Communion. Thank You for the Second Coming which we eagerly await. In the meantime, help us to do Your will, help us to point people that, as You say in Luke 24, “here’s the plan - that repentance and forgiveness of sins will be spread to all people”. Lord, help us to accomplish this. And we pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.

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