SEATTLE MENNONITE CHURCH

Easter Sunday, March 31, 2002

Sermon: Weldon D. Nisly

TITLE: To believe in Easter

THEME: “Here is an astonishing thing!” “….to resurrection joy!”

TEXTS: Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24

Acts 10: 34-43

Colossians 3: 1-4

Matthew 28: 1-10

Matthew 28: 1-10 The Easter Story!

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake;

for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven,

came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

The angel’s appearance was like lightning, with clothing white as snow.

For fear of the angel the guards shook and became like dead men.

But the angel said to the women,

"Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you."

So the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell Jesus’ disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my disciples to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

This is the Easter Gospel of the Risen Jesus Christ!

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SMC sermon – WDNisly – 3/31/02 – p. 2

Do you believe in Easter? Do we believe in Easter?

To believe in Easter, we need to believe in death.
We need to know that death is real.
Our culture frantically denies death and steadfastly produces death.

Lent and Holy Week bring us face-to-face with death, even death on a cross.

Easter is God’s new life intrusion into a world of death.

“Easter is about God…God who creates a way when there was no way, [a God who makes war on evil, not makes evil with war]….

God [who] did on Easter in invading the tomb what God did on Christmas in a virgin’s womb….God who made a way when there is no way…On Easter God inserted a new fact [of life]” into death. (Willimon, Pulpit Resource, 58)

For there to be Easter we have to know that Jesus really died. We have to face our own dying.

Before we look at Easter flowers, Easter sunshine, Easter crosses,
we have know that Easter faith begins with death.

To believe in Easter we must believe in transformation.
Those who first followed Jesus, however unspectacularly,
Were those with the heart to change and be changed.
Peter, James, and John, Thomas and Zacheaus
Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, the Beloved disciple – changed.
Transforming change amplified by total self-gift on a cross,
And magnified by a totally unimaginable resurrection.
A resurrection showing that nonviolent love is the only transforming change.
Easter says that nonviolent love is the world’s most powerful force for change.
Before we look at Easter flowers, Easter sunshine, Easter crosses,
we have to know that Easter faith begins with transformation.

To believe in Easter, we must believe in life.
Not life in theory - but your life and mine – life in the now and the new.
Life of family and friends and sisters and brothers and yes, even enemies.
At Easter we stand with God at the dawn of new creation, new life, new vision.
We behold Risen Life with fearful joy and say with God, "It is very good."

Before we look at Easter flowers, Easter sunshine, Easter crosses,
we need to know that Easter faith begins with life.

SMC sermon – WDNisly – 3/31/02 – p. 3

To believe in Easter is to believe in others.
When Jesus stepped into the Jordan River to be baptized
He did it to identify completely with us, with the human condition.
Jesus is for others.

Jesus is God’s Incarnate and Risen Presence teaching and healing and loving unconditionally eternally or others.
The flame of the Christ candle tells us the light of the Risen Christ has come into the world for others today.
We stand with Jesus who makes us into the Risen Body of Christ.
Where the cross scattered the disciples in every direction and every way,
Easter brings disciples together into a new body with a new vision.
Before we look at Easter flowers, Easter sunshine, Easter crosses,
we need to know that Easter faith begins with others.

To believe in Easter we must believe in Jesus Christ.
It is the Risen Christ who calls us by name.
It is the Risen Christ who gives us the words of eternal life.
It is the Risen Christ who meets us on the road and walks with us each day.
It is the Risen Christ who shows us the meaning of these three days that changed the world.
It is the Risen Christ who gives us the great commission to feed, heal, forgive, love, and baptize. “Behold the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.”
It is the Risen Christ who gives us a communal vision as a church – a life-giving, birthing, breathing, living, growing, fulfilling vision.

It is the Risen Christ who speaks these words with authority and gives us the authority to receive them and to live them with new and renewed vision.
This is the Easter day that God has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Before we look at Easter flowers, Easter sunshine, Easter crosses,
we need to know that Easter faith begins with Jesus Christ, the Risen One of God.

(Adapted extensively from homily of Abbot John Klassen OSB, Easter Vigil, Sat, April 14, 01)

Here is the most astonishing thing!

With the women, we are astonished with fear and with joy at the sight and light of the Risen Christ.

We are Easter people. We are given an Easter vision. WE BELIEVE IN EASTER.

Vicit agnus noster, eum sequamur….The Lamb has conquered, the Lamb let us follow.