WE ARE EASTER PEOPLE
Luke 24:1-11
Easter Sunday
April 16, 2017
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
“Pussycat, pussycat where have you been? I've been to London to visit the queen. Pussycat, pussycat what did you there? I frightened a little mouse under the chair. Pussycat, pussycat is that all you did? But of course I almost flipped my lid. Pussycat, pussycat did you forget about the queen? I guess I did once that mouse I had seen.”
Christian; Christian where have you been? I've been to Messiah Church to take in that scene. Christian; Christian what did you there? I sang some hymns and said the Lord's Prayer. Christian; Christian was there no more? Oh sure—we heard music; a sermon; my bottom got sore. Christian; Christian are you now a good Joe? I'm the same old person as far as I know.
Christian; Christian did God speak to you? When I went home I felt better; is that a clue? Christian; Christian did Easter change your life? I don't think so—but I hope it helped my wife. Christian; Christian there's more than that here for you. Yes, I think I'd like to live in Easter the rest of the year through.
Christian; Christian I hope you know it's true—that the Spirit of God has surrounded you. Christian; Christian rejoice, shout and be glad too. For nothing in this world can ever take Christ's love away from you.
Easter is resurrection. Only three days earlier the whole world was collapsing. On Easter it found itself alive again. Only three days earlier there was more hopelessness than a prison camp. On Easter the light was turned on again in its most brilliant array. Only three days earlier the cross stood out in the eerie shadows; on Easter the light revealed the stone was rolled away.
Easter is resurrection. Easter is the miracle of new life. Therefore coming to an Easter celebration; worshipping at an Easter worship and missing the glory of the resurrection is an exercise in futility. Coming to Easter and missing the resurrection is like going to a hockey game and spending the whole game out in the parking lot.
Like traveling to the Canadian Rockies and then driving only at night. Like purchasing a new car because of its fancy windshield wipers. Like going to London to visit the queen and seeing only a mouse. Like traveling a long distance to attend a wedding and coming one week late. Like worshipping in the Easter crowd yet remembering only the color of Sue's new dress.
Easter is resurrection; it is the rising of the sun; the rising of the Son of God. It is the opening up of life; the transformation from hopelessness to hope; from darkness to light. Easter is openness not only of the grave—it is an openness to the Spirit of God; to those sitting next to us (behind us); an openness to the future.
The message of Easter is that just as Jesus was raised to new life so should we. We are to be Easter people—full of Christ's love and salvation. We are to be Easter people who live in the joy and hope of a resurrected life. We are to be Easter people filled with God's Spirit; who have a whole new outlook on the future.
The women who came to the tomb early that morning were not yet Easter people. Truth is they were expecting to find Jesus' dead body to embalm. Their thoughts were still on the bad news of Good Friday. Their hearts were sad and troubled as they talked about and remembered the gruesome events of Calvary. However when they got to the tomb the angels spoke to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
How often does this also happen to us? How often do we live our lives on the Good Friday side of Easter? It is so easy for us to dwell on the negative; to look at this world and see only the bad things. It is so easy for us to live skeptical; defeatist lives without any real hope/joy.
It is so easy for us to also seek the living among the dead—to look for life in material objects/money; in bombs and military might; in serving my own needs first; in the use of alcohol and drugs. However all these are dead-end streets; they are on the wrong side of Easter.
It was when the women heard the words of the angels; when they remembered Jesus' words of promise that on the third day he would rise; when they saw Jesus with their own physical and spiritual eyes—only then did their skepticism go away. It was then they became Easter people.
This is also true for us. Easter doesn't mean anything if you are not involved in it; if you do not allow Christ's message to be born in your heart. Easter is to be a day when all that happened so long ago jumps over the centuries into the middle of your life today. You are meant to be an Easter person.
Being Easter people you then are called to bloom where you are planted. In other words as an Easter person you called by God are to make a difference; to live the resurrection in everything that you say and do.
Throughout my 6 ½ years at Messiah I have become more and more convinced that you as a congregation; you as the people of God have been planted in this Hoffman area in this period of time in order to bloom for the kingdom of God.
God has planted you here; he has helped your roots grow deep because there are so many who need to hear the message of Jesus; so many who are not involved in a congregation; so many husbands/wives who have not been able to work out their religious differences; so many children not being brought to any religious instruction; so many who have strayed away all together.
In order to bloom where you are planted means that the people around here need to see the Spirit of God at work among you. It means you need to tell others about your faith; surround people with your love; invite and help people get involved and feel at home in this place. It means that you give away what Christ has given you—and then you watch God's Spirit fill them with love.
One other thing—nothing blooms unless it is truly and majestically alive. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) To bloom means to be alive. However you would be amazed at how many people in our community are missing life.
Some have simply given up on life; some feel that life has given up on them. The utter boredom of it all; the monotony of work (family; daily routines). Society today has become for many simply going through motions each day and each week.
Yet to bloom where you are planted means to find out what it means to live; to be fully alive. If you are not living a free and complete life what is getting in your way? Business problems; family problems; medical problems; psychological problems; religious problems? All these can prevent you from living—from really being alive.
Truth is that these problems do not go away just by wishing they would. When a person comes alive in Jesus; when their life is turned around and starts down that exciting path of following Jesus and serving him—oftentimes these other problems no longer tie them in knots. God doesn't promise to solve all our problems—yet he does promise us life in abundance.
The final thing about blooming where you are planted has to do with the Christian community. A few weeks ago Kim and I visited the desert and we saw some trees standing in the middle of nowhere; trees that were gnarled and disjointed; trees that never had a chance for protection because they were forced to stand alone.
Kim and I have also spent time in areas with large forests; where row after row of tall stately trees are found. These trees of course are important for each other; they shield each other from the fierce winds; shade each other from the hot sun. There is tremendous strength in numbers.
This is what the the Messiah community is all about. Bloom where you are planted—yet no one blooms alone. Remember you are part of a family; the family of God. There is incredible strength in this church community; in being part of the body of Christ.
It is where we learn what it means to bear one another's burdens; to love one another; to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. It is where we are strengthened in our faith; nourished for a life of service.
Jesus Christ is risen today—alleluia; alleluia! We are now Easter people. Bloom where you are planted and this life will be yours in all its beauty and joy.
“Pussycat; pussycat where have you been? I've been to London to visit the queen. Pussycat; pussycat what did you there? I saw only the queen so royal and fair. “
Christian; Christian where have you been? I've been to Calvary do you know what I've seen? Christian; Christian what did you see? I saw a resurrection and I know it was for me.
Christian; Christian what does this mean? It means my whole life; it means a new dream. Christian; Christian can it be true? You bet it is—I'm now an Easter person how about you?