Easter Sunday Northside UMC

“Tada” Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Sunday Northside UMC

Imagine going to the tomb early Easter morning with Mary and Mary Magdalene. It was probably pretty discouraging. You probably didn’t have much hope. You had seen Jesus die on the cross the day before. You were remembering all the good things he had done and said. Then there is an earthquake and an angel tells you that Jesus is not in the tomb and you are to meet him in Galilee. Then you meet Jesus on the road. And he says, “Greetings!” No fanfare, no drama. Just “hi” or what could be translated, “What’s up?” This was the normal greeting between friends. You expect Jesus to say something more profound and life-changing at this important time. Or do something miraculous. Yet, all he says is “Good morning.” It’s like Jesus is saying, “Didn’t I tell you I’d be raised.” Or “What did you expect?” One pastor in his children’s sermon was explaining the resurrection and asked the kids what Jesus first words were after he was raised. And before he could say the answer, one girl raised her hand and said, “Tada!” That seems to sum it up. Jesus had told the disciples many times that he was going to die and then on the third day be raised, but they didn’t get it. He even told them about the parable of the seed. He said that unless a seed goes into the ground and dies, it cannot produce a harvest. It must die first and then, Tada, new life grows up.

And so hope springs forth this morning--the hope that Christ is risen and no longer in the grave. The hope that calls us to die because even death has been defeated. Therefore we can die to our selfishness and our greed and our favorite sins. Death does not have the final say over us. Death could not keep Jesus in the ground and it cannot keep us enslaved to sin. We can lay it all on the line now that we know Christ is risen. We do not have to live in fear protecting our lives. Easter shows us that we don’t have to go on hoarding things and trying to hold on for dear life to our possessions and relationships. We can let go. Henri Nouwen explains this phenomenon of letting go by describing some friends who were trapeze flyers. He says, “The trapeze flyer is the one who lets go and the catcher is the one who catches. As the flyer swings high above the crowd on the trapeze the moment comes when he must let go. He arcs into the air. His job is to remain as still as possible and wait for the strong hands of the catcher to pluck him from the air. The flyer must never try to catch the catcher. The flyer must wait in absolute trust. The catcher will catch him, but he must wait” (Perfect Illustrations, pg. 283). That’s the hope we live in as Christians. The hope that as we let go of our life, Tada, Jesus catches us and gives us new life.

And so that’s what Jesus did on the cross. He gave up his life to God in order to save us. And so hope is born. And “Tada” life springs forth. The disciples finally get it and a new community is formed of people who are willing to give their lives for this man Jesus and for others. And this small band of disciples grows and grows and spreads throughout the world. These disciples who, two days before, had betrayed him and denied him and ran from him. Now, Tada, new groups of followers are popping up all over the world.

We have been praying throughout Lent for the 21 Christians who were martyred by terrorists. These Christians lived in the Resurrection hope of new life. That’s what the 21 Egyptian Christians did. They knew that death was not the final word. They knew that life comes out of death. It’s hard for us to grasp this idea in our culture, where we all run from death and suffering. Yet the early Christians knew this. They knew that as people lost their lives for the faith, Tada, new life would spring forth and many people would come to believe in Jesus. Paul shares this concept as he says, “suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5). So we are Resurrection people who are filled with hope and as a result can fill others with hope.

My dad lived in this hope even though he suffered with many illnesses in his lifetime. He had prostate cancer, lupus, varicose veins, a detached retina, and diverticulitis. Yet he continued to live in hope. He never complained and was always thinking of others. As a physical therapist he took care of others bodies, even as his body was in pain. Everyone he touched and spoke with felt the love of Jesus in him. Despite pain, Tada, new life was springing from my dad.

So whatever you’re going through today, hope can spring forth. No matter how hopeless you feel today, Jesus is here. Place your hope and trust in Jesus Christ. Open your heart to him today. Leap into his loving arms. Confess your need of a Savior today. Make him Lord of your life. His grace is sufficient to meet all your needs according to his riches in glory. May this be a special Easter. May this be your Tada moment! Amen.

This communion is a Tada moment. These elements of wine and bread. Tada, become the body and blood of Christ. It’s a mystery. They can change us and nourish us for this new life.