RESURRECTION SUNDAY 2010

As I was thinking about this morning’s message I was reminded of an incident shared with me recently by my daughter. It was about something that happened around St. Patrick’s Day involving a coworker of one of her close friends. The woman was at work when she received a phone call from her 6’ 1,” 185 pound, 15 year-old mentally challenged son who was alone in their home at the time. He gleefully shouted: “Mom, Mom, hurry home; I captured a leprechaun!” The mother said that it was nice and she was proud of him. Then she reminded him she could only leave her job if there was an actual emergency. After telling her son how much she loved him she hung up. About ten minutes later the woman received another call from the excited boy. “Mom, mom, hurry home; I captured a leprechaun!” Once again she told him the same thing, but insisted she couldn’t leave her job. She asked him to please don’t call again because she still had a lot of work to do.

After a series of three more calls from the young man who was now frantic, the woman decided she ought to go home and find out what was going on. The grinning boy greeted her at the door jumping up and down and excitedly shouting: “Mom, mom, I captured a leprechaun! She entered their home and took a quick look around, but didn’t see anything unusual. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud banging sound coming from her son’s bedroom. The woman slowly went into the room and it was obvious the noise was coming from the closet. She cautiously opened its door and got the surprise of her life. There, sitting on the floor bound hand and foot by one of those long orange extension cords with duct tape covering his mouth, was an obviously furious bald man who turned out to be a door to door salesman. He also happened to be a dwarf.

Think about that incident for a moment. I can’t imagine the man not wishing he had a normal sized body, can you? And not just since he happened to knock on the wrong door while he was trying to earn a living. He probably would have regretted being trapped in that body many years earlier? I can’t imagine our friend Carroll whom I spoke about in my last two messages being satisfied with the body she’s presently living in, nor Linda who’s with us this morning and to whom I’ve dedicated this message. She’s been suffering from the life altering awful effects of Multiple Sclerosis for a long time. I’m sure there must have been moments when Linda has felt as though she’s trapped in her body, too. Can you think of anyone else who really dislikes the present condition of his or her body, so much so, that they would give anything to exchange it for one in better condition? I’m sure you can.

How about you folks? If it were possible, would any of you like to exchange your body for a brand new one right now? I’m not thinking of one that’s the same as what you already have only without its defects. I mean a body which is different from the one you see when you look in a full size mirror. So much so, that if you suddenly appeared in it, even folks closest to you would have a hard time recognizing you. For instance, I can imagine myself being in the shoes of the man who was trapped in the body of that bald dwarf. If I was him I’d be wishing I had a 6’ 3” 205 pound body topped off with a full head of hair. And I would be looking forward to knocking on that kid’s door later this year, and when he answered, I would be grinning from ear to ear and say, “Remember me, Trick-or-treat!” And if he was watching TV at the time and wouldn’t pull himself off the couch, I would love to be able to suddenly materialize sitting next to him, then tap the kid on the shoulder and ask the same question.

Can you imagine such a transformation taking place to a human body? I sure can because it has already happened a little over two thousand years ago on the day which all Christians regard as being the most wonderful day of the year. It commemorates a day which many of them refer to as being “Resurrection Sunday.” All of us know of the awful evil which took place on the previous Friday. But, I can’t even begin to imagine how helpless and sorrowful Jesus loved ones must have felt as they watched Him die such a slow agonizing death on His cross. And, neither can I imagine the degree of their happiness and joy on that first Resurrection Sunday.

For example, let’s consider Mary Magdalene.

John 20:1-18 (ESV)
¹ Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes.

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener [she didn’t even recognize His voice], she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.”

Now let’s consider Luke’s account of that same wonderful supernatural event that occurred thousands of years ago; an event which grateful Christians throughout the world are still talking about today.

Luke 24:1-12 (ESV)
¹ But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” ⁸ And they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, ¹¹ but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

But that wasn’t the end of all the wonderful blessings His followers experienced on Resurrection Sunday, that never to be forgotten day they learned He had risen from the dead. At first glance Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus because she couldn’t until God enabled her to. For instance,

Luke 24:13-16 (ESV)
¹³ That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

They no more recognized Jesus than the boy I spoke about earlier would have been able to recognize the man who had been trapped in the body of a dwarf if he appeared in a new one knocking on the kids door trick-or-treating. With those early followers of the Risen Savior, they weren’t able to recognize Him because their eyes were kept [by God] from recognizing Him. Luke’s narrative continues:

Luke 24:17-27 (ESV)
¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. ²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:28-35 (NIV)
²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” ³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Luke 24:36-45 (ESV)
³⁶ As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself [suddenly] stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them. ⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

On that memorable Resurrection Sunday, the Risen Savior reappeared on the scene alive and well in a new resurrected body. It was so different that no one could recognize Him or even understand what He had to say about the Scriptures unless God opened their eyes and mind. At this point allow me to digress for a couple of minutes while I tell you about one of the nicest things I experienced last week. After not seeing him since shortly before Thanksgiving, I was able to enjoy lunch with my friend Sergio, a man who is no stranger to prolonged pain and suffering and someone through whom God often blesses me with a great deal of inspiration. We were in Marko’s, my favorite pizza joint which is just down the road from our church. I arrived a few minutes before Sergio and exchanged greetings with Sean and his terrific crew who, in addition to preparing and serving great food, happen to be zealous Red Sox fans. A smiling Sergio came walking in with the assistance of his ever present cane, and then, when he stepped up to the counter to place his order, let out a “go Yankees!” with his deep baritone voice. And everybody laughed as they usually do.

I had printed the first two sermons in this series and then, after handing them to Sergio, left him at our table while I fetched the silverware and napkins. I glanced over at him and noticed he had taken them out of the envelope and was reading one of them. I purposely let him finish the first two pages before rejoining him, and then he told me Guy and Carroll was huge inspirations to him ever since he had become aware of the painful ordeal they had been enduring for so many years. I echoed his sentiment because they also were to me and a lot of other folks I know. Then I said: “I bet Carroll would give anything to get out her body and into a new one that was free of chronic pain and functioned the way it once did.” He agreed. I asked him: “if I could wave a wand and then poof, all of a sudden you would be in a new one without its bodily defect’s; defects which are such painful hindrances to you, would you want me to?”

My question was directed to a fifty five year old man who had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was seventeen years old. That’s thirty eight years in which Sergio has been living in his defective body which is progressively deteriorating and experiences  chronic pain. He thought for a minute or so before answering and then said that he would. With one exception! He would want to keep his personality. He wouldn’t ever want to give up being the person he really is and who, through a lot of personal suffering, I and many others believe increasingly resembles Jesus Christ. My friend Sergio knows he is living in what I have been referring to as being ‘The Eighth Day of Creation,’ and it is through the lessons he learned while he endured his divinely ordained trials that our Creator is transforming him into becoming the beautiful Christ-like creature He planned him to be on the other side of eternity.

While we were talking and enjoying our lunch, we were introduced by Sean the owner to a man seated alone next to us. We each had an opportunity to share our testimony with him. Among some of things Sergio shared was a comment he recently posted in my guest book. “Depression is something that I had for many years myself. I did go to doctors, but ultimately it was God who gave me the strength to live–and I changed!

Although he’s on disability, Sergio manages to work part time in the activity department of a nursing home. One hour a week he leads a band consisting of any patient who wants to play. He strum’s on his guitar and sings and encourages patients to take instruments such as Bongo Drums, Tambourines, Marche’s etc. out of a big box and join him in his band. Before lunch Sergio sings some Golden Oldies such as ‘On Moonlight Bay’ and ‘The Bells Are Ringing For Me and My Gal’. Just before Bingo, Sergio has what he calls ‘The Gospel Hour’. The patients love it and him, too. Oblivious of the constant pain he’s been enduring all these years, they love hearing him sing and they hum along with him hymns which must be some of their favorites, hymns such as: ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee’ and ‘Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow.’

If a non-Christian were to bump into Sergio on this Resurrection Sunday and asked him how he could be so upbeat and positive in spite of his disease and the devastating toll it’s progressively taking on his body, He would quickly seize the opportunity and say: Christ the Lord is Risen Today! Then he would share the Gospel and tell him or her that “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Then Sergio would softly add, God loves you pal!, followed by him bellowing out with his signature close: “GOD IS GOOD!

Lord willing, next week….