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The Rock, The Roll, The Resurrection. Text: John 20:1-18
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I love Sunday School stories. You know…Out of the mouths of babes…
There’s one I particularly like about a Sunday school teacher who decided to ask her class what they knew about Easter. The first little fellow suggested, “Easter is when all the family comes to the house and we eat a big turkey and watch football.” The teacher suggested that perhaps he was thinking of Thanksgiving, not Easter. Next, a cute little girl said, “Easter is the day when you come down the stairs in the morning and you see all the beautiful present under the tree.”
At this point the teacher was really feeling discouraged. After explaining that the girl was probably thinking about Christmas, she called on another little boy with his hand tentative raised in the air. The teacher’s spirits perked up when he said, “Easter is the time when Jesus was crucified and buried.” The teacher was elated to think that someone in her class “got it,” until he continued with, “And then Jesus comes out of the grave and if he sees his shadow we will have six more weeks of winter.”
Obviously confused!
If truth be told, sometimes so are we. And I can tell you with assurance from our scripture passage that Mary and the disciples were also confused that first Easter day.
I don’t think I can even imagine what Mary and the disciples and other followers of Jesus were feeling that Sunday morning. They had been through unspeakable horror. Seeing Jesus arrested, tried, convicted, tortured, crucified, murdered.
They watched his body hastily taken down from the cross and put in a tomb that was sealed by a rock. It wasn’t just the horror of seeing this happen to a beloved friend. Their hopes and dreams had been shattered. After all, they believed Jesus was the Messiah, God’s Son, the long awaited one from God. How could this happen? And add on top of this that they were afraid—afraid these horrible things could happen to them as well.
Most of them were hiding. But not Mary Magdelene. Or maybe she was “sort of” hiding, because she went to the tomb while it was still dark so that no one would see her. Perhaps she was in such a state of shock and grief, she just needed to be close to the gravesite of Jesus.
Well, you heard the story just a moment ago. When she arrived at the tomb the rock had been rolled away from the tomb entrance. The heavy rock has been rolled away. The rock the Romans and Pharisees had used to seal the tomb has been rolled away. The rock that was guarded by Roman soldiers has been rolled away. The tomb of death has been opened because the rock, a major obstacle, has been rolled away.
What is interesting to me is that no one, not Mary, not the two disciples who came to the tomb after her alarm, no one really understood that Jesus had risen. Verse 8 says the disciple believed. Believed what? That Jesus’ body was gone? Yes. Verse 9 tells us that none of them realized that Jesus had to rise from the dead. They were clueless. While Jesus was with his disciples, he had told them quite a few times that he would be killed and rise again in three days. In fact, he sometimes said this in front of the temple officials, and that really made them mad. So Jesus had said this would happen, but at this point on that first Easter morning, no one could put anything together.
The rolled away rock didn’t prod Mary to faith, but just added to her anxiety. Where was Jesus? Who took him away?
There’s a park in California that has a rock hanging on a rope. Right next to the rock is a large sign with a weather station report. It says: Check the rock. If it’s wet, it’s raining. If the rock is swinging, it’s windy. If it’s dry, it’s not raining. If you cannot see the rock, it’s foggy. If the rock has been blown away, it’s a tornado.
I think this cute illustration has a profound statement in it for us this Easter morning. Check the rock!
If you’re wondering what Easter is really about, check the rock.
If you’re wondering if Christianity is relevant to you today, check the rock.
If you’re wondering if Jesus is who he said he is, check the rock.
If you’re wondering if Jesus really conquered death, check the rock.
If you’re wondering if Jesus is alive today, check the rock.
If you’re wondering is God keeps his promises, check the rock.
What makes the rock so important? Why is this rock a pivotal point in history? When God rolled that rock away, it was a signal, a sign, a neon sign that God brought Jesus back to life.. The resurrection vindicated Jesus’ claims about himself, that he was the Son of God in the flesh, the fulfillment of God’s loving dealings with human beings. The old covenant of rules and traditions to find salvation had been superseded by a new covenant made by Jesus’ death for us. And that new covenant was sealed with the resurrection. God proved once and for all that God alone is more powerful than sin and death. Scripture says that because Jesus lives, we will live also.
Most people think of this as a great insurance policy for the life after this. The idea is that when we Christians physically die we can collect the benefits—a heavenly home. And the truth is the Bible does speak of experiences that we will have after we leave these earthsuits. But the whole idea of the resurrection is so much more. It’s not just about life after this. It’s about a new life now. The resurrected Jesus is that life—now. Because God showed us that all of God’s promises are true.
For example, when we think, “It’s impossible,” God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
When we think, “I’m too tired.” God says: Come to me. I’ll give you rest. (Matt 11:28-30)
When we think, “No one really loves me,” God says: You’re precious to me. (Isaiah 43:4)
When we think, “I can’t figure things out,” God says: I will direct your steps. (Prov. 3:5-6)
When we think, “I can’t do this.” God says: You can do all things through me. (Phil. 4:13)
When we think, “I can’t be forgiven for what I’ve done.” God says: I forgive you in Jesus. I’ve already taken your sins far away. (I John 1:9 & Ps. )
When we think, “I can’t manage.” God says: I will supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19)
When we think, “I’m always worried or frustrated.” God says: Cast all your cares on me. (I Peter 5:7)
When we think, “I’m not smart enough.” God says: I give you wisdom (I Cor. 1:30)
When we think, “I’m afraid or I feel alone.” God says: Don’t be afraid. I will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb 13:4-5)
These are God’s promises.
How do we know God keeps his promises? Check the rock, observe that it has been rolled away and see the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus lives! Jesus said he would rise from the dead. We didn’t think he could—but God keeps his promises!
Sounds great! So what do we do with that knowledge? How can we roll the rock away from our own private tombs? Despite the war and suffering, diseases and alleged pandemics, hatred and pain, suicide bombers and insurgents, the misunderstanding between nations and races, the greed and deception, even loss and illness in our families, somehow we still proclaim an Easter message of joy. Are we nuts? How do we in the church have the gall to proclaim good news in the face of the world situation and what we face in our own lives? How can we come to see all things new and alive this Easter?
I’ll tell you how—remembering God’s promise that we do not have to be afraid—that can make us alive this Easter. When God rolled away the rock from the tomb, God removed fear from our lives. That last promise I mentioned a moment ago—do not be afraid; I will never leave you or forsake you—is the key. Life begins when you stop being afraid and figure out how to use your time. Life beings when you realize that by removing the fear of death, Christ has given you, for the first time, full possession of your own life.
Fear, in all its different forms, is what makes human beings alike. Everybody is fearful, terrified of some public or private demon, some terrible unnamed fear that gnaws at us even when we’re happy, like some cloud that hangs over our head, like the shoe that will drop when we least expect it. Every one of us is a hostage to fear of one kind or another. Fear keeps us from being whole and happy. Fear, not sin, is the great curse. Some people fear death; they are terrified of it. But I think the greater problem is those who fear life, who do not embrace the fullness of their opportunities for life, who fear to live because they fear to fail or they fear to succeed or they fear to move anywhere out of the circle of fear. Defensive living is not the stuff of which Easter faith is made. It is not the stuff of Easter people.
“Be not afraid,” says Jesus. “You have nothing to fear. I have taken care of everything. Because Jesus lives we too may live, with as much time as God gives us, free from fear of the past, free from fear of the future. This promise is the empowering message of Easter. God came to us in Jesus that we may have life and that we may have it more abundantly. God rolled away the rock from Jesus’ tomb. God can roll the rock of fear away from our lives. Because Christ lives, so may we.
Will you pray with me?
Almighty God, God of such great love, we praise and thank you for the promises you have made true for us by rolling the rock away from the tomb that first Easter day. Thank you for assuring us that nothing in this life, or the next, will ever separate us from your love. Help us to live boldly in your name. Give us grateful hearts, so that not just our words give you thanks, but our actions speak just as loudly. Help us to understand that abundant life starts here today as we proclaim Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Amen.
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