Jesus’ Easter Words Assure Your Identity

There is a knock on the door and you hear, “Police!”  Then they show you their badge and you’re quite certain who they are.  We can communicate a message using flags or gestures.  Usually we use letters to make words to communicate a message. However, there are times when a simple misplaced letter, or the wrong emphasis on the wrong word can change the message completely.  How many times have you hurriedly written an email and later realized you missed letter or word that led to miscommunication.  It happened to a lady who was visiting the bank on holy week. Visibly upset, the woman approached the bank cashier with a scowl. She pointed to the sign taped on the counter spoke directly and with some fear, “What do you mean? What about my money? And my mortgage?! Who’s going to handle my mortgage?!” The woman, apparently not realizing it was a holy week sign read it like this: “We Will Be Closed For Good, Friday.”

People also heard Jesus speak, but came up with the wrong ideas.  It isn’t because Jesus isn’t being clear, but it is because we are sinners with our own preconceived notions.  Even before we hear the answer, we know what answer we want to hear. Who could doubt such a problem with the women who visited the tomb on Easter morning?  As they visit the tomb they are visibly upset.  You can well imagine Mary pointing to the place where a dead Jesus had been laid to rest in peace.  You can hear her sobbing and understand her confusion, “I don’t know where they have laid him.” She had heard Jesus’ words about rising on the third day.  But, every year when we listen to this gospel account our hearts go out to Mary.  We feel her pain, her confusion, and her unsettled heart.  We get it.  The angels and Jesus were communicating a message to her and was want to help Mary listen to these Easter Word so she can know exactly who she is!  So, may the Holy Spirit lead us this Easter morning to listen to rejoice for

Jesus’ Easter Words Assure Your Identity

Words to Remember

Even the clearest communication somehow is misinterpreted by people. So is the case of Jesus’ believers on Easter morning. Here are the words Jesus spoke to them before he died.

“²¹ From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised again”

Matthew 16:21

But, it’s Easter Sunday and we who stand on the future side of the third day find it somewhat incredible that on this morning we are still hearing women weep and still seeing disciples disturbed. What about Jesus’ clear words?  They forgot!  We listen to the Easter Gospel and there’s a part of us that feels sorry for Mary but another part that looks at Mary and can’t help but ask along with the angels, “Why are you weeping?” How could it be, Mary, that Jesus spoke to you so concisely about rising on the third day – and even proved his power over death by raising Lazarus and the widow’s son at Nain and Jairus’ daughter – but you have forgotten his words?

It could only be because Mary is so much like us. How could it be that Jesus speaks to you and me so convincingly about the power of prayer, but I sometimes forget his words and fail to pray? How could it be that Jesus speaks to me so assuredly about trusting him in times of trouble, but I sometimes forget his words and fail to trust in him? How could it be that Jesus speaks to me so vividly about the slam dunk certainty of my forgiveness, but I sometimes forget his words wallow in guilt? How could it be that Jesus speaks to me so accurately about the commitment and cost of discipleship, but I sometimes forget his words and go my own way? How could it be that Jesus speaks to be about my identity being a child of God, but I sometimes forget his words.  Like Mary, you and I are confused by a human nature that gets caught up in the moment and concludes too much from our earthly perspective. Human tears can be so blinding to heavenly truth. “How many times have I told you!?!” Jesus should scream at us like a frustrated parent. But listen to Jesus’ reassuring words.

“Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”

Now, if I were Jesus, I would have jumped up and down and flailed my arms around and shouted, “Mary, it’s me! It’s me! I did it!” Jesus aims the spotlight, however, not at himself but at Mary, and her confused fear. You might think that the glorified Jesus – who just broke the world record for enduring excruciating suffering, escaping death’s trap, and entering hell without being made a permanent resident – would want to shake the champagne on the victor’s stand and bask in his own glory. Instead, the Gospels portray a glorified, exalted, resurrected Jesus whose concern is for his followers and their identity.  That’s where Jesus begins Mary’s recovery process. “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Jesus helps the wheels of Mary’s faith start spinning. She wouldn’t be crying if she would only be looking for a living Savior instead of a dead friend. Jesus appeals not to earthly appearance which is temporary, but to heavenly truth; not to earthly conclusion which can be flawed, but to heavenly promises—Mary—you are my redeemed child of God!

But, Mary still doesn’t get it.  She thinks Jesus was the gardener,

“Sir, if you carried him off, tell me where you laid him, and I will get him.” 

Still concerned for Mary in love and knowing she needs more direction, Jesus speaks words again. Actually, just one word. “Mary.” Now Mary remembers his words.  Now Mary realizes he has kept his word. Now Mary recognizes this man as no stranger but her Savior risen from the dead.  She remembers Jesus’ Words that Assure Her of her Identity.  The apostle John wrote about our identity in Jesus:

“He calls his own sheep by name … and his sheep follow him because they know his voice”

John 10:3,4

Jesus’ reassuring word caused Mary to remember his promises.  Her Savior was alive!  She belonged to him!

Words to Share

Now her fears are removed.  Mary’s heart of sadness is turned to joy beyond description.

“She turned and replied in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means, “Teacher”).” 

And what a teacher he was!  Jesus taught us that he had to come and live a perfect life for us.  He taught us that he had to suffer and die on the cross to pay the penalty of all our sins. And now we are certain he accomplished his mission. St. Paul said it so well in his letter to the Romans,

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom 4:25). 

Yes, because we were sinners in need of a payment, God delivered Jesus to the cross because of our sins.  The proof of his work being complete, that God declared us not guilty of all our sins, because we have been justified by Jesus on the cross, God raised up his Son from the dead.

Dear Christian Friends, it is Easter.  We are here to commemorate the day that Jesus rose from the dead for us!  Let there be no room for fear or guilt over your sins.  Jesus is alive!  He conquered sin’s curse for you. He calls you by name (your identity), take you by your hand, and point you to the empty cross, the empty tomb and the power of his complete forgiveness!  You are forgiven!  Blessed Easter to you!

Mary was immediately given a job when she learned of her Savior’s resurrection.  Jesus told her,

“¹⁷ Jesus told her, “Do not continue to cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father—to my God and your God.’”

At any joyful reunion the time comes to release the glad embrace and use those same hands for the work ahead. Jesus’ work for people on earth would continue but his home base would now be heaven. Mary’s work as a follower of Jesus also needed to continue and it would start with her speaking to the other followers of Jesus, followers Jesus refers to with another word, the term of endearment, “brothers.” Jesus’ first assignment to his followers then and today is this: not to be afraid. Jesus is still our brother and that means God remains and will always be our Father. Jesus is still the second person of the Trinity as God, and has not been dethroned by death, so the God who saves us is still intact. We can be absolutely sure of our new life in him and trust with certainty all his words.  Now it is time for us to share these words with the world!

But, we’re back to the beginning. Words.  So often words that are spoken are misunderstood.  That is why they need to be repeated and explained, just like Mary needed.  For instance, should I say, “I could care less? Or “I couldn’t care less!”  Am I saying that I would care less about you if you do it, or that it won’t bother me if you do it?  Or “Is it a doggy dog world” (Snoop Dog), or a Dog eat Dog World (highly competitive world)?  I could say, “In mud eels are, in clay non are.” And you’d be confused.  What did I just say?  Listen again carefully.  “In mud eels are.  In clay non are.”  Still don’t get it?  “Eels live in the mud. Eels don’t live in the clay!”  Sometimes we need to explain it a little bit and then people will understand.

And people we meet need to understand.  The fear of death will strike our family and the families of people we know.  They might say they will deal with this tragedy in their own way.  Mary tried to do that.  It didn’t work.  But, what happens when a believer in Jesus dies and we can come with the message of Jesus’ Word.  What happens when we get to share with them the promise of Jesus,

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies”

John 11:25

Then the Holy Spirit can use our words to create faith in their hearts. Then their misplaced sorrow can be replaced with hope and joy in the resurrected Christ Jesus!

We have heard the Words of the living Savior on this Easter morning to assure us that Jesus has conquered the curse of sin, the prison of hell, and the power of the devil over us.  Jesus’ Words Assure Your Identity:  You are a forgiven child of God.  Remember these words and lets us be eager to share these words clearly, boldly, often so everyone can identify what the empty tomb means for them! Jesus is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed! Amen.