Live In The Easter Light

Traveling on the train system in Japan is a wonderful experience.  30 years ago I never rode on the bullet train, but during our recent visit I was able to get a JR visitor’s pass and rode the bullet train (Shinkansen) several times.  This train travels at 200 miles per hour!  Then it happens that you go into a dark tunnel! It is scary!  But, as you see the light at the end of the tunnel you begin to feel better again. And once you’re out and riding in the sunshine it is ever better!

The past 40 days we have been in a spiritual tunnel.  On Wednesdays we meditated on the prophecies of Zechariah under the theme: “It Is Finished.”  We spent hours hearing about our Lord’s passion and suffering and this drew attention to our sins. We were reminded of our Lord’s anger over our sins and Jesus’ death for those sins.  But, today is different.  Today the darkness of sin and death is over and we are living in the glorious light of another Easter celebration.  We get to

Live in the Light of Easter

The Dark Night

You got up very early this morning to be here. It adds some drama to the day, doesn’t it?  Perhaps this morning you even imagined Mary and the other ladies getting up early in order to attend to the Lord’s body in the tomb. But, there is more for us to consider from these words,

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark.” 

We could use these words to describe their heart’s condition as well. If you have ever lost a loved one, you know the dark feeling, don’t you? Loss, despair, and grief flood into your heart when you realize that you’ll not speak to this person again in this life.  But, Mary’s darkness was deeper than that!  Perhaps she recalled her past experiences with Jesus. Luke records it,

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out”

Luke 8:1-2

From this time on Mary dedicated her life to following Jesus with a heart full of devotion and faith in her dear Savior. But, then came the horrible hours of last week, his arrest on Thursday, his trial and crucifixion on Friday.  Not only was the sky over Calvary pitch black as she stood beneath his cross, so was her heart.  Not only was the tomb where they placed Jesus’ lifeless body filled with darkness, so was her spirit. Maybe you can imagine her heart and soul filled with hopelessness and despair as her hopes and dreams were buried with Jesus. Maybe you can imagine her blackness of heart when she later sobbed to Peter and John,

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Mary, the other women, the disciples, were all in The Dark Night without light, without an exit. No wonder “Mary stood outside the tomb crying.”

It’s not hard to imagine her thoughts, “Not only is her Savior dead, but now someone has stolen his body!”  How she yearned to just find his lifeless body in order to give it a proper burial, to anoint it with perfume and spices. And now she was even denied this labor of love. Yes, she began her Easter in the dark of dispair, not only in the sky, but also in her soul.

Is there anyone here this morning who knows this feeling? Anyone here who has wept at the fresh dirt piled next to a grave, or has returned to a grave again and again only to being weeping again? Anyone who is struggling with life, getting tired of its burdens and weary of its weight? Anyone here who is worried about health, loved ones, job, economy, war, or the future?  Anyone here whose sins just never seem to go away and whose temptations always seem to win? Anyone who feels like they are living in a dark tunnel without any exit?  Then let’s continue on with Mary from the darkness of night to the

Gray Dawn

If you are assigned the driving shift from 3:00 AM to sunrise, you will appreciate what’s coming next. Darkness yields to Dawn. The sun’s rays just barely begin to reflect on the atmosphere in the horizon, you look at the clock and anticipate the relief of the sunshine coming. Since the first day when God made light, dividing the evening and the morning, it has happened every day. So also on the first Easter morning. Listen to it again,

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” 

Can’t you imagine how she left her house in darkness and then can’t you see the dawn coming, just a little gray light at first, but light nonetheless?  And in the soft morning glow Mary could see the stone rolled away from the tomb of her Lord. You know what happened. Matthew tells us,

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men…. While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened”

Matthew 28:2-4,11

But, Mary didn’t know. Can’t you imagine her thoughts?

“Where are the guards?  Did the disciples come to take the body and the soldiers are chasing them?  No!  The disciples were too scared to leave their locked room!  Did the enemies steal his body?  No!  They were the ones who wanted to guard posted in the first place to prevent anyone from taking the body.”  There was only one thing to do, run to tell the disciples!

“So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Easter was dawning. Light was beginning to shine on the day and on their hearts. An exit from the tunnel of spiritual darkness was in the distance. Something had happened.  But what?

Anyone here know this feeling? Anyone who walked away from this church on a Sunday morning thinking, “What a great Savior we have,” only to run into Monday morning and have that joy become dim?  Anyone here memorize those lines of the hymn, “I know that my Redeemer lives, what comfort this sweet sentence gives,” only to wonder where that comfort is when it’s your loved one being buried, or your grave is sneaking closer?  Anyone here who has the pain and problems of this life trying to bring the fog of self-centeredness and doubt, lack of joy in worship, and wondering when the light of Easter will bring its comfort again?  Then let’s follow Mary from the gray dawn into the morning’s

Glorious Light!

The night is long, but the dawn is relatively short. If you’re driving and see that light beginning to show on the horizon, you know it won’t be long and you’ll be able to turn off the headlights and see just fine. So, also that first Easter morning.  In the dawn Mary had seen the stone rolled away and had run back to tell the disciples. I suppose the adrenaline had worn off by now as she returns to the tomb in broad daylight.  What else was there to do?

“but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?””They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 

Words spoken by God’s messengers are never without a purpose.

“Woman, why are you crying?” 

Maybe you’ve asked a similar question to a child who is crying because they don’t know what you know.  Your question invites the person to get ahold of themselves and to learn something new.  These aren’t mean angels.  These are God’s ministering spirits who want Mary to stop worrying about things that never happened, and to search deeper into her memory banks and remember what had been promised!

Then it happened! 

“At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).”

Jesus asked the same question.  But, grief is a powerful tool in the hands of Satan to draw our thoughts away from God’s promises.  But, God will not allow Satan to snuff out one of his elect.  Mary belongs to Jesus!  He knows his sheep by name!  “Mary!”  Jesus drove Mary out of the tunnel of darkness and despair and into the light of his glorious presence. Darkness was gone and now she knows, “My Savior Lives!”  Thank you Lord, for the bright light of Easter joy!

This is the joy of Easter:

• Sin’s punishment has been paid in full when Jesus died on the cross.  How do we know?  Jesus lives! 
• The guilt of our sins vanishes when we look to the cross when we hear, “He was delivered over to death because of our sins.  For Jesus’ sake we are justified!”  How do we know?  Jesus lives! 
• The devil has no more power over us. His kingdom was destroyed when Jesus died.  How do we know?  Jesus lives!
• And dear Christian friends: death will not hold on to us.  It is only a tunnel through which we pass to enter into the glory of heaven.  How do we know?  Jesus lives!  Jesus entered the tunnel of death and came back to tell us, “I live!  I defeated sin, death and Satan and the victory is yours.”  How do we know?  Jesus lives!  And because Jesus lives, so also you live in the light of Easter. Amen!