- Matthew 28:1-20 - read this passage online here »
“Gracious Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit so that we can hear what you want to say to us today.”What if the four Gospel writers had made it very clear that, when Jesus died on Good Friday, he had stayed dead! What if Matthew, Mark, Luke and John had written that, when Jesus’ body was taken down off the cross and put in the tomb, his body had stayed in the tomb -- or that his body went the way of most of the bodies of those who were crucified. You see, their bodies were usually dumped into a pit and left to rot – or to be eaten by dogs. What if the male disciples did not finally wonder about what the female followers of Jesus kept insisting – that they had found the tomb empty when they went to honour Jesus’ body with proper burial spices. (Although I don’t know how they expected to do that when Jesus’ body was sealed securely in a tomb behind a very heavy stone.) What if the disciples did not go to see for themselves what the women told them they saw -- or didn’t see! It would have made things a lot easier for us who follow Jesus in today’s sceptical climate. It would be easier for us to say with some degree of certainty that what Jesus taught -- his teachings -- were all that really mattered. It would be easier for us to say that his philosophy of life was what was of supreme importance because, like all noteworthy ideas, they have stood the test of time. Most people do agree they are good teachings – perhaps even extraordinary. Most agree they are good moral teachings – perhaps even exceptional. Most agree they are ethical teachings – perhaps even outstanding – that are meant to help us become the best people we can be.
But we are in a predicament this morning. We are in a predicament because we cannot be certain that what the women reported they saw and experienced on the third day after Jesus died did not in fact happen as they said! And we cannot be certain that what the men saw and experienced after they finally listened to the women did not in fact happen as they said! A predicament is a difficult and perplexing situation to be in. One dictionary even calls such a situation “embarrassing.” You see, those women followers of Jesus and those 11 disciples came to believe Jesus did not stay dead! They came to believe, in fact, he was raised from the dead just as he had told them several times. Because he appeared to them very much alive and recognizable as the Jesus they had followed merely days earlier. He appeared to them and they worshipped him. Though some had their doubts about whether this really was Jesus or not. And who wouldn’t? At least at first!
It certainly would be easier for Christians in today’s pluralistic society if we could be absolutely clear that Jesus’ body stayed dead. But we can’t be that confident. It certainly would be easier for us because then we could focus all that we mean about the Christian life and the Church on what Jesus taught. We could focus on what Jesus taught rather than on Jesus’ resurrection. We could focus on what Jesus taught rather than on the Risen Jesus Christ being with us and in us and in his Church and in the entire world today through his Holy Spirit.
It is a fact that no one talks about the Buddha’s risen presence -- only his teachings. No one talks about Muhammad’s risen life -- only the writing of the Qur’an. No one talks about Moses’ risen life -- only the teachings of the Torah. No one talks about the Apostle Paul’s risen life – only what he taught in his letters in the New Testament. No one talks about Confucius’ or Aristotle’s or Plato’s or Descartes’ or Augustine’s or Rousseau’s or Socrates’ risen lives -- only their prominent teachings. But we, as the Church and followers of Jesus today, do talk about the resurrected life of Jesus Christ -- not merely his teachings. Of course, the Christian faith does include the rich and remarkable teachings of Jesus. We readily admit that. In fact, they are foundational for the understanding of our faith. But the Christian faith is much more than Jesus’ teachings. The Christian faith is centred on the living God who has come to all humanity in Jesus of Nazareth -- as our United Church’s creed so openly states. The Christian faith is not a mere superb philosophy to live by. The Christian faith is a living relationship with a living God who lives in his believing people – in his believing Church -- through his Holy Spirit.
When Matthew 28 was read, did you catch that intriguing phrase toward the end of the passage? I was taken by Matthew’s honesty to include such a statement because it adds to our predicament this morning. When I read it, I was also impressed that Jesus did not correct or attack the attitude. He seemed to let it be part of the record as if it could be a normal experience for his followers. Did you hear the statement in verse 17: “When they saw him, they worshipped him, even though some of them doubted.” Some had their doubts! After all, people rising from the dead is not the usual experience – either then or now.
We who worship today also have our doubts at times. And even Jesus’ very first worshippers had some doubts about him. I appreciate the way theologian Dale Bruner commented on this passage that he called “Doubting worshippers” [Frederick Dale Bruner, Matthew: A Commentary. Volume 2: The Churchbook Matthew 13-28, Revised and Expanded Edition. Eerdmans, 2004, p. 810]:
“By reporting doubt and worship in the same sentence, Matthew tells his church that the structure of the Christian faith and life is bipolar: disciples live their lives between worship and doubt ... or mixed with worship and doubt. Just as Jesus in the wilderness lived between the ... Holy Spirit and the Unholy Spirit (4:1), so Christians live their discipleship in a war between the spirit of worship and the spirit of doubt. Christians are both believers and doubters, adoring and wondering, trusting and questioning ...
“All disciples experience this bipolarity; and it is not healthy to deny it.”How did Jesus handle his disciples who doubted? He did two things. First, he drew near to them all. We might think he would shake his finger and say “Don’t doubt me – here I am!” But he didn’t. He came close to them to reassure them. He came alongside them because he knew they would need his loving presence and his power with them. So Jesus also promised to draw near to us as well through the Holy Spirit as he did with the believers in the Early Church. Second, Jesus spoke to his disciples directly and gave them a definite command that the Church has called its Great Commission. It remains the Church’s commission to this day. We heard it earlier in the Bible reading; now, here it is again:
“Jesus drew near [to them] and said, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [That is significant for us to know.] Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.’[This is also important for us to know as well.]”Jesus was teaching his disciples to meet their doubt head-on by obeying his mission command – to go and develop learners for him, to baptize them and teach them to obey everything he commanded them. Jesus was saying that the way to know God is to obey the will of God. The famous missionary doctor Albert Schweitzer who founded his Lambarene hospital at Gabon, Africa, in the early part of the past century knew the meaning of obedience when he declared: “Follow him and you will know him.”
So what are the significant take-away messages for us about the resurrection of Jesus Christ today?
- Our attendance at this service of worship -- and at any worship service -- only makes real sense because Jesus rose from the dead and is here with us and in us as he promised through the Holy Spirit. Why else would we be here?
- Reciting the New Creed of the United Church only makes real sense because the crucified and risen Jesus we proclaim in the creed is here with us and in us – to be our hope in life, in death and in life beyond death. Why else would we say it?
- Taking part in Holy Communion only makes real sense because, once again, we are remembering and giving thanks that Jesus Christ gave his life for us. His body was actually broken and his blood actually flowed from his broken body for our suffering and for the forgiveness of our sins. So we take the bread and the wine not because we are worthy in any sense but because we accept Jesus’ invitation in faith to know him and be nourished and sustained in our journey of faith with him.
- Even though we may have times of doubt and hesitation, listening to the message of the Resurrected Jesus Christ and responding in obedience to his message, as Albert Schweitzer indicated, is the way to handle our doubt.
But we live in 2011 and not in AD 33 or so when Jesus’ resurrection occurred. I can only tell you that faith comes by hearing this message about the Risen Jesus and following him as a result. But following him is not automatic. It is a gift God offers us -- a gift called grace. And it is an intentional choice we make. So no one, no minister -- not me for sure -- can really convince anyone to follow. All I -- or you -- can do is witness to God’s grace and hope and love and healing and forgiveness in our own lives. That’s what those first followers did. They witnessed to God’s presence with them and God’s call in their lives. And they were eager to go and tell their world to follow Jesus too because it is through Jesus that people find the abundant life they are looking for in this life and also resurrection life in the life to come – for that is also what Jesus said people will find in him.
A woman once approached a pastor and asked, “So what happened with Jesus after the Resurrection?”Rev. Mark Aitchison is a friend who is the senior minister at Islington United Church in the west end of our city. Mark posted on his Facebook page the following statement:
“Well, he ascended into heaven and he's still alive,” the pastor said.
“I know he was resurrected, but he's alive?” she asked.
“Yes, he's alive.”
“Alive? ALIVE?! Why didn't you tell me?!”
“The greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. He had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. He had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified him.... He was buried in a tomb, yet he lives today!”My friends, Jesus Christ is risen indeed! When you hear his call, do not be afraid to follow.
Jesus Christ is alive and here for you and for me. Amen.
Rev. Chris Miller,
Easter, April 24, 2011
OYM Oriole-York Mills United Church, Toronto
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