Sermon Archives

April 11, 2010
Pastor Dan Selbo

"The Easter Difference"
John 20:19-31

            Dear friends, greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus.

            This past week I came across a story about a pastor who was asked to conduct a graveside burial service for a member of his congregation. The trouble was that the cemetery was about an hour and a half from the church and, (on the day of the service), the pastor had the beginning touches of the flu. And so, because he wasn’t feeling so well, (and wasn’t up for driving himself), he decided to ride with the funeral director in the hearse.

            By the time they arrived at the cemetery, the pastor wasn’t doing well at all. Feverish and sick, he somehow managed to make it through the service and (when it was over) back into the hearse for the ride home. As they were pulling out, and because the hearse was now empty, the funeral director suggested the pastor lie down (in the back) and try to rest. And so he did. He pulled the curtains, laid down in the back, and fell asleep.

            When the vehicle finally stopped, the pastor woke up. Still not feeling well, the color in his face turned pale, and a big groggy, he sat up, open the curtain, and looked out to see where he was. Suddenly, he found himself face-to-face with a gas station attendant pumping gas. Needless to say, the attendant was (more than surprised) to see a body in the back of the hearse rise up and stare back at him. And so with all the color suddenly drained (out of his face), he ran off into the gas station, not believing what he had just seen.

            Now, I don’t know if that’s a true story or not. It sounds a bit contrived to me, (although I could see it happening.). But whether or not it’s true, there’s no doubt that it contains a reality that is. And that is that it’s hard to believe that dead people can rise from the dead. It’s hard to believe that once someone is gone (from this life), that there’s even (an outside chance) that they’ll come back.

            But the truth is that (even as hard as it might be to believe) it’s that very truth that is at the heart of the Christian faith and life. Paul says it’s of “first importance” that Jesus was raised on the third day. Peter says it’s the “cornerstone of our faith,” the foundation of who we are and what our life on this earth is all about.

            In fact, if you take away the resurrection of Jesus, the entire Christian faith falls apart. If you take away the fact that Jesus was dead and then came back to life, then everything we’re doing (here at St. Timothy’s) is for nothing.

            Well, the good news is that Jesus did rise from the dead. He came back to life. He’s alive. And because he’s alive, (the difference Easter makes) can all the difference in your life.

            Let’s turn to our story. The story we read today is the same one we read every year on this first Sunday after Easter. In fact, there are two stories (in today’s story) combined into one.

            The first is the story of the disciples gathering on that first day of the week, on the Sunday night in which Jesus was raised. The second is the story of what happened on the following Sunday (one week later), when those same disciples had come together. The only difference (in the two) was that Thomas (one of the disciples) was missing in week one, but was there (with the others) in week two.

            Let’s start with what happened on that first Sunday night (and the difference Jesus made) when he first appeared. (You remember the story.) The disciples were afraid. John says they were together, “with the doors locked for fear of the Jews.” (And then he says) that Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” And he showed them his hands and his side.

            Now, let me ask you a question. (And maybe the answer is obvious.) But have you ever been afraid in this life? Have you ever had (something in your life) that has caused you to fear?

            U. S. A. Today ran an article a while back talking about the kind of fears people have in this life. We’ve all heard of arachnophobia: fear of spiders, and claustrophobia: fear of confined spaces. Have you ever heard of dentiphobia: fear of dentists? How about arithmophobia: fear of numbers. How about (this one) for the kids: lachanophobia: fear of vegetables. And how about one last one, Homilophobia? (Maybe I’ve mentioned this one before.) Do you know what that is? It’s a fear of sermons. Raise your hand if you’re homilophobic!

All right, you get the point. There are all kinds of fears in this life. Nearly everyone has fears. And so what happens (on that first Easter night)? The disciples are afraid, locked inside for fear of what might happen to them because of their connection with Jesus. And so what does Jesus do? He stands in their midst and he says, “Peace be with you.” And he shows them his hands and his side. And he says there’s nothing going on of which you need to be afraid.

Now, why does he do that? (Why does he do that?) Because fear can paralyze the Christian. (Fear can keep you from doing and being what God has called you to do and to be.) The disciples were afraid. (They’d locked themselves inside a house.) And yet Jesus comes and takes away their fear and, in its place, gives them the gift of his peace.

Now, what kind of things are people afraid of today? People today are afraid of all kinds of things: afraid of a changing world, afraid of a faltering economy, afraid of losing their jobs, afraid of changes in appearance, changes in relationships, afraid of failure, afraid of the future, afraid of death?

What are people afraid of today? Ironically, ours may well be one of the most secure societies that has ever lived and, (at the same time), one of the most fearful societies that has ever lived.

And yet, it’s into our fears that Jesus breaks in and gives to us His peace. He says, “Peace be with you.” He says, “There’s nothing in this world of which to be afraid.”

That’s the first difference Easter makes. Because Jesus is alive, he takes away our fears. (But it’s not the only difference.) Because Jesus is alive, you and I also have a reason to live.

Now, if you were here last weekend, you know Pastor Judy talked about redemption, about how (in Jesus) you and I have been redeemed. We’ve been bought back. We’ve been claimed by God. And we’ve been set free. And not set free to do what we choose. But set free to do what we’ve been chosen for.

That’s what’s happening in the story. Jesus breaks into the disciples fears and gives them his peace. (And then he says), “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me (Jesus says), so I am sending you.”

Now, that’s a lot different than what many people think about (what it means to be) a follower of Jesus. They have this strange idea that being a follower of Jesus is something (that happens) just for us. That it’s a personal thing. It’s a between us-and-God kind of thing. That you belong to the church and that you gather together, and that’s where it stops.

But that’s not what Jesus said. (In fact, what he said was much different.) He said, “Yes, it is personal, one of the most personal relationships you’ll ever have.” But that’s not where it stops, but where it starts.

He says, “You’re my people.” He says, “I’ve purchased your life with my blood.” And so (he says), “Whatever you do with your life, wherever you go in your life, what you’re doing and where you’re going is for me.”

            “We’re ambassadors for Christ, (the Bible says), God making His appeal through us.” “As the Father has sent me,” Jesus says, “so I am sending you.” Back into the world, back into your homes, back into your work, and among your friends, and with your family. And not the same as before, but different (as God’s people), loved, and forgiven, and set free because of the cross.

            It’s the Easter difference. Because Jesus is alive, he gives us His peace. He also gives us a purpose (a reason to live).  But it doesn’t stop there. He goes on to give us His power.

Remember the story? John says, “When Jesus had said this, He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they’re not forgiven.’”

            My friends, I hope you realize the power Jesus gives us as His people. Because of Easter, God has plugged you into the most powerful force in the world. He’s given you his Spirit.

            He says, “You’re not going to see me in bodily form, but I’ll be with you.” He says, “I’ll watch over you.” He says, “I’ll protect you and take care of you, and I’ll give you more power than you have ever before known.”

            And do you know what? That’s exactly what happened to the disciples. Beginning on that Easter night, their fears began to go away. They were no longer afraid as they once were.

            Now, it wasn’t all perfect. They still had a need for Jesus, and so do we. But all of a sudden, they had a purpose (a reason to live). They knew what they needed to do, and over the course of the next few weeks, as the Spirit took control of their lives, they went out and started doing it. But they didn’t do it on their own. They had a power that they’d never before had, because Jesus had given them his Spirit.

Now, let me tell you something. I don’t know what God has in store for your life. I don’t know what God has in store for mine. What I do know is that whatever happens, God has given us the power to face it.

            Illness, unemployment, tragedy, something you never saw coming? It doesn’t matter. We’re not alone in this life. (You’re not alone in this life.) Jesus is with you. He’s by your side in everything you do. And He’s given you a power to face whatever it is the todays and the tomorrows of your life might bring.

Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” He says the power available to us as Easter people is “the same power God used when He raised Jesus from the dead.”

            It’s the Easter difference. Because Jesus is alive, he gives us his peace. He gives us a purpose (a reason to live). He gives us power (we’re never alone in life). And he gives us proof that what he’s promised will come to pass.

            Now, I want to be careful here today, (I know this gets a bit touchy), because I’m not about to stand here and try to prove the resurrection of Jesus. But let me ask you a question. Why is it that you believe Jesus rose from the dead? What is it about the resurrection of Christ that has become (proof to you) that it’s true?

            Do you believe it because someone told you the story? (It was my parents who first told me the story. And it was an important start.) But that’s not why I believe. Do you believe it because you read it in a newspaper or in a magazine? People write all kinds of things that you and I (would never believe) in a million years. Do you believe because it you heard it at church, because some preacher told you it was true? Why do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

            All kinds of things play into the proof we have. Just look at the disciples, (for example), and think about the change that took place in their lives. Nobody would die for a lie. Nobody would knowingly put their life on the line for a cause that wasn’t true.

And just think about the historical evidence. (We’ve said this before.) There’s more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is for the life of Pontius Pilate. (And nobody doubts that.)

And what about the fact that the church has survived ever since? From the time those first disciples put their lives on the line, through the challenges of the first few centuries, through persecution and opposition and the many (along the way) who have tried to bring it to an end. But it’s still here and it’s still alive.

Why do you believe in the resurrection? What is it about Easter that has convinced you that Jesus is alive?

You know, it’s interesting that when Thomas was looking for proof, what he needed was to see the body. “Until I see his hands and his side (Thomas said), and until I can actual touch his body, there’s no way I’ll believe.”

And so what happened? Jesus gave him what he needed. (He was given proof.) He saw Jesus’ body, had the chance to touch it with his own hands. And the risen and living body (of Jesus) led him to cry out, “My Lord and my God.”

It’s interesting, because God works in the same way with us. Now, we don’t see Jesus’ body. He’s not standing here (in our midst) and showing us his hands and his side. But he is here in his body. And he is here through his blood. (And we’ll be sharing in that meal in just a few moments.) And he has revealed himself to us in his Word and through the living body we call the church.

My friends, you and I are surrounded (today) by the body of Christ. And it’s through his body and because of his blood, that God is working in us a living faith.

“Because you have seen me, (Jesus said to Thomas) you have come to believe…but blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.”

And so come and eat. Come and drink. Surrounded (as we are), by the body of Christ. Amen.