Resurrection’s Redeeming Power

Mark 16:1-8

April 12, 2009 – ©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes

Introduction

Easter is about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The tomb is empty! Many people find that too hard to believe. A father and his young son were driving past a cemetery one Sunday afternoon and noticed a large pile of dirt beside a newly dug grave. The little boy said: “Look, Dad, one got out!” [PreachingToday.com, “One Escapes from Grave”]. Well, One did get out. Jesus got out alive! And that deserves a celebration.

However, Christians don’t seem to get very excited about Easter. Of the two major Christian holidays: Christmas and Easter, which one is a more popular with Christians in this country? Christmas!

It’s easy to celebrate the birth of a baby, the gift of God’s Son to us. Christmas is a holiday that all people can get behind because it celebrates the joy of giving gifts to others. Christmas offers something for everyone, even if they’re not Christians.

But Easter? Easter celebrates the resurrection of God’s Son. But Jesus had to die to be raised to life. Without Jesus’ death, there is no resurrection. Without Good Friday we can’t have Easter Sunday.

Who wants to celebrate death? Resurrection, new life, is worth celebrating. We are glad to see flowers in bloom again and all the signs of new life. But we want to forget the long, cold days of winter.

Easter reminds us that to get flowers we have to plant seeds in the earth. If we want to experience new life, we have to die – die to self and live for Christ. It’s no wonder that Easter isn’t as popular as Christmas.

Today is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. He came from death to life to show us that he had conquered death. Without the resurrection, Jesus is still dead and death has not been conquered. And without Jesus’ resurrection, we have no hope of new life – we are still dead in our sins.

As I look at the stories of that first Easter morning, two people stand out – two who followed Jesus closely during his years of ministry.

Peter

The first person is Peter. He was one of the first people Jesus called to follow him. Sometimes Peter understood who Jesus was and what he had come to do. At other times, Peter was totally out of touch with Jesus’ mission.

The night before Jesus was crucified, he shared Passover with his disciples. After the meal, Jesus told them that they would all “fall away” and leave him. Peter said that even if all the rest left him, he would not. Jesus said, “Tonight, before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” Peter insisted that even if he had to die with Jesus, he would never disown him. [Mk.14:30-31]. But before the night was over, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.

Peter didn’t keep his promise to Jesus. He failed his Master and Lord. He wept and ran away and hid. He didn’t want the others to know that Jesus was right. Peter would have lived with this guilt the rest of his life if it had not been for the angel’s words to Mary Magdalene.

Mark 16:6-7, the angel said to Mary, “He is risen! He is not here… . But go and tell his disciples and Peter” that Jesus would see them all in Galilee.

Why did he say, tell his disciples and Peter? Where was Peter? Was he still hiding from the others – too ashamed to show his face?

Did Jesus know that it was important that Peter knew he was still one of his disciples? Did Jesus want Peter to know that he wanted to see him, as well as the others, in Galilee?

Can you imagine Peter’s surprise when he heard the message? “He said to tell me? He mentioned me personally?” Peter’s thinking, “After how I failed him, denied knowing him, he still wants to see me?”

Peter’s life changed because Jesus was alive and wanted to see him. We like to hear the stories of lives that have been changed by Jesus, but we don’t want to think about our past or our mistakes.

Have you ever failed someone, or failed yourself? You started well, but then didn’t finish. You disappointed others. You humiliated yourself.

You didn’t mean to, but you had a weak moment. You are glad to hear that Jesus rose from the dead, but you still feel like a failure.

Max Lucado writes, “Our mistakes come to us as pebbles; small stones that serve as souvenirs of our stumbles. We carry them in our hands, and soon our hands are full. We put them in our pockets, and soon our pockets bulge. We place them in a bag and put it over our shoulder; the burlap scratches and chaps. And soon the bag of yesterday’s failures is so heavy, we drag it.” [Max Lucado, Six Hours One Friday (Multnomah, 1989) 82-83].

What do we do with our failures?

What did Jesus do with our failures?

Jesus took our failures, our mistakes, our guilty plea, our sins, on himself where they were nailed to the cross so we could be free of them all.

However, if Jesus is still dead, then so is our hope of second chances, of new beginnings.

· It was because Jesus rose from the dead that Peter knew he had another chance.

· It was because Jesus was alive that Peter knew Jesus wanted to see him.

· It was because Jesus rose from the dead that Peter too could live a new life, free from the guilt of the past.

Peter had a reason to celebrate that Resurrection Day! Because Jesus was alive, he too could live!

You and I also have good reason to celebrate this Resurrection Sunday! Jesus has risen! Our sins are forgiven! We can now live a new life in Christ!

Mary Magdalene

There is another person who played a significant role in Jesus’ life and ministry – Mary Magdalene. She had provided money and resources for Jesus’ ministry. Mary was from the city of Magdala and Jesus had cast seven demons from her.

We also know from scripture that she was at the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion. [Mt.27:56; Mk.15:40; Jn.19:25]. Standing with Mary, Jesus’ mother, she did not leave until Jesus was taken down from the cross.

Then Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body to his own new tomb. [Mt. 27:57-61; Mk. 15:43-47; Jn. 19:38-40]. Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, were there to see where they put Jesus’ body.

Then the morning after the Sabbath, Sunday, Mary Magdalene and other women returned to the tomb with more spices for Jesus’ body. [Mt.28:1; Mk. 16:1; Jn.20:1].

That morning, Mary Magdalene was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection. [Jn.20:16]. Mary went to the disciples and said, “I have seen the Lord.” [Jn.20:18].

Once Mary Magdalene’s life had been under the control of seven demons. Some say she was really possessed by demons, while others think she was mentally ill. She might as well have been in prison.

She probably wished she were dead at times. She didn’t really have a life of her own – until Jesus came and set her free.

Remember the story of the demon possessed man in Mark 5? He lived in the tombs, alone. Chains couldn’t bind him. He continually cut himself with stones. His life wasn’t his own – until Jesus came. Jesus cast out those demons and gave him back his mind and his life.

When Jesus came to Mary Magdalene, he set her free from the demons that controlled her. “Into her living death [of demon possession] Jesus had come with the power of life, and had taught her victory over her demons.” [Edith Deen, All the Women of the Bible (Harper & Row, Pub., Inc., 1955) 203].

What controls you? What things in your life, what addictions, what behaviors, what demons, keep you from being free to be what God wants you to be?

Could it be fear? Does the fear of change keep you from turning your life over to Jesus?

Does the fear of becoming a new creation make you hesitate to let Jesus have control?

Does the fear:

· of not knowing what it would be like to be in control of your own life,

· of not knowing what it would be like to live without the things that drag you down and destroy you,

· of not having those crutches to lean on when you are stressed

keep you from letting Jesus cast out your demons?

Then remember the stories of those in the Bible who were set free from demons. Remember their relief, their joy. See Mary Magdalene’s love for her Savior, and see her new life!

Talk to someone who has been set free from the things that used to control them. Hear their story of receiving a new life through Jesus.

Mary Magdalene went running back to the disciples with the news. “I have seen the Lord!” [Jn.20:18]. He is risen! Jesus is alive!

The Risen Lord had appeared to her. He set her free from demons of destruction and death. And because Jesus was alive, her chains were gone forever and she could forever live this new life!

· Because Jesus has risen, our chains are gone, and we are free from the demons that once controlled us.

· Because Jesus has risen we can live forgiven forever.

· Because Jesus is alive we can celebrate Easter today and tomorrow and everyday.

Celebration

So, Hallelujah for Easter!!

Hurray! Jesus is risen!! He is risen indeed!!

Perhaps some of you do not fully share in the joy, the good news that Jesus has risen. You came today just because it’s Easter.

One pastor tells of traveling to Jerusalem and visiting the Garden Tomb with a group. He said it was an awesome experience being in that sacred place. They went inside the empty tomb, touched the massive stone that had been rolled away. They celebrated Holy Communion and sang “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Then he noticed a man sitting on a bench nearby. He walked over and sat down beside him. The man said, “I just love this place. It’s so serene and quiet here. I come here two or three times a week to enjoy this.” The pastor said that he must be a devoted Christian. “Oh, no!” protested the man. “I’m not a Christian at all. I just think its real pretty here.” [James W. Moore, Standing On the Promises? (Nashville, TN: Dimensions for Living, 1995) 84].

Maybe you came today, not because you really believe Jesus rose from the dead, but it reminds you of when you were a child and went to church on Easter, and sang the Easter hymns. It is a special time of remembering for you.

You came to visit the shrine, enjoy the beauty, and yet you have not really personally experienced the Risen Lord.

Easter didn’t become real for Mary until it became personal. When the Risen Christ said, “Mary,” then it became real, life-changing. Mary came seeking a dead body and found her Risen Lord! “And with that discovery, Mary too was resurrected!” [Moore, Standing, 85].

Jesus is still calling people by name, inviting them to experience forgiveness of sin and guilt and freedom from demons. Jesus still wants people to receive his gift of new life.

Mary Magdalene and Peter experienced resurrection’s redeeming power. Because Jesus is risen from the dead, they could live forever with him.

Today we celebrate the good news that Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead! He is here and he is inviting us to receive new life. Jesus offers to let us share in the resurrection’s redeeming power.

Maybe today is the day when you will hear his voice, when you will receive new life.

Maybe today you will leave here today knowing that because Jesus is risen, you are forgiven and you are free.

Maybe today you will experience the joy of resurrection life at work in you.

· Christ is risen! We are forgiven!

· Death has lost its power over us!

· We have hope for today and for eternity!

Therefore, let us proclaim together the Good News Easter!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen.

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This sermon is copyright ©2009 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois.