Easter Sunday Sermon - 2019, Woodlawn Christian Church (DOC & ABC)

We had a wonderful service for Easter Sunday, actually 'services' as the Sunrise Service went very well also, the weather cooperated and the rain missed us (though it was sprinkling slightly intermittently during the service).  Our organist Kathryn had to leave town suddenly for a family emergency and we were lucky enough that Sylvia Streufert was able to play for us during our 10 am Service.  Sylvia did a fantastic job, especially considering she was pressed into service so near to the actual service.  Kathy Brandt played her trumpet with Sylvia's accompaniment to start the service and we all very much enjoyed her playing.

I've included below the sermon from the service.  This year I preached over Luke 24:1-12 which is Luke's version of the chain of events on that first Easter morning.  During the sermon, I discuss the cross and the differences between the 'empty cross' and the 'crucifix', I have long confessed a fondness for crucifixes and at times I do think we Protestants would be well served to contemplate the symbolism of the crucifix.

The primary focus though was about the meaning and impact upon our faith of the 'empty tomb'.  I shared with the congregation the only witness (that I am aware of) to the actual 'resurrection' and that comes to us for the noncanonical source 'The Gospel of Peter'.  There is great meaning and import to this telling of the main event of Easter morning.

Please take a listen to the sermon, and I hope it has some meaning or message for you.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,
Roy

Luke 24:1-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Resurrection of Jesus
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.[a] 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women[b] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men[c] said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.[d] 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.[e]

Footnotes:
a) Luke 24:3 Other ancient authorities add of the Lord Jesus
b) Luke 24:5 Gk They
c) Luke 24:5 Gk but they
d) Luke 24:5 Other ancient authorities lack He is not here, but has risen
e) Luke 24:12 Other ancient authorities lack verse 12


The Gospel of Peter – 9:34-42 (translated by NT Wright)
9. 34. Early in the morning, when the Sabbath dawned, there came a crowd from Jerusalem and the country round about to see the sealed sepulchre. 35. Now in the night in which the Lord's day dawned, when the soldiers were keeping guard, two by two in each watch, there was a loud voice in heaven, (36) and they saw the heavens open and two men come down from there in a great brightness and draw near to the sepulchre. 37. That stone which had been laid against the entrance to the sepulchre started of itself to roll and move sidewards, and the sepulchre was opened and both young men entered. 10. 38. When those soldiers saw this, they awakened the centurion and the elders, for they also were there to mount guard. 39. And while they were narrating what they had seen, they saw three men come out from the sepulchre, two of them supporting the other and a cross following them (40) and the heads of the two reaching to heaven, but that of him who was being led reached beyond the heavens. 41. And they heard a voice out of the heavens crying, ‘Have you preached to those who sleep?’, 42. and from the cross, there was heard the answer, ‘Yes.’


The Gospel of Peter – 9:39-42  (alternate translation by NT Wright)
39 And while they were narrating what they had seen, they saw three men come out from the sepulchre, two of them raising up the one, and the crucified one following them (40) and the heads of the two reaching to heaven, but that of him who was being led out by the hand by them reaching beyond the heavens. 41. And they heard a voice out of the heavens crying, ‘Have you preached to those who sleep?’, 42. and from the crucified one there was heard the answer, ‘Yes.’ 


1 Peter 3:8-20   Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Suffering for Doing Right
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. 9 Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
“He that would love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking guile;
11 let him turn away from evil and do right;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.”

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? 14 But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. 18 For Christ also died[a] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

Luke 9:21-22
21 – Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Luke 9:43-45
43 – While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Luke 18:31-33
31 – Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

Photo by Zackery Wicks