Pastor T.C. Arnold
We have heard and recognized the shouts of hosanna at the beginning of Holy Week as Jesus makes His way down the Mt. of Olives to the Holy City on Palm Sunday. We recognize this entry and we call it a “Triumphal” entry. We recognize the shouts of the Chief Priests, the teachers of the law and the angry crowd when Jesus stood before Pilate to receive His death sentence. We recognize this as triumph turning into tragedy. We recognize and say together that promised Easter greeting… the Christians today along with the faithful that day of the Resurrection can say and respond…Christ is Risen (He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia).
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Risen Savior Jesus Christ…Dear friends in Christ.
The sermon text for the “Resurrection of our Lord” is from the twentieth chapter of John beginning at the eleventh verse, “but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 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.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. “Woman,” he said, “why are you carrying? 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Was it their surprise? Was it their unbelief? Was it the thought that if they die they are not going to be seen again? I can understand that – even though Jesus tried time and time again to explain to His disciples that they would see Him again. Mary would not be alone with her lack of recognition of the Lord. Do you remember that Jesus was standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee while Peter and two other disciples were out on a boat trying to catch fish – but they caught nothing. Jesus cried out for them to throw their nets to other side of the boat – they did so and caught more fish than they could haul into the boat. Then Peter recognized the Lord. Or when Jesus was walking along and started talking with those two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They began discussing all the things that had happened to Jesus while not knowing that it was Jesus they were talking to. Then, after they had walked all the way to Emmaus, had broken bread together, their eyes were opened and they realized who it was that was with them.
With Mary, in the sermon text just read, the recognition of our Lord came through one word. That one word happened to be her name. The Savior was able to call out her name, and she heard her master’s voice. It was so sweet to hear the voice of the one she thought she had lost. It was so sweet to hear Him say her name again – and when He said it – she knew exactly who it was she was talking to.
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me (John 10:27)”. On that Easter Sunday morning Mary heard the voice of her Lord and when it called out her name – there was no mistaking it. Jesus knew her and she knows that this was her Jesus. How wonderful to hear your name spoken by the Lord.
The theme for this Easter Sunday Service is “He is Risen! The Wound of Death is Vanquished!” It’s easy to shout – He is Risen and then respond with a shout – He is Risen Indeed! It’s easy to shout Hosanna when a king enters your city. It’s even easy for us to shout with that crowd standing before Pilate by demonstrating our disregard for our Lord and by doing so saying, “Crucify Him!” as anger enrages us when we think there is nothing good that Jesus has done for me. It’s easy to shout, like Mary with tears in our eyes over this veil of tears we call the world, “Rabboni!” – My Teacher – My Lord – when our name is called out by Him. And it’s your name He calls out today.
The Wound of Death is Vanquished right where Mary stood and right where we stand today. The Wound of Death that seems to consume us – that seems to be with what death is all about – suffering and pain. That Wound of Death has been placed into our Savior as He calls out one little name – your name. John, Mike, Fran, Sue, Jennifer, Bill, Sam, Frank, etc… Your name is what our Lord calls out to you. Listen when He calls out your name. When He calls your name He is calling you His very own. And that is so important in such days of death and defeat like this world affords. Today is the day that marks eternal life because your name is called. Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!
Last week the entry of Jesus into the Holy City from the Mt. of Olives was a display of triumph as the crowds called out “Hosanna”. The remainder of the week showed how that triumph could turn to tragedy in a matter of hours. And then there is today. Today the tragedy has already turned back to triumph, but Mary had no idea. The victory has been won and Jesus is alive, but Mary didn’t realize what had happened through her plentiful tears. But then Mary heard her name.
When Mary heard her name, she knew who it was. Our Lord can say our name in such a way that we know it’s Him. The open tomb of Easter shows us how this came to be. And Mary showed us how her tragedy turned to triumph with one word – with one promise fulfilled – with one breath. Life was back because our Lord brought it back. And Mary was alive with joy again. Triumph on Palm Sunday turned to tragedy on top of Calvary turned to Triumph in front of that empty tomb on Easter Sunday. Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed, Alleluia.
Beloved in the Lord, we recognize our Savior because He is the one with the promise and the Word that has been given to us. He is the one who calls us His own by taking the punishment our sins deserve upon Himself. He is the one who calls us by name, our name, and has fulfilled all righteousness and comes back to life to show triumph in the midst of tragedy.
“Teacher,” Mary would say. We can speak to our Heavenly Father and say, “Dear Lord, teach us to know your revealing truth that you know us by name. Teach us, Lord, to know that you love us as your very own. Teach us to know, Lord, that you would have for us what our Savior Jesus earned on the cross and shows to us today in the empty tomb.” Our Jesus is our teacher – our Savior. He guides you in the way of truth. He shows you the way of righteousness.
Beloved in the Lord, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia. Amen
The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.