April 10, 2015

“While they (the women) were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep’. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.” Matthew 28:11-15

“…it is no wonder, that this Jesus ends up on the cross; rather, this cross is the last extreme attempt to turn the judgment away from us and to regain our human freedom. How shall we still live, if Jesus is right, if G*d lives and if He lays claim to Lordship over us?! How shall we still live, if the last Word belongs not to us, but to G*d? Therefore, Jesus must die at the hands of people. It is not the Resurrected One who stands before the world and asks, “Do you want me or not?” Rather, it is his Cross which stands before the world, and therein lies the decision: whether or not we confess ourselves to be the guilty and condemned ones, whether or not we acknowledge the truth of G*d concerning us and desire to live by his grace. Before the world lies the empty grave, which asks us whether we are ready to let G*d have the last Word!”
Martin Niemoeller (1892 – 1984) A sermon, “He is risen!” preached Easter 1934. “For All The Saints” volume III (p. 1060)

This is the choice we have to make – did Jesus rise from the dead, or did the disciples steal him away while everyone was asleep? The Marys, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, went to the tomb and did not find Jesus. They felt an earthquake, saw an angel descend from heaven and roll the stone back, and sit upon the stone. The angelic visitor(s) tell how Jesus is not there and has been raised. Not “Just” one Gospel writer tells us this story – all four give some account of the events of the resurrection. The resurrection is a mysterious event, but the empty grave is serious stuff. It does stand before the world and asks “…are we ready to let G*d have the last Word?”

In my world, G*d needs to have the last word. Why? Because I have seen the business of humanity, and if left up to us to determine our salvation, we are as good as dead. Without G*d raising Jesus from the dead, me and you, we have no hope. The Cross stands before us so that on Easter there is an empty tomb. Are you ready to let G*d have the last word in your life?

Pastor Dave