Trey H. Little

Sermon Text:  Matthew 28: 1-10

April 24, 2011 (Easter Sunday)

Albany, Texas

“Life’s Big Answer:  He Is Risen!”

Life is full of questions—and I wonder—could it be that life has more questions than answers?

This morning, I would like to suggest that the answer is “Yes.”

Turn with me to Matthew 28: 1-10.

Easter Sunday—what a morning.  In churches all across the world today—people are gathering like you and me to celebrate the Truth that Jesus Christ is Risen.  This week I read about one small town church that was having their annual Easter pageant.  They chose the toughest guy in the town to play Jesus!  Some thought he was the least likely person for the part—he was a big, tough, a roustabout full of “character” if you know what I mean.

Others in the church were chosen to be part of the mob that surrounded Jesus along the road to Golgotha.  As the man playing Jesus was carrying the cross, one actor in the crowd really got into his part.   He shouted, ‘Crucify! Crucify!’  He got right up into the face of the man playing Jesus, hollered in his ear, and screamed so loud that some of his spit flew into Jesus’ face. 

Not surprisingly, this did not set well with the tough roustabout.  Right then and there—in the middle of the pageant—the manplaying the part of Jesus turned to the other man and said:  ‘I will see you after the resurrection!’

If you ask me—I say the tough actor played his role perfectly.

“I will see you after the resurrection”—isn’t that what Easter Sunday is all about?  Didn’t Jesus die and rise again in order that those who believe in Him will have life and see Him again?

Yet, as we gather again for our annual Easter pageant of sorts—I wonder:  how are we acting?  Some of us are acting like the mob—aren’t we?  Some of us are stressed and confused this morning—wondering if Jesus really is who He says He is.  Some of us are acting like directors—we try to direct Jesus to do and be what we want rather than what He wants.  Others of us are acting like some of those “behind the scenes people—we are just standing around waiting on our cue to move—desperately hoping the curtain doesn’t get drawn without us.

But you know, I think we also are living a life filled with questions.  I think we long for answers.  It’s as if every day is another test of some sort.  Yet, I would be remiss if I didn’t say there is something to be learned from the tests.  We can learn from difficult relationships because so often in our brokenness the Answer makes us whole.  We can learn from tragedy in our life because the Answer gives us renewed hope.  We can learn from difficult economic situations because the Answer always provides.  We can learn from questions because the Answer already knows.

Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” had questions.  They had questions such as:  “Has our Lord been properly buried?  Has He been treated with respect—especially since they treated Him with such disrespect on the cross?  They wondered who would roll the large stone away from the door of the tomb for them—how would they get in to see Him.  So many questions—longing for answers.

As the story continues, they begin to get their answers.  “An angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone.”   Then the angel spoke to the women saying, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”

Can you imagine?  The questions they had in the outset of their early morning journey had now been answered.  Jesus had been properly buried.  He had been treated with respect.  The stone had been rolled away.  Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—these answers only sparked further questions.  Questions such as:  “Where is He?  Did someone steal Him?  Is He alive?  What will we tell the others?”

Friends, they weren’t acting—they were living.

As they “hurried” away, we can only imagine what the scene must have looked like.  I can just hear Mary Magdalene asking the other Mary, “Did he just say what I thought he said?  Did that guy just say, He has risen?”  In a matter of moments, certainly in a state of confusion and uncertainty, their fear has been joined with a sense of joy because they realized that the man also said:  “There you will SEE HIM.”

Then, suddenly, The Answer met them and said, “Greetings” which in the Greek is literally translated, “Rejoice.”  The Answer brought them to their knees with a simple reminder to “Rejoice.”  In an instant, in a single word, we get the sense that their fear has been transformed to comfort.  Their running has stopped and their worship has begun.  Their questions have been answered—they SEE HIM—after the resurrection—they SEE HIM—and it changes everything! 

Several years ago I was talking to a friend of mine when she told me that her three-year old daughter’s memory verse for the week was “He is not here, he is risen.”  I thought to myself, that’s a good verse to memorize.  But then she proceeded to tell me that her daughter didn’t quite recite it that way.  Instead of saying, “He is not here, he is risen” she would say, “He is not here for a reason” (Story shared by Elsa Williams about her daughter Erin Williams).

            Friends, in the innocence of that three-year old we hear the Answer to Life’s Questions—Jesus is indeed risen—and He is risen for a reason.

He rose so you and I could live.  He rose so death would never have the final word.  He rose so that when problems appear too strong to handle and we feel like quitting He will go in front of us.  He rose so that, when we are preoccupied by problems—He will still guide our way.  He rose because He knew we were going to fall—and He knew we would need His help to get back up.   

Friends, we don’t worship an empty tomb—the tomb is empty so you don’t have to be—and so we can be filled with joy and life as we worship a Resurrected Lord. 

So I ask you:  Is there a stone blocking your way from seeing Him?  Remember, He can move it!  Do you question if God’s grace is sufficient enough to cover your sins?  Remember, He died on the cross for you!  Do you struggle with forgiving others?  Remember, He forgave you!  Are you afraid to give Jesus all you have?  Remember, He gave you everything He had—and afterwards He said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Friends, the resurrection of Christ is the centerpiece of our faith—it is Life’s Big Answer—He is Risen—and He is risen for a reason—YOU!

Let me close with this:  it is a story of former world chess champion Bobby Fischer when he was a young boy.  His mother took him to a museum, and he happened upon a painting that caught his eye.  It depicted a bedraggled, exhausted older man slumped over a chessboard.  Few of his pieces were left on the board, and he was conceding the game.  On the other side of the board was his fresh and snappy opponent, Satan.  The painting was entitled “Checkmate.”  Already a chess prodigy, young Bobby Fischer stood looking at the painting for a long time.  His mother soon tired of it and moved around the remainder of the gallery, finally returning to find Bobby still entranced by that painting.  "Come now, Bobby, we have to go."  Bobby Fischer did not stop staring, thinking.  One more time his mother insisted, "Bobby, we have to go. Come now!"  "But, Mom," he pleaded, "He has one more move!"

Friends, that is the Good News of Easter—God had one more move!

Think of it—when we look at the cross on Friday—it looks like (at first glance) like death and evil has won.  It looks like that defeat has the leading role.  It looks like goodness and hope are dead and buried forever.  It looks like Christ has been silenced and conquered and we will be left living a life of unanswered questions.

But then, Easter Sunday reveals God’s most amazing move for you and me.  God made the greatest CHECKMATE move of all time.  Christ comes out of the grave and into our lives with power and victory. 

That’s Life’s Big Answer—Jesus. 

And He is Risen for a reason.

He wants YOU to SEE HIM—it is your move! 

AMEN.