The Shepherd’s Voice

Readings for Easter Sunday, April 12^th
Acts 10:34-43
Ps 118:1-2, 14-24
1Cor 15:1-11
Jn 20:1-8

The Shepherd’s Voice – Sermon Audio

Most people here have never heard the name Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin. He was a very powerful man during his era. He was a Russian Communist leader who took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917. He became editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which you may know means truth), and he was a full member of the Politburo.

His works on economics and political science are still read today by some who want to dismantle free markets, capitalism, and the western world. People talk about a time of confusion in Russia when he journeyed from Moscow to Kiev around 1930 to speak at a huge assembly. His subject atheism.

He had all the answers, he pulled out the heavy artillery and shelled Christianity over and over, hurling insult, after argument, after proof why Christianity was untrue and could not exist. An hour later he was finished his diatribe. He looked out at what he thought were the smoldering ashes of people’s faith who attended the rally.

He bellowed in a demanding voice “Are there any questions?” Of course none were expected, there was just deafening silence. Finally one lone man approached the platform microphone for questions which was near the lectern next to this great communist leader. He surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally he shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church: “CHRIST IS RISEN!” En masse the crowd arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder: “HE IS RISEN INDEED!”

I say to you this morning, in the confusion of this era, in the struggle of this day: CHRIST IS RISEN! [HE IS RISEN INDEED!. Why would someone who would surely be punished, risk being sent to the Gulags in Siberia, do such a foolish thing? We don’t have Gulags here, but as Christians we risk in our secular society, being ridiculed for our faith. Some are black balled for their faith, ostracized, and it’s getting worse. A recent article in Newsweek “The End of Christianity in America” said that people who believe in God, who practice their faith is on the decline. It’s dropped dramatically in the 90’s. Rick Warren’s comment – “Cross an abalone with a crocodile. It’s a crock of baloney” What do you think? Today we will wrestle with some aspects of the question do you believe Christ is risen?

Not too long ago my wife brought to my attention a book series called The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. It’s a story about a young full figured woman from Botswana, Africa who lost her father and inherited some money, just enough to open a detective agency. Her father taught her well, she had a natural curiosity, and a keen sense of observation. The books are fun, but Sharon and I are really enjoying this series on HBO called The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency patterned after the books.

The primary character is Mma Ramotswe has this canny eye for seeing things that most of us miss when we look at something. This morning I want us to use our keen eyes and ears as we look at the gospel text so we can see why this daring Russian man at a Communist rally was willing to get up and yell Christ is Risen.

First to the confusion of this scene. For the last few days, our Maundy Thursday service and our Good Friday service we saw Jesus trying to explain to his disciples what was about to happen to him. There was the togetherness of the Last Supper, then talk about betrayal, then comments about desertion, arrogance about standing up for Jesus no matter what, then denial, a series of trails with Pilate wanting to release Jesus, but a small vocal crowd yelling crucify Him, crucify Him. In some churches they call that a church council meeting.

Anyway, you get the point. The disciples were confused, his followers were sad, Jesus mother was distraught, and now he was thought to be dead and buried. Gone, out of the way, never to be heard from again.

A detective may work on lots of cases simultaneously, with clues or leads that help of send you down dead ends, but because of time we need to focus so we will just look at evidence or clues from today’s story. Let’s look at Mary Magdalene since she seems to be a primary character in our story.

The dust has just settled from the previous activity, we see that Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in an available grave near the garden. Mary Magdalene goes to the grave, on the first day of the week, Sunday. As she nears the tomb and she sees the stone has been rolled away. Mary was curious, but not curious enough to go into the tomb. Instead she runs to tell Simon Peter and another disciple, we believe to be John.

As detectives we know some people are just like Mary Magdalene. They come to church, they see the door open, but they don’t enter in mind, body or spirit. Instead they run away. God is a curiosity saying I’m not ready to believe this whole story, I just want to be near the action.

As detectives we need to be a little familiar our characters especially Mary Magdalene. Mary has a past, like most of us. As good detectives we need to know about Mary’s rap sheet. (Luke 8:2, Matt 27:55-56) Mary had in the past been subjected to evil spirits. I’m sure that was no picnic. From some scripture we see Mary Magdalene was a lost soul and Jesus gave her her life back. She was one of Jesus’ miracles. She became a supporter of Jesus, a follower, in some texts she is even called an apostle, or apostlet, a female apostle of Christ. Mary saw Jesus as a close friend, a refuge, a Savior in many earthly respects, and yet she didn’t accept him as the Messiah.

If she had thought he was the Messiah, why would she go back to the tomb, he wouldn’t be there. What did she say they have taken him away and I don’t know where the body is. Her actions in the early part of this text betray her. Sometimes our actions betray us. We say one thing, but we don’t follow through. Our life becomes more of a lie than the truth.

Look at the text, as a detective we observe what? She is weeping, crying, she’s distraught. She stands outside the tomb weeping. Now our picture of Mary is like someone who wants to believe, she thinks she knows Jesus, but perhaps her only connection is her heart.

This reminds me of the recent era in the church right after 9/11. People were distraught, people were sad at the human toll, the loss of life, the loss of loved ones. Sometimes this happens with a death of a friend or close loved one. We are shaken, our life has been turned upside down and we don’t know what to do.

I know when my own parents died; it was hard, life suddenly felt more lonely. Yet, I knew Jesus was there, my friends were still there, but we always miss our loved ones when they depart this world. All of us will depart this world at some time so we need to prepare for that event. Perhaps Mary Magdalene was thinking about her own mortality at this time. Are you prepared to die?

When Mary got to the tomb what was she supposed to do?

There’s a story about Sunday School teacher who had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing off the only way in or out. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, and the surprise of Easter morning, she asked: "And what do you think were Jesus' first words when he came bursting out of that tomb alive?"

A hand shot up into the air from the rear of the classroom. It belonged to a most excited little girl. Leaping out of her chair she shouted out excitedly, "I know, I know, I know."

"Good," said the teacher, "Tell us."

Extending her arms high in the air she sang out: "TA - DA!"

Mary Magdalene didn’t see a Ta da. Because we see Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping. A couple of angels ask, “Woman, why are you weeping.” She still seems to be in this stupor state, and replies “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she hears their voice she turns around only to be asked the same question from someone whom she thinks is the gardener, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

As a detective I have to wonder about this woman’s competence. It seems like she is there, but in shock. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, Dr. Peter Marshall spoke at the commencement ceremonies at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. He was shocked by just hearing that Pearl Harbor had just been bombed, as he stepped in to the pulpit he realized he was looking out upon a gathering of men who would soon possibly suffer heavy casualties in battle. The men were hushed, expectant. He preached a sermon titled ''Go Down, Death.'' Death is often shocking for us. In it, he told of a small boy who was terminally ill. An only child, the boy's parents were devastated. His mother would often read to him about King Arthur, and the gallant knights, there would be talk about clashing swords, horses and exciting battles. This night after her mother read the story, her son asked: ''Mother, what is it like to die?''

The mother was emotionally spent, unable to respond at first, struggling with her own tears, she explained it like this. ''Dear, you know how sometimes you would come home after playing outside all day? You are very tired, and right after dinner, you would run upstairs and climb up on Mom and Dad's bed, you soon fall asleep? Remember how you awaken the next morning in your own room? Do you know how you got there? Your daddy would come in here while you were asleep. He would pick you up in his strong arms, he would kiss your little cheek, and he would carry you into your own room and put you gently to bed. The next morning with the sunlight streaming through your windows you wake up, ready for a new day. That, Kenneth, is what it will be like to die.'' A few weeks later, a loving Father carried Kenneth to bed for the last time. When Mma Ramotswe’s father died he said he was not afraid to die because God was good and God would take him to a beautiful place.

Perhaps Mary Magdalene was wondering what is it like to die, now that her very good friend Jesus was gone. However, the next thing she hears is her name, “Mary.” The text tells us it was at this moment she kind of snaps out of her stupor state and recognizes Jesus. Her response is Rabbouni, in Hebrew, which means teacher, master. She connects once again to her friend Jesus.

Jesus tells her, “Do not hold on to me,” because I am going to the father. This term hold can be better translated cling to or grab me too tightly. Jesus wanted her to “Get real” again. She had to stay in this world and Jesus knew he was going to be in another world, gone. He wanted her to remember what she had been taught and live it out.

The result, the end of the story is our final observation as a detective. Mary goes and tells the other disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” She was a first hand witness. She was changed.

You have come here this morning for a reason. Perhaps you have come because of family, friends, tradition or you have come to see the Lord once again, to connect up with Jesus

God wants us, all of us to know that His grace is sufficient. God desires that we all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. I pray that the Holy Spirit has touched your heart today so you can say with confidence, just like Mary, “I have seen the Lord.”

Now, go tell your friends, Christ is risen, [He is risen indeed!]

Amen.

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