Wellspring UMC; Easter Sunday 2007; April 8, 2007: “You are looking for Jesus...”:

-I Corinthians 15: 19-26; Mark 16: 1-8

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Throughout the ages on Easter Sunday, the Church has proclaimed the Truth that we believe, that “Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!” Let’s say that again, “Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Ahh, it’s a wonderful phrase. Exciting beyond belief, and it captures much of the power of the day. “Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!” But before we get caught up in emotion and allow the phrase to be a phrase, the sentiment to simply be sentiment, I’d like to ask you, “What does that phrase mean to you?” For those of you who are visiting with us today, please know that this is more than a rhetorical question, I’m truly seeking response. So, Christ is Risen. How does that translate into your life?... [take responses]

Today’s scripture is a bit different than the other accounts of the Resurrection, in that in a nutshell, we’re left hanging. Each account opens with the women coming to the tomb, and all but one specifically mention Mary Magdalene. Each account speaks of the stone being rolled back and the body being gone, but from that point on, what is said by whom and to whom varies depending on whether you are reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.

Mark’s account is one of the more interesting to me, because we don’t learn much about the Risen Lord. All we hear is the voice of a young man, presumed to be an angel, who says to the women, “You’re looking for Jesus who was crucified. He has been raised. He’s not here.” Then they are shown the empty slab and given the directive, “Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he’s gone ahead of you. You’ll see him.” And the women are so confused, distraught, afraid and terrorized at this turn of events, that they don’t tell anyone. What happened to the evidence? Where is Christ now?

Though the season of Lent focuses on confession, I must confess today that every year I struggle to put together a sermon for Easter Sunday. It’s like pulling teeth. Maybe it’s the week full of services that keeps me from focusing on this powerful Sunday. Maybe it’s working through my own spiritual journey along the way from Palms to footwashing and communion to the darkness of the cross and tomb, that keeps my soul in a bind to produce a word of hope. Maybe it’s simply the fact that the Word speaks for itself! What else can be said? And yet I’ve come to realize that my trepidation and apprehension, the brain block is about more than these things. It’s deeper while at the same time just on the surface.

Thursday, just three days ago, our District Superintendent had a meeting with the district pastors. Looking at my schedule a few weeks ago, I thought, what an insane thing to do! Why would she have a meeting during the busiest week of the year? Had it not been 2 miles from here at New Town UMC, I probably would have used one of my unexcused absences.

I headed over there at 9:50 for a 10AM meeting. Got there, had a cup of coffee and spoke with a few other pastors, all the time thinking about how much I had to do...all the other things I could be doing. On the hour we were invited into the sanctuary, where had been prepared for us one of the blessings of my week. We, the leaders of worship, were given the gift of worship. We shared in the sacred readings and interpretation through the sermon. We then received Holy Communion together, gaining sustenance for ourselves, so we would be strengthened to lead our own flocks through the Triduum, as it is called – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. But after Communion came an unexpected blessing.

I’d seen it in the bulletin and wondered how it would work out, but I let go of control and let the leaders lead. We shared in an invitation and prayed a prayer together, then if we desired and we felt so moved, our District Superintendent, which translates as our earthly boss, washed our feet.

As I dipped my feet into the warm water, it was as if all that I’d brought with me that day...all the anxiety, questions, and things on my to do list...were washed away by the hands of the one who watches over me. I didn’t realize how much I needed the servant’s touch, and for a brief moment I envisioned all the stuff I’d brought with me to that service then heard the voice of that young man in the tomb, “You’re looking for Jesus...he’s not there. He’s here.” Christ had gone on ahead of me and met me.

In the midst of the busyness and rushing, we to look for Jesus in the wrong places. Easy to have the best-laid plans get in the way of an encounter with the Risen Lord. Easy to get to the other side of a lot of work or focus our energies into a specific project and realize that, though you’re looking for Jesus...he’s not there. You’re looking in the wrong places.

Anyone else have this experience? Anyone else been so focused on climbing the corporate ladder, raising the perfect kids, or being the perfect person that we place that as our means of salvation? Anyone here ever been so stuck in the same ole same ole, that it becomes who you are? Anyone been addicted to anything...Drugs, food, sex, gambling...to the point where it consumes you?

We’ve all been there at times in our lives, and the problem is that, unless we recognize and admit the Truth, unless we are shaken out of OUR reality, as opposed to God’s reality, then we can place it as our salvation. It can become all that we are and do, so much so that there’s no room for God. Oh we’re looking for Jesus alright, but he’s not there.

Getting back to our Gospel passage, don’t you think it’s kind of odd that the story would end this way? In fact, most scholars end this whole book at verse 8 and say that the rest of the book is a later addition. The book ends with a statement to go out and tell the disciples, and by the way, he’s gone ahead of you. Good bye. What kind of story ends with the only witnesses fleeing in terror, afraid and telling no one? What kind of book is this?

It is a book that is so very much like us. It is SO our story.

After all, I think we, along with everyone else in the Bible, would be terrified if we saw an angel. Heck, even young Mary the mother of Jesus was afraid when the angel appeared to her. But think about what it would be like to walk up to discover all your expectations shattered. The tomb is open, the body gone, and an angel giving cryptic commands. Where would we turn, if we’d have been there? What would we do? “You’re looking for Jesus...but he’s not here...he’s gone on ahead of you.”

Who is this Jesus? Who is this Lord? Throughout the Gospels, people misunderstood who He was. The religious leaders completely missed it, to the point where they had him killed. The people in the crowds were constantly seeking a miracle, as if he was a magician. Even the disciples didn’t really get it, and when he said, I’m gonna be killed and rise again, they say, “Huh?”

Throughout the ages, the people of the world have misunderstood who He was. There has been persecution and killing in the name of Christ, the antithesis of Christ’s message. The Church itself has gotten caught up in power and prestige, rather than live by humility and trust in God. The judgments made in the name of Christ become weapons to harm, while Christ himself taught a life of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Throughout our lives, we have misunderstood who He was. We’ve held onto him as the miracle worker and comforter to make US feel good. We’ve placed Him on the back burner of our lives, praying only when we need something and certainly not placing him first. We’ve held onto our gifts of time, talent, and treasure, and given Christ the leftovers, and in all of this and through all of this, we think that this is the Risen Christ? One who lets us do what we want to do, while sacrificing little for Christ’s sake?

We humans are so quick to grab hold of the Savior and try to mold Him to our liking. We are prone to keep him for ourselves and make him be what we want him to be, rather than let Him be who he really is...let Him be the One who saves the world.

“You’re looking for Jesus?” Well He’s not always the One we’re looking for.

No, Jesus is the one who conquered the grave! He is the one who shed his blood, already knowing that we’d look for him in all the wrong places and all the wrong ways. He’s the One who redeems us despite ourselves, and loves us even when get caught up in our desires. He’s the One whom the world rejected, and yet went to the grave so the world would be accepted. He’s the One that makes a way for life and love to be realized day after day after day. He’s the One who goes on ahead of us and invite us to look for him, for there He meets us.

The young man in the tomb said, “You’re looking for Jesus...he’s not here. BUT, go and tell everyone, for he’d gone ahead of you...you’ll see him.”

Paul writes to the Corinthians saying, “If Christ has been raised from the dead, then he is the first fruits of those who died. Adam brought death, but Christ brings life.” God loves us enough that the sin of Adam was transformed to new life through Christ. “Christ is the one,” Paul says, “who destroys the powers which invade us, and the last enemy is death.”

What is your salvation? Where are you looking for Jesus? He’s gone on ahead of you, preparing the way. Where are you obsessing? What is so overwhelming that you don’t know how you’ll make it? He’s gone on ahead of you, preparing the way to meet you on the journey.

He’s gone on ahead of you as you begin treatments or recover from illness. He’s gone on ahead of you as the relationship crumbles and the job is at risk. He’s gone on ahead of you through the addiction and depression. He’s gone on ahead of you as you sort out your life. He’s gone on ahead of you in your loneliness and grief. He’s gone on ahead of you in the ups and downs of life. He’s gone on ahead of you, even in death, so it too will be transformed into life eternal.

Where is Jesus? He was dead, but he has risen and goes ahead of us. You’re looking for Jesus? You can look at the tomb if you want, you can examine the tombs of your life all you want, but he’s not there...he’s gone on ahead of you. You’ll see Him, and when you do you’ll witness resurrection. For you see, when Christ goes ahead of us, he prepares us and prepares the way for new life, eternal.

You’re looking for Jesus? He’s not here. He’s gone on ahead of you, to bring resurrection. Amen.