Acts 10:
34-43; Luke 24:1-12
Sally
was working inside the house while her husband Sam mowed the lawn. A neighbor noticed
that the mower had stopped. She then realized that Sam was on the ground and
went to check on him, and discovered he was having a heart attack. She ran into
her own house and called 911. Then she ran across the street and talked to
Sally.
The
neighbor also called their pastor and Sally and Sam’s children. Soon, the
kitchen was full of people, neighbors, family, close friends. While waiting for
news from the hospital, the pastor gathered everyone together and prayed. And
she made pot after pot of coffee.
Finally,
the call came from the hospital. Sam had died in the ambulance, and all efforts
to revive him were unsuccessful. More prayers were offered, as the family and
friends struggled to comprehend this new reality.
A few
days later, the pastor led the funeral service. She talked about how Sam loved his
family, loved wearing suspenders, and loved a good joke. Sam loved doing yard
work not just at home, but also at church. She then talked about how death is
not the last word for Sam, or for any of us.
The
folks gathered in that kitchen waiting for news, the folks gathered in the
church hoping for good news, the folks gathered at the cemetery were all doing
the same thing the women were doing 2000 years ago. They were waiting, grieving,
and at the same time hoping and praying for some good news.
The
pastor brought to that assembly the same message the men in dazzling clothes
gave to the women. “He is not here. He is risen.” We have hope, we believe,
that because Jesus died and was raised, we too will see life beyond death,
beyond the grave. We don’t always believe it, though.
Even the
women who were very close to Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of
James, and other women, even they didn’t believe at first. The text
says, “They were perplexed.” They were puzzled, they didn’t get it. They didn’t
remember all of Jesus words. Several times it is recorded that he told them, “I
will suffer and die and be raised on the third day.” It didn’t seem possible,
so it was easy to forget that last part.
The men
in dazzling clothes had to remind them. “Think back to when you were still in
Galilee. Remember how he said he would be arrested and tortured and then
raised? Now, does it make sense? He has indeed been raised from the dead.”
And then
they did remember and hurried back to tell the men. And, how did the men react?
They thought what the women said was nonsense! An idle tale! But Peter hoped
enough to run to the tomb and check it out.
Peter saw
the empty linen cloths and was amazed. He realized that the women told the
truth. Soon, Peter, who puts his foot in his mouth as often as I do, was soon preaching
sermons on the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
[image:
Peter and Cornelius]
The
sermon Peter gave in today’s reading from Acts highlights holds three messages.
First, let’s pay attention to where Peter is. He is at the home of Cornelius, a
Roman Centurion. We don’t know just when this happens, but it is likely within
the first few years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
In this
sermon, Peter says: Jesus welcomes all, heals with the Spirit’s power, and
forgives sins. This is the message we need to hear today and every day. This is
the message to which we say, Alleluia!
Often,
church people don’t laugh out loud. Sometimes they chuckle. Sometimes, if they
are from a Scandinavian background, they ‘smile as loud as they can’. Now, to be
fair, some of you have laughed out loud when I have been here before. So, you
are a little less Scandinavian than other places I have been.
But, today,
Easter Sunday, is not a day for smiling as loud as you can. Today is a day for
shouting Alleluia as joyously as you can.
Today is
a day for shouting alleluia as loudly as Tiger Woods shouted after his victory
at the Masters’ Golf Tournament last Sunday.
Today is
a day to remember that, at first, people didn’t believe what the women said. But
the women told the story anyway, probably again and again, until Peter ran to
see for himself.
Today is
a day to remember we are commanded by Jesus to tell others the good news of
Jesus’ resurrection and what it means for us.
Today is
a day to give this encouraging news to people who don’t believe the good news
is for them, or for people who struggle to find faith, or for people who are
grieving, as Sally was.
The good
news is that death is not God’s last word, Jesus is! Alleluia!
