August 24, 2008

Jesus Lives

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

Matthew 28: 1-10

Opening Illustration: Return of Marines. Not a big deal for those not related. For those with loved ones, it is huge.

Perspective of average citizen in Jerusalem.

Jesus rides in to celebrate Passover – along with thousands of other pilgrims.

He receives greater welcome than most. Few people in Jerusalem know why his disciples talk about him like he is a leader.

People are worried that any confrontation or disturbance will result in Roman crackdown.

Rumor has it that Jesus is arrested during preparations for Passover. Accused of treason.

Religious leaders call an unprecedented trial during Passover festivities.

Pilate orders Jesus executed for sedition – claiming himself as a rival to Caesar. Jesus is buried in a nice tomb despite being executed as a criminal.

Rumor is that the disciples stole his body and claimed he rose from the dead.

Perspective of gospel of Matthew:

Jesus is welcomed as a potential liberator by people tired of being ruled by the Romans. But Jesus is really king of a heavenly kingdom which will replace all earthly kingdoms someday.

Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of religious leadership by exposing their abusive practices in the temple. Religious leaders look for a way to arrest him quietly.

During Passover Jesus is betrayed by one of his own disciples and arrested by the religious leadership.

They hold an illegitimate trial in the middle of the night during Passover festivities. They bring lots of witnesses to who break the law by perjuring themselves. None of them accuse him of anything substantial.

Jesus is found guilty of blasphemy, but they can’t execute him, even though the Bible says it’s a capital offense.

When they go to ask the Romans to execute him, Pilate says blasphemy is not a capital offense by Roman law.

Jewish leaders threaten to embarrass Pilate in front of his boss if Pilate doesn’t find some charge and execute Jesus.

Pilate gives in and has him executed for claiming to be the king of the Jews. Jesus’ death is the beginning of a new age, foretold by the Bible and by other Jewish writings.

Jesus is honored with a burial by one of his disciples. Religious authorities ask Pilate to have the tomb guarded so that no one can steal the body and claim he came back to life.

On Sunday morning an angel descends from heaven and rolls the stone away. Guards are paralyzed. Angel tells Jesus’ female disciples that Jesus has come back to life. Tomb is empty.

They go towards Galilee and meet Jesus along the way. Jesus meets his followers in Galilee and tells them to spread his teachings all over the world.

Death and resurrection of Jesus are the heart of what we believe. Without his death there is no effective forgiveness of the world’s sin in God’s eyes.

Jesus caused a dustup in the temple because he saw himself and his followers as a replacement for the temple. Now forgiveness by God is connected to our willingness to forgive others.

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the vindication of Jesus and all of his followers. Say what you want about his reputation, call him a rabble rouser, question his integrity. God doesn’t raise impostors and frauds from the dead.

Jesus is the real thing. And his resurrection was the beginning of a new relationship between God and the world.

Why do we go through the effort of having Vacation Bible School? Because Jesus told his disciples to go into the entire world and spread his message. What better way to accomplish that task than to act out his last week of life?

I want to thank everyone who worked hard to make this week possible. I especially want to thank Tami for her tireless efforts in implementing a very successful VBS this year.

But I want to remind you that none of this makes any difference unless Jesus makes a difference in your life. Unless Jesus’ willingness to go to his death is the ultimate example of humility and selfless giving which we use as a model for our lives, then all we’re doing is dressing up in costumes and singing some new songs.

Unless Jesus’ resurrection is the source of all our hope for an abundant life here on earth and the hope for eternal life with God someday, then all we’re doing is enjoying some nice crafts and tasty snacks. And I think we’ve accomplished more than that this week.

This story was one of both humility and hope, of suffering and vindication, of earthly injustice and heavenly justice. It illustrates why this life has meaning and why it’s worth living and why we look forward to more than just getting old and dying someday.

Because he lives, we can face tomorrow. Because he lives all fear is gone. That empty tomb means life for him, and life for us. Remember that as you walk out of church today. Look at the empty tomb and remind yourself that someday your grave will be empty also. Because he lives.