April 2008 - Easter The Only Story

Matthew 28: After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

“Easter: The Only Story,” continues as an important truth for our life in Christ. In our worship, this past weekend on Easter Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ and heard his directions to follow him.

The Easter Story is the only story which gives us life and then a promised direction to live that life. While our wealth, intelligence, leisure activity, and general opportunities in the American lifestyle grow or decline, this truth remains: All other activities linked to such things like vocations, hobbies, and relationships are not “the” story. When we allow these types of things to fill our lives, we challenge the story that God has given us in Christ.

Making any other story our central story can lead to a self produced idolatry. This kind of idolatry is well compared to Genesis, chapter three. There we hear of humanity’s need to be “god-like.” We are reminded that we try to make ourselves God when the world’s activity became our central life experience. God carefully reminds us that God is God and we are not.

As Paul reminds, “while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) This good news of Easter makes it clear that God has come in Christ to save us from anything that would take us from God’s love. This incredible love is present and preserved daily in the gift of our baptism. In the wondrous love of Christ, risen from the dead, we are invited to follow Jesus. As he invited the disciples to Galilee, he also invites us to remember his mandate: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This mandate is as old and as new as the resurrection of Christ himself. What good news we have. We are to share this promise while baptizing and teaching of this Gospel news!

Jesus calls us to reach out to a hurting world. In our message on Easter Sunday, we heard an “unspoken plea.” The video we witnessed reminded us that the world needs this Gospel and we are invited by Christ himself to seek out those who are distant from or never have experienced the Gospel of Christ. That good news sharing must be renewed and re-focused each and every Resurrection day. Let’s hear the invitation to go to Galilee and grow in the only story!