Based on the sermon by Rev. John Tapscott
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! In the Bible unusual natural events often accompany God’s mighty works. At the Exodus the Red Sea parted to let the Hebrew people through. When the commandments were given, a dark cloud descended over Mount Sinai. At Jesus’ birth, an unusually bright star led the magi to Bethlehem. On the day of Pentecost, a mighty wind blew as the Holy Spirit was given. As the world’s Savior suffered and died on Good Friday, a strange darkness descended upon the earth and an earthquake occurred that tore the temple curtain in two. On Easter morning, another great earthquake occurred as God raised Jesus from the bondage of death.
Earthquakes are often frightening and destructive events. The most recent one in Syria and Turkey in February left nearly 47,000 dead. Earthquakes in the bible often different: they tell of God’s power in the world. They speak of important events we need to pay attention to: days of judgment, the last days; and here in Matthew’s text, the power of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection is like a great and blessed earthquake. What it accomplished is all good.
First, Jesus’ resurrection unleashed a great wave, a tsunami of grace. Divine forgiveness was poured out and made available for all people, for all time. The resurrection means that Jesus had accomplished the great work the Abba Father sent him to do– save us from our sins and reconcile us to God. The power of this Easter Earthquake occurs in our very being: our sinful, selfish nature is left in rubbles. Our spiritual nature is unleashed. We to are transformed to become more like Jesus. This easter earthquake shakes our priorities, shifts our perspectives; and crumbles our selfish egos and makes us God-centered, other focused.
Secondly, Jesus’ resurrection brought about a great rearrangement in the powers of the world. A great earthquake can alter the landscape significantly. What was high becomes low; what was low is now lifted up. Jesus’ resurrection caused a great rearrangement. It started with Jesus himself. There was nothing lower or more degrading than dying on a cross. But at the resurrection, God exalted Jesus to the highest place, giving him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
Jesus’ resurrection also caused a great rearrangement of the earthly powers. Matthew writes: “The angel’s appearance was like lightning…his clothing was white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.” The guards were ordinary men, but they represented the great military and political power of Rome. They were there to instill fear in anyone who might approach the tomb. Yet at the resurrection, they were the ones who became afraid, almost to the point of death. Their power to instill fear was overturned.
In the Easter earthquake the power of fear lost its sting. Brute political power and the power of evil were overturned. The mighty were taken off the throne and the humble were exalted. On Easter morning the love of God in Jesus Christ was revealed to us as the greatest power in this universe. All the powers that claim supremacy now – fear, sin and death - while still active, have lost their ultimate power. They cannot and will not prevail.
Finally, Jesus’ resurrection opened the way to heaven. A powerful earthquake can open a great crack in the earth, leaving a gaping crevice. So, Jesus’ resurrection opened the way for us to enter God’s heaven. The door is now open for us to live with God and be his redeemed people forever. By identifying with the Crucified and Risen One we enter eternal life.
In the resurrection we don’t deny the pain and sorrow and grief of death, but we say that it has lost its ultimate power. Because of Christ the Risen One we know the best is yet to come. Death now is a gateway to eternity, opened for us by Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Yes, Jesus’ resurrection is like a great and blessed earthquake – unleashing a wave of grace upon the earth, rearranging the landscape, and opening the way to heaven.
In commenting on this story bible scholar William Barclay says that there are now three things for us to do. 1) Believe. Believe in God; believe also in Christ, the Risen One. 2) Rejoice. Jesus said to the women, “Greetings”! That word is derived from one which means rejoice. We can rejoice not only on Easter Day but every day. 3) “Go and tell!” The Risen Christ told the women, “Go and tell.” Go and tell someone of the great resurrection earthquake that has changed the world once and for all, and all for good! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
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