From the Pastor’s Study

By Chester Heyer, pastor

West Park United Methodist Church

This past Sunday is known as Easter Sunday.  In secular circles it is the celebrating of the coming of the Easter Bunny to leave candy and such for kids. In the Christian Calendar it is one of if not the most important day we celebrate. It is the Day we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior. 

That Sunday morning was the first day of Christ’s new life. When the disciples checked the tomb early that morning they found it contained no corpse only the burial clothes as if the body had evaporated from them. The napkin covering the face was neatly folded and lying to the side.  What would you believe? You’ve been with Jesus for three plus years listening to His teaching, watching Him do healings and miracles. He has told you on numerous occasions that he must be killed and on the third day He would arise. Would you believe from looking into the tomb or would you like most of the disciples ask “who stole Jesus’ body?”

Belief began as Jesus began appearing and speaking to disciples singularly and in groups.  He first appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden and she related her encounter with the risen Lord to the disciples and delivered the message Jesus requested.  He also appeared to the other women who had accompanied Mary to the tomb early that morning.  They believed and related their stories—some disciples still questioned.  Jesus then appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  He talked with them and upon arriving in Emmaus he broke bread with them and then they believed.  They immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell other disciples about it.  Upon arriving they learned Jesus had appeared to Peter and later to the disciples gathered in the Upper Room.  With these visits BELIEF is blooming, disappointment is turning to HOPE—sorrow is turning to REJOICING.

Look at the transformation of the disciples in all this. They were beaten and dispirited men at the crucifixion, but three days later after the resurrection they were ready to go to prison and even to die. Why the change? People don’t run such risks unless they are very sure of themselves. The disciples were completely convinced. Their certainty became reflected in their worship.  They began observing the Lord’s day, (our Sunday),  a weekly memorial of the resurrection.  On Lord’s Day they celebrated Holy Communion, which Jesus had instituted with them in the Upper Room.  This was not a commemoration of a dead Christ, but a thankful remembrance of the blessings conveyed by a living and triumphant Lord.

What have we as Christians gained from this today?  First, God cannot tolerate Sin but through the blood of Christ we have been JUSTIFIED; i.e. made acceptable to God (Rom 5:8-11).  There are two types of Justification—GRACE and FAITH.

Grace is justification without regard to what we actually deserve.  Grace is a gift given to us by God through His Son, but as with any gift from God there is an action required on our part.  We must accept this gift of Grace and we do that through Faith, not by just believing there is a God even Satan knows and accepts God as fact.  Rather we must have a genuine saving Faith which is a personal relationship with Christ.  In other words we rely on and are committed to Jesus Christ.

Next we were Reconciled to God.  God and people were once again brought together.  We are no longer separated from God because of our Sin.  We no longer need the blood of animal sacrifices because we are washed in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.  Christ’s sacrifice was for the atonement (reconciliation between God and man) of our sins and the appeasement of God’s wrath.

Today—Tomorrow-Next Week, if asked, how are you going to respond to the question of the empty Tomb?  Are you observant but skeptical, like Peter?  Do you believe as the Apostle John did from looking at the evidence? Or have you personally encountered the risen Lord calling you by name and sending you like Mary on a mission?  I don’t believe we need dwell too deeply on the empty tomb rather let’s focus our attention on the RISEN Christ.  We must always cherish and never forget what God and His Son Jesus Christ endured for our sake and we must spread the Word of our Living Lord.    Remember we celebrate a resurrected Christ.  Amen.