4/12/09 - Easter Sunday - John 20:1-9

THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR
- Even those things we do not know
- Because of the things we do know

John was right there. One early Sunday morning “the disciple whom Jesus’ loved” was right there looking into an empty cave where his Savior had been buried three days before. The burial linens still remained, the cloth that had once covered up Jesus’ head was folded and placed aside, but the body of Christ was nowhere to be seen. And John was the first out of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples to see it. Mary Magdalene had run back to tell Peter and John about the empty tomb after she had gone there early in the morning intending to treat Christ’s body with spices. And so these two disciples immediately ran to the tomb after they heard the news. John got there first and peered inside. Peter arrived after him and rushed past John into the vacant grave. And John writes about himself, “Finally, the other disciple who reached the tomb first also went inside. He saw and believed. But they still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” Interesting words, that John writes about himself and about Peter, aren’t they? John was right there to see the proof of Jesus’ resurrection with his own eyes. He was one of the first people to arrive on the scene. He even had the advantage of hearing Jesus predict that this very thing would happen! But he still did not understand. He couldn’t figure it out. And because he didn’t understand, he was afraid.
John was afraid about what he didn’t know. And he wasn’t alone. John himself writes that on that very evening most of the disciples were gathered together in the same room “with the doors locked for fear of the Jews” (20:19). And it sort of makes sense that they were afraid because remember what the Jewish people had done. They had just falsely arrested, tried, accused, condemned, and crucified the disciples’ teacher and Savior. And so the disciples now didn’t know what would happen. Would the Jews come after them? Would they be arrested and condemned and crucified too? Would they be able to survive without the Lord by their side guarding and protecting them every step of the way? The disciples didn’t know what was going to happen to them. They didn’t even understand what had just happened at the empty tomb. And they were confused and worried about how it would all play out in the end.
Of course, they had nothing to worry about at all. Jesus had told them on numerous occasions that he would be handed over to the chief priests and elders, that they would murder him, and that he would rise from the dead after three days. Jesus promised them just a few days before on Maundy Thursday evening: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). And then again, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (16:19). And still another promise that night: “In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus told them. “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (v.33). Throughout his life, and especially during the few days before his death, Jesus had been preparing his disciples for what they going to have to experience by repeating his promises to them over and over again. And so even if the disciples didn’t understand what was going on at the moment, and even if they were confused about how things would work out, they should have at least trusted that Jesus knew what he was doing and that he was completely in control at all times and in every way. They should have believed God’s clear words regardless of whether or not they knew exactly how and where and why and when they would come true.
But that’s a pretty typical reaction of anyone, isn’t it? All of us get a little worried about the things we don’t know, about the things we don’t understand, about the things we can’t figure out. When a loved one is seriously ill and we don’t know how it’s all going to end, we get a little nervous. When our financial future is up in the air and there’s nothing we can do about it, our stress level rises a couple notches. When a tragedy strikes and we simply do not know what to do or where to turn or how we’ll be able to handle it, we get a little frustrated and anxious about the uncertainty of it all. But why should we? We have received exactly the same promises that those disciples received. Jesus has promised that he will not leave us as orphans, no one will take away our joy, and no matter how many troubles we face in this world we don’t ever have to worry because Christ has overcome the world! Have we somehow forgotten those promises? Do we just ignore them? Do we agree with them on paper, but when it comes down to living “real life” we suddenly aren’t so convinced that what Jesus said can actually be true? Fear and apprehension are universal! But they are not just undesirable character traits or unpleasant feelings; they are products of doubting God’s Word! When we are afraid or apprehensive or worried about what may or may not happen, we are saying in effect, “Lord, I know what you say to me in your Word, but I’m not completely convinced that you can pull it off. Because it doesn’t look too good for me right now. It’s doesn’t seem like your promises are going to pan out. I’m going to have to wait and see if it all turns out well before I fully trust your Word.”
Now I know that is not what you consciously think or say to the Lord, and I’m sure that’s not what John and the rest of the disciples consciously thought or said to him either. But their actions and thoughts and our actions and thoughts definitely convey that attitude. And it’s a sinful attitude, not a Christian one. It’s a demeaning attitude to God, not one of praise and thanks. It’s an attitude that we should be ashamed of showing, as I’m sure those disciples were.
But as those disciples were hiding in that locked room on Easter evening overwhelmed with fear and apprehension and worry, do you remember what happened? Jesus miraculously appeared and stood in front of them. And he the first thing he said was, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19)! He didn’t criticize them for being afraid. He didn’t point out their sins or chastise them. He simply said, “Peace be with you!” Because he was alive! He had risen! And this was the very first time he appeared to his disciples after he had come out of the tomb! They didn’t have to worry anymore! They didn’t have to wonder or hide or be afraid! They could be at peace because their Lord and Savior lived! Yes, he had died, but now he reigned! And his life proved that what he said was true. His resurrection solidified all of the promises he had ever made to his disciples and to us. His victory over the grave confirmed that he had the power to do everything he said he would do in every way. The disciples did not have to be afraid. And we have nothing to fear either. We do not have to fear even those things we don’t understand because we are comforted by the things we do know.
And that’s why we are gathered here this morning like we do every year on Easter Sunday. To celebrate what we do know: Christ died, he was buried, and he rose from the dead. And he did all of those things for us. For our forgiveness and for our salvation. He did it to release us from the punishments of our sinful attitudes and actions. He did it to guarantee us a spot in heaven forever. He did it to give us joy and comfort and, most importantly, peace. Jesus has risen from the dead. Jesus has risen from the dead! This should be a day of fireworks and festivals because this is our Christian Independence Day! We have been released from the eternal sentence of sin and the awful finality of death. We are free. We are free because Christ lives. We are free to live with Christ forever.
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, finally understood that. As he was confronted with the living Lord right in front of his face that Easter evening, I’m sure he recalled the empty tomb he say earlier that morning. I’m sure he was reminded of the empty tomb of Lazarus after Jesus had raised him from the dead years earlier. I’m sure John thought of the words Jesus spoke at Lazarus’ tomb: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). I wouldn’t be surprised if John remembered some of those words of his Savior because with Jesus standing in front of him alive again, those promises would be able to come true. And they will come true for us as well. Christ’s resurrection from the grave means that we who believe in him will rise from the grave as well. We will live with him. We will enjoy a paradise of perfection with our Lord in his heavenly home. Why? Not because we’ve earned it. We’re too sinful. Not because we deserve it by the way we have tried to live. We’re not good enough. Not because we’ve done our best and the Lord will give us an “A” for effort. That’s not how it works! We will live forever with our Savior because of what he did for us on earth. On the cross, in the grave, and out of the tomb. Our eternal life is secure because of his life. And so you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to be apprehensive. You don’t have to worry. Because no matter what happens here, no matter what troubles or tragedies or sicknesses or losses you have to face in this life, God promises he has already taken care of everything. Your living Lord promises he will always take care of you.
Amen.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope though the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” - 1 Peter 1:3