“When God Shakes our Faith”
Krista’s Reflection Easter Sunday
“When God Shakes our Faith”
Krista’s Reflection Easter Sunday
based on the Gospel of Matthew 28:1-10 – Mary Magdalene and Mary encounter the angel and the empty tomb. Jesus talks to Mary.
Let us hear the Good News!
Christ is risen!
Indeed, He is risen!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
This news would be quite a shock to Jesus’s disciples and followers. They were devastated, scattered, after his death on the cross of Good Friday. The next day was the Sabbath – Saturday. They were not permitted to do any work, nor visit the tomb. Just pray and weep.
On the first day of the new week, Sunday, Mary Magdalene, and Mary go out to the tomb. They are still shaken from the death. Jesus is gone. Their beloved rabbi and friend.
But something terrible happens – from the word for terror – which is fearful – and also for terrific – which is good or awesome. An angel of the Lord comes down, the earth shakes, and the stone rolls away from the tomb.
The angel tells the women not to be afraid. Jesus has been raised! He has gone ahead to Galilee – go tell the disciples to go and meet him there; and they will see him alive.
The two Marys witness the empty tomb. They run away in fear and great joy. Then they see Jesus alive on the road. He greets them with “Rejoice!” A greeting of good news!
But this wasn’t what they expected – Jesus’s disciples and followers. No – Jesus died – some saw it with their own eyes. Others ran for cover. It was the most devasting blow to this new Christian community. They have given up house and home, family, friends, occupations, possessions and security to follow this itinerant preacher and healer. They believed him!
They believed, and yet they suffered a horrible defeat. Jesus left them without a leader. How would they go on? They are afraid – the Romans and religious authorities will hunt them down and kill them – that is why Peter denied Christ three times!
It was the worst moment in the Christian story.
No one would blame them for thinking, “Maybe we were wrong?” They lost everything. Even their beloved friend and teacher. What would they do now?
No one would blame them for being skeptical or afraid, for hiding out. Jesus said he would be raised on the third day, but they didn’t understand what he was talking about. Some kind of spiritual mumbo jumbo??
We might also wonder, is any of this stuff really true? It’s hard to comprehend the Christian story in today’s world, where reason, logic, and science constantly challenge and even ridicule our faith. Our minds want answers, cold hard facts. Easy wins.
But Jesus’s victory over death is unfathomable to ancient and modern minds.
First, his betrayal in the garden.
Followed by torture and humiliation.
Then, death on a Roman cross.
And finally, the resurrection?
But resurrection is exactly what the four Gospel accounts and the letters of Paul tell us. Jesus rose from the dead.
Christ is risen!
Indeed, He is risen!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
It is the greatest story ever told.
It is also the story of our faith.
Sometimes God must shake our faith before we will believe. Like the earthquakes in Matthew’s gospel at the death of Jesus, and when the angel comes down to announce the Good News and sit triumphantly atop the empty tomb.
The earth shakes beneath us. Our faith shakes. We might face a debilitating loss, break-up, betrayal, health crisis, financial crisis, death, depression, or despair.
We may have lost all hope, like the women who go to the tomb Easter morning. They are not expecting any good news. They
go when it is still dark out to pay their respects to their beloved friend. But God has other plans they can’t see yet.
God breaks into our story and delivers good news. God comes to us when we are at our worst – when unthinkable grief takes hold and challenges our faith.
We have heard, it is often darkest before the dawn.
God shakes our faith, to remind us that the light will come. God’s promises will come true. Jesus really did overcome death. He rose from the dead on Easter morning – and we will rise again, too. Life will return. Good news will come.
It might be sudden and unexpected. Unthinkable. Undeniable. Like the Good News of Easter morn. and the hymn we sang at Easter Sunrise, “Morning has broken.” Morning breaks forth from the night, it scatters the darkness in our lives, our discouragement and despair. Sometimes we must go through the dark night of the soul before we can greet the morning.
But God awakens our ability to wonder, to see things anew, to believe and know that God’s promises are true and will come to pass.
Like Christ rising on the third day, and the women encountering the empty tomb. So go, tell everyone!
Christ is risen!
Indeed, he is risen!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Closing
Just look around at this beautiful sanctuary and see the signs of Easter everywhere. Life has triumphed over death! Life returns! We might see:
1. The signs of spring reminding us life returns after the darkness of winter.
2. The signs of children returning to Sunday school, or baptism, after a long break during Covid.
3. The signs of love in our community, the same beloved Christian community that has endured for over 2000 years, that renews itself every year, and will endure a 1000 more.
Let us remember, Jesus still lives! He is with us now, as we come together in worship, as we sing, pray and recall the miraculous stories of our faith. God will shake our faith at times. We will face challenges. But God promises resurrection, for those who endure and await the dawn, eternal life. Despite our darkest nights and doubts, let us rejoice with Jesus on the road, with wonder and thanksgiving:
Christ is risen!
Indeed, He is risen!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Amen.