Some months ago, I had an opportunity to visit St. John’s
United Church of Christ in Reading, Ohio. I was most impressed with the large
stained glass window that is located in the very front of the sanctuary – and
not just because it is made with Tiffany glass. That window envisions what
Easter morning might have looked like. Specifically, it depicts the reaction of
several characters in the Easter story. Front and center, occupying the
majority of the window, is the risen Christ, bathed in bright white light and
holding up a banner of victory. On the right are three women who are coming to
the tomb to mourn. They are the very picture of calm. Perhaps they are
discussing the events of the previous two days and wondering what the future
will hold. They are completely ignoring the risen Christ. On the left is a
white-robed angel pointing towards the savior. His attitude appears to be, “You
might want to take a look over there.” But what draws your attention are the
men in the center of the window, directly beneath the risen Christ. They are
four Roman soldiers; and they are clearly terrified. One is turning away, ready
to flee. Another is holding up a shield in an attempt to protect himself. A third
is covering his eyes in fear. The fourth has completely collapsed, and lies
prostrate in terror.
When I first saw the window, I was struck by the contrast
between the three placid women on their way to the tomb and the terrified Roman
soldiers. While the soldiers are confronted by the full force of the
resurrection, paralyzed with fright, the three women are absolutely oblivious
to the risen Christ. I wanted to reach into the window and shake them and ask,
“Don’t you know what’s going on? Look! Can’t
you see that Christ is risen?” The Roman soldiers certainly knew! Why weren’t
the women taking any notice? Then it occurred to me that what I was seeing
pictured in the window wasn’t all that uncommon. Sometimes Christians don’t
appreciate the power of the resurrection as much as non-Christians do. In fact,
many Christians take resurrection power way too much for granted.
What’s that old saying? “Familiarity breeds contempt.” I
wouldn’t say that Christian familiarity with the resurrection breeds contempt;
but it certainly breeds complacency. We’re just like the women in the window
who were calmly walking towards the empty tomb as though Easter was just
another day. Is it that way for us? Is Easter is just another day? It is for
many people, except that they might join their friends for Easter breakfast,
and wear a fresh new outfit, and look forward to Easter dinner with family.
“But I know all about the resurrection,” those folks would
protest. “I can tell the story in my sleep!” But, see, that’s just the problem.
Lots of people can talk about
resurrection power; but they have never experienced
that resurrection power. And what a power it is! It knocked the Roman soldiers
at the tomb flat on their backs! It rolls back heavy stones, unseals tombs, and
raises the dead. Lots of folks who are sworn enemies of Christianity understand
its power better than we do. That’s why Christianity is illegal in some
countries today. Tyrants know all too well that the power of the resurrection
can overcome anything! It terrified the Roman soldiers on that first Easter
morning, and it terrifies people today. After all, Christians who experience
resurrection power aren’t afraid of anything, not tyrants or terrorists or even
death itself!
Dr. George Sweeting tells of an incident is the early 1920s
when a noted Communist leader traveled from Moscow to Kiev in order to speak at
an anti-God rally. For an hour he abused and ridiculed the Christian faith
until it seemed as if the whole belief system was in ruins. Then he invited
questions from the audience. An Orthodox priest stood up and asked to speak. He
turned, faced the people, and gave the traditional Easter greeting, “He is
risen!” Instantly the entire assembly rose to its feet and thundered, “He is
risen indeed!” It is no wonder that resurrection power sends a cold chill down
the spines of dictators the world over.
Resurrection power is what transformed a group of frightened
disciples cowering behind a locked door into fearless apostles who couldn’t
stop talking about what they had experienced, even in the face of persecution,
arrest, and their own deaths. Because Jesus’ resurrection power conquered
death, there was no reason for them to be afraid of anything, even death
itself. And we proclaim that power every Sunday morning when we join in the
Lord’s Prayer. At its conclusion, we confidently state, “Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever.” That ending isn’t in the Bible. It’s not
in Matthew and it’s not in Luke, the two gospels that include the Lord’s Prayer.
In fact, it’s not in any of the books of the New Testament. Somewhere, someone
in the early church added it to the prayer that Jesus had taught them, because
it was inconceivable that resurrection power be left out of Christians’ most
basic prayer. And it has been in the prayer ever since. “Thine is the kingdom”
– God’s kingdom of peace and wholeness that is meant for everyone – “and the
power” – the resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead and will do the
same for us – “and the glory” – the glory that we experience when we are in the
presence of resurrection power – “forever.” Forever!
Until time itself is through, the power of the resurrection
will be the most powerful force in the universe. It is a force stronger than
death, more powerful than all the world’s armies put together, and it’s
available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. It gives us the ability to
live our lives without fear no matter what life throws at us; and it reaches
into our tomb to rescue us from death, even when that tomb has been sealed and
the stone rolled into place.
Easter isn’t just another day! Easter is the day that God’s
resurrection power broke through into our world, into a world that suffers
under the power of death way too much of the time. The good news of Easter
Sunday is that God’s resurrection power – God’s love in action – does for us
what we can’t possibly do for ourselves. The great truth of Easter is that love
is stronger than hate and life is stronger than death. The kingdom and the
power and the glory are for us! Alleluia! Christ is risen indeed!
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