For if we have been united with him in a death like
his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
·
Tonight
we celebrate an empty tomb and a barren cross. Tonight we celebrate words
remembered and an event we cannot fathom or comprehend.
·
Tonight
we celebrate the change of the universe and the beginning of the new creation
as well as the old, old story of what God has done for God’s people.
·
Tonight
we say with Christians of so many nations and so many times an old salutation,
one that speaks of joy beyond telling and beyond understanding.
·
Tonight
we celebrate with word and song, a new fire and a watch fire, and with a meal
of remembrance. Yet some might wonder why we celebrate.
·
For if we have been united with him in a death like
his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Here, the apostle and our
brother Paul tells us briefly why we celebrate. What he wrote so many years ago
does not even come close to exhausting what this night means, yet what he says
sums it up.
·
Jesus
rose from the dead, but like his life, his resurrection goes beyond his own
life.
·
We
like stories of heroes who receive reward or honours for unselfish acts.
Stories of the Victoria Cross or the Congressional Medal of Honour, of bounties
paid for daring deeds are the stuff of dreams. Tales of treasure for hard work
or brilliant ideas drive us to greater endeavours through-out life. But the
story tonight is not one of those.
·
Jesus
did not live for reward nor did he die for mystical reward for his ministry. He
lived to proclaim the Kingdom of God. His first words in the Gospels speak of
the Kingdom and his parables tell us of the Kingdom.
·
Jesus
did not rise to new life to be rewarded like some hero of myth and legend. He
rose to life because death could not keep him and the terror of all humankind
could not defeat him. His resurrection was not some temporary suspension of the
ways of nature, allowing him to lay aside the cloak of death that we all know
is our lot and that we avoid talking about.
·
Jesus’
resurrection is part and parcel of his life and ministry. The event we
celebrate this night is the culmination of all his preaching, teaching, and
working deeds of power. What we celebrate this night is nothing less than the
first glimpse, the first taste, the first touch of a new creation – even as the
Father’s first word of creation was spoken in the first day of Genesis’ week,
changing chaos and emptiness into order and light.
·
Jesus
did this for us and for all of creation. His death was ultimately for us – to
take away sin and the sting of death, to unmask those powers of the world that
rebel again God, and to demonstrate is a most vivid way the love of the Father
and how far our God would go to bring that love to us.
·
Jesus
rose for us and for all creation as well. Now there is a hope beyond all
telling and a freedom that sin can never even imitate. Now there is a hope that
takes us beyond even our own death and a freedom to love where we once felt
that love could not go.
·
Now
there is hope for life and grace from God in this life and in whatever is to
come. Now there is freedom to live as if what is beyond death holds no terror…
because it doesn’t!
·
Tonight
we say again the ancient disciples’ greeting that has echoed in so languages
and times. We say again the proclamation that had brought hope and solace to so
many in times of sickness and oppression. Tonight we say again the words that
remind us that For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will
certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
·
Tonight
we say again with solemn joy and joyful solemnity…
·
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
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