Easter Saturday

Peter H. Davids

Easter • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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The resurrection of Jesus is not simply a doctrine to be recited and taught, but a dynamic experience to impel us forward against the opposition that dark forces of many types may throw against us.

Notes

Transcript

Title

Convinced by the Power of God

Outline

1. Our primary occupation is the proclamation of the good news

I realize that you, sisters, proclaim in the formation of children into mature knowledge and Christian virtue

But, nonetheless, you are swimming against the cultural tide and some public figures in our culture have called it “abuse” and cannot see that they are abusing God in you

What, then, drives us to keep on? It is nothing less than our experience of the power of God together with his command

2. Acts presents Peter and John on trial

They have experienced the power of God in their encounters with Jesus in the resurrection

Following the example of Jesus they go the “Liturgy of the Hours” in the Temple, see a lame beggar, and inspired by the Spirit heal him.

This creates a spectacle that provides the occasion of their public preaching in the Temple

Now they are on trial before the people who had condemned Jesus

Rather than fearing, they speak confidently, totally unlike their class, and only the public nature of the miracle holds back the court

When threatened they reveal their secret: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” They have experienced the directive of God and so will speak fearlessly.

3. The long ending of Mark summarizes how this was also the story of others

Mary of Magdala (as reported in John) had been freed by Jesus of 7 demons and so his merely speaking her name had led to recognition of the resurrection. She stuck to her story even against the skepticism of all the apostles.

The two walking to Emmaus (as reported by Luke) had met Jesus, but only recognized him as the resurrected one in his breaking bread. They had made the hour and a half trek back to Jerusalem and had stuck to their story against similar disbelief.

Jesus apparently saw that the 11 needed direct evidence, so he appeared to them - and told them off - but this was not just to convince them; it was to give them the experience of him to share with others: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” (Which implies sending them into opposition, for they were to preach to others what they themselves had not believed from those who preached to them.)

4. What does this say to us about our proclamation of Jesus, our Easter proclamation?

First, that we need to go back to our own experience of Jesus and continually renew it, so we are firm in our internal conviction.

Second, that we should expect opposition, either indifference, as we see in some children, or direct opposition as seen in some children and in the culture. It is not shocking; it just comes with the territory.

Third, we return again to our experience of Jesus and our conviction that he has sent us and so “obey God rather than human beings” or the powers of hell and soldier forward.

The resurrection of Jesus is not simply a doctrine to be recited and taught, but a dynamic experience to impel us forward against the opposition that dark forces of many types may throw against us.

Readings

Epistle

Acts 4:13–21 RSV2CE

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened.

Gospel

Mark 16:9–15 RSV2CE

Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Afterward he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.