Easter 2 - WHO MOVED THE STONE?

 EASTER 2
April 24, 2022
Fr. Phil Eberhart

 

Who Moved the Stone?

 

Can you imagine being in the Disciples’ shoes that first day?  Our readings are filled with activity for them and for us!

First thing in the morning, the women go to the tomb and find it empty.  They run back but Mary lingers and “runs into” Jesus.  Mistaking Him for the gardener she begs him to reveal where they have taken Jesus!  Resurrection was certainly not on their radar?

The women carry the news back to the disciples and are laughed out of the room.  But Peter and John run to the tomb (no doubt or confusion as to where it is) to see the grave clothes empty and the head piece folded neatly and set apart from the shroud Jesus was wrapped in.

Meanwhile two disciples (not part of the Eleven who are locked in the Upper Room), encounter a stranger on the road to Emmaus who tells them all about the things that have been going on and explains it all from the Torah and the Prophetic Writings!  Then when they sit down to eat, he breaks the bread and they realize it was Jesus all along!  And He disappears as they are eating with him.   Heart Burn!!  They run the seven or so miles back to the Upper Room and burst in with the news … AGAIN … that Jesus is alive!

Just then… our reading this morning!

Jesus shows up in the locked room.  “PEACE BE WITH YOU”  -  I imagine they were scared out of their wits!  They have no frame of reference for this, even though he told them several times that this was going to happen.

[  Val told me about a comic strip of the conversation between Pilate and Joseph of Arimathea about the Body of Jesus:

Pilate: So let me get this straight, You, one of the richest men in Jerusalem, with a brand new tomb, want the body of this Jesus character, and you’re going to give him your new tomb!  I don’t get it.

Joseph:  Oh, don’t worry about it … it’s only for the weekend!]

Now the disciples are totally undone!  Here stands Jesus!  Can you imagine Peter’s reaction?  From silence in the corner, very uncharacteristic for Peter, to (how does he later describe it?) as “Joy unspeakable or inexpressible and full of glory.”  1 Pet 1:8

 And if you read that full verse in context it says almost the same thing as Jesus tells Thomas here, word for word!  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”    Where do you think that all came from?

It came from this scene in the Upper Room on the first night of the Resurrection appearances of Jesus!

Friends,

The Resurrection changes everything!  It’s not just a cool story that is the fairy tale ending of a horrible predicament!  Tale of terrible suffering that ends in triumph!   It’s not JUST A TALE – it’s not a fable or what do the liberals call it – oh yes :  A MYTH!

This is no MYTH!   No nursery rhyme with a neat ending.

 

This is A Creation-Altering FACT.

 

A week ago last night Jacob did a masterful job of laying out the arguments over the ages for a dead Jesus. But they all FAIL because of THE FACTS.

Never mind the Eye Witness testimony of people who saw Him die, dead and buried, then alive, speaking, walking, eating, teaching.
Eye witnesses,(the pinnacle of courtroom testimony) many of whom were still alive at the writing of the Gospel accounts! 
And very able to immediately speak up and say, “NOT SO FAST THERE!”

 

Never mind the Disciples themselves who were one minute cowering in the upper room corner for fear that they were going to be next on the Jewish leaders’ list!  And the next minute, they’re standing in the open Temple Square proclaiming a Risen Jesus, whom they must Proclaim and Obey over the temple authorities and Romans.  On pain of imprisonment and beating.  How do you explain that?

 

And what about the soldiers?

1)    Roman’s don’t sleep on duty – they die if they do!

2)    Disciples who are fearing for their lives don’t move rocks and steal bodies – not these anyway! 

3)    So … WHO MOVED THE STONE?  Just Google that question!!  I dare you.

 

And finally, what about the Body itself?  No Jesus has been found in any tomb… EVER. 

WHY?

ALLELUIA !!  ALLELUIA!   THE LORD IS RISEN.

THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED.  ALLELUIA!   ALLELUIA!!

 

The Lord is Risen … Indeed!  In Truth and in the flesh!   He was raised Bodily from the dead!  He cooked and ate fish and bread, and they were able to touch His wounds.

For 40 days in all kinds of places and with all numbers of people Jesus appeared alive and well.  Can we say that this was the Disciples’ A HA MOMENT?

I’d love to say FINALLY, they got it!

But not really.  On the morning of His Ascension, they were still questioning him about his plans to overthrow Rome and set up His own Kingdom!  They never REALLY got it until they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit Himself on Pentecost!

The period from the Ascension to Pentecost – what we call the “Ten Days Together in the Upper Room” followed by the Day of Pentecost had to be the most soul searching, prayerful, desperate days of anticipation and questioning. 

Ask …   Seek …   Knock!  God will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit;  the gift My Father promised; the Well springing up within you!

Can you imagine? 

40 days with Jesus … alive in your midst.  Walking, teaching, one-on-one time, Thomas’s “come-to-Jesus meeting”.  “MY LORD AND MY GOD!”

Blessed are those who have not seen yet they believe!

 

That’s us friends.

The proofs, the reasonableness of the FACTS of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, are in my mind irrefutable to the rational mind and to faith (even faith as small as a mustard seed, like Jesus said.)

Paul tells us that this belief:  That Jesus was risen from the dead is at the absolute center of our salvation and that our confession of this belief with our mouth is equally central to our salvation. 

THE LORD IS RISEN!        THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!!  

Did anyone here have to cross your fingers when you said that second part?

If so… Google “whomovedthestone?” and read about it in detail.  Book has been around since 1930!

AND SO…

If you can answer:  The LORD IS RISEN INDEED and you believe it in your heart, you are “saved.”  Everyone who “calls on the Name of the Lord, will be saved.”

But if you’ve never heard this before – or you’ve heard it but like Thomas and most of the other disciples, there is still doubt… still questions in the back of your mind. IT’S OK!! Jesus did not throw Thomas away here!  Peter could not walk on the water all the way, and later denied Jesus (while they were face to face in the courtyard of the High Priest’s house!)  

Please, please, let someone know;    me or another Christian friend.  Call or text me.  Don’t just ignore your questions?   READ UP!!  FIND OUT, for your sake!

This is heaven or hell.   Answer the question:  WHO MOVED THE STONE?

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD AND IT’S MEANING FOR YOU AND FOR LIVING YOUR LIFE FROM NOW ON?

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death, and brought us into the kingdom of your beloved Son: Grant that, as by his death he has called us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.