(Matthew 28: 1-10)
Back when I was practicing criminal defense in Smith County, Texas, I tried many, many cases, most of which I cannot recall in any great detail. There are a few that still stand out for various reasons related to the particular facts of the case, usually the nature of the crime or the surrounding circumstances making it more memorable than others. I remember one that was more memorable for the client than the particular facts of the case. He was an older black man who had been charged with assaulting a police officer. A crime that carried a range of punishment of no less than two years or more than ten years in prison, if I remember correctly. No weapon was used and, fortunately the officer wasn’t seriously injured, if at all.
My client wasn’t all that remarkable as he was black, poor, and in jail which pretty much described a large portion of my client base as I was one of three defense attorneys appointed to this particular court tasked with representing indigent defendants. The State of Texas wasn’t offering much in the form of a plea bargain, so we decided to go to trial. As with most of my clients, I spent quite a bit of time visiting them in jail, and this client was no different. What was different about him was that I had given him a New Testament entitled: Here’s Hope, that I carried in my briefcase, which he spent a lot of time reading. He told me he had several different New Testaments and that he liked to compare what one said to the others as he tried to get a clear understanding of his readings. Most of our visits involved discussions of the New Testament and not the defense of his impending criminal case. I seemed to be more worried in the outcome than he was. After almost a year we finally got to trial. The trial lasted several days, and the State put its full weight into the case as its victim was a police officer. In the usual course of a jury trial there are many breaks in the action in which the client usually asks how things are going, if they are winning, and when can they go home. As I said, this case was different in that during the breaks my client would resume a previous conversation regarding a New Testament passage, or about one he read overnight. I noticed that the judge would watch us during these breaks in the trial and was intently listening in on our Biblical exchanges. What’s worth noting about this judge is that we both attended Bible Study Fellowship, so I’m sure he was curious as to how these discussions related to my client’s legal defense, and why I wasn’t focused on the case at hand. They didn’t. My client had questions and needed someone to explain things to him and truthfully answer his questions.
And that’s where we find ourselves in our scripture reading for this morning. After the sabbath, at the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid. Suddenly, we are told, there came a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came and rolled back the stone covering the entrance to the tomb. This sudden appearance of the angel so startled the two guards guarding the tomb that they became like dead men. I suspect they flat out fainted. The angel said to the women; Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you. So, the two Marys quickly leave the tomb with fear and great joy running to tell the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, Greetings! And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them; Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me. And, we know from later texts in the other gospels, that a couple of the disciples ran to the tomb to see for themselves, to get some answers and all they found was an empty tomb and no answers.
And, this is where people, non-believers and searchers get confused. How can it end with an empty tomb? Jesus was just getting started. And, this is where we’re fortunate. We have the eyewitness accounts of those who saw Jesus after his resurrection, and we have the writings of the New Testament to read, compare and discuss with others who maybe can answer our questions. Or help us answer their questions.
Fortunately, Peter was one of the two disciples who ran to the empty tomb that morning to see for himself, and through Peter we have a better understanding of the meaning of the empty tomb and why it was not an end, but just the beginning. In the 10th chapter of the Book of Acts, verses 34-43, Peter travels to the home of a Roman Centurion named Cornelius. Cornelius was a god-fearing man, but he wanted to know more about the God of Israel. So, Peter begins to speak to those gathered in Cornelius’ home saying; I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Peter tells them that he and many others were witnesses to what Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem, that they were there for the crucifixion, and that God raised him on the third day allowing him to appear to a chosen few who ate and drank with him. Peter says that Jesus commanded them to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. This had to have had quite an impact on Cornelius, his household and gathered friends. Finally, some answers.
Peter is telling the household of Cornelius the Roman Centurion and us that Jesus died for everyone, for every nation, and that he is not dead. Through his resurrection, he lives, and his message of peace, love, joy and mercy is spreading. Through Peter, God makes it clear that the Good News of Christ is for everyone, and we should not allow any barrier; language, culture, race, geography, economic level, or educational level, keep us from telling others about Christ, even an old black man in the county jail charged with assaulting a police officer.
God is not just the God of the United States. He is the God of every nation where people are restless for God, ready to receive the gospel, but someone must take it to them. Seeking God is not enough, people must find him. And, how then shall seekers find God without some to point the way? The Apostle Paul asks in Romans 10: 14, 15; How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
At the very end of Matthew 28, when the 11 disciples meet Jesus in Galilee as they were told to do by the two Marys, we are told that when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. Jesus came to them and gave them the Great Commission, saying; All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
And, we are to go, whether it is next door or to another country, the county jail, and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. It is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus “Lord.” We may not all have that formal training, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission, we all have a story to share because we know Jesus lives, and it’s because he lives that we can face tomorrow, that all fear is gone, that he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives.
Please pray with me.
Gracious and loving God, how grateful we are that you sent your Son who came to show us unconditional love, how to heal and how to forgive. He lived and died to buy our pardon, and an empty grave is there to prove our Savior lives. Because of his great sacrifice, we who believe, live a life worthy of all he gave, and we know that one day we’ll cross the river, after fighting life’s final war with pain, as death gives way to victory, and we see the lights of glory where we will live with him forever. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.
[H1]Ore