The Ultimate Story of Triumph; Easter 2019; Matthew 28:1-10

Rev. George Miller
April 21, 2019
Matthew 28:1-10

If you’ve been paying attention to this week’s news, you’d notice that there’s been quite a few stories about triumph.

In the sports world, Tiger Woods winning The Masters after an 11-year losing streak.

For animal lovers, the dog rescued after being found swimming 135 miles off of Thailand.

For veterans, the Marine who ran a marathon in honor of his fallen comrades, whose legs gave out, and crawled the final 100 yards to the finish line.

Even with the news about Notre Dame, we have the images of citizens rallying around the building to sing “Ava Marie,” the record-breaking donations, and the pledge to rebuild in 5 years.

There is something so empowering about the human and animal spirit to overcome, move past and to triumph.

Today, we celebrate the ultimate story of triumph- the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The last time we met, we experienced a bleak, hopeless reality.

Jesus, who we have been following since before he was even born, had entered Jerusalem.

In a series of events, he was betrayed by Judas. Arrested by the authorities. Deserted by the disciples. Denied by Peter. Handed over by the government to be crucified.

Jesus has been brutally murdered, humiliated, and shamed.

That baby boy born into poverty that we welcomed in the manger on Christmas morn, has died the enemy of the state, a common criminal.

Just another statistic.

Just another brown skinned man who got what he deserved, and would’ve been fine if he had just done what the authorities had asked…

…but then something happened.

Something Jesus had predicted, something he had promised, something that no one believed, until they too experienced it 1st hand-

He had been raised, and it was God who raised Jesus from the grave.

And not just any god, mind you, but the One True God.

The God who had moved over the waters of chaos and said “Let there be light!”, and there was light, and life, and lemons.

The God who looked down upon a family surrounded by a great flood, and remembered them and placed a rainbow in the sky.

The God who saw a runaway female slave and gave her not just a cool drink of water, but a purpose and a promise.

The God who heard the cries of the Hebrews and set them free by separating the Sea.

The God who gave words to a beautiful Jewish queen so that she could save her people from total annihilation.

The God who had the prophet Micah remind us that what God wants, what God really, really wants, is for us to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with the Lord.

The God who used Jesus to call us blessed, to be our friend, and to thank us for feeding, clothing, caring for, and watching over one another.

That’s the God who raised Jesus from the grave; that’s the God whose Good News triumphs over death, destruction, and desolation.

Today we celebrate that Jesus was raised, it was God who raised him.

Jesus was raised and it was God who found a way out of no way.

Jesus was raised and it was God who made sure the message would be sent out for the world to know.

The authorities tried to silence Jesus, but God said “Oh no, my Son has so much more to say!”

The courts and the government tried to kill him, but God said “Oh no, my Son embodies the true Law and Way of the land!”

The world tried to end him, but God said “Oh no, child; this is just the beginning! Just you watch.”

“Watch as I use these 2 women to tell these 11 men who will tell a city, who will tell a nation, who will tell the world that He is Risen.”

“Watch as your children, and your children’s children, and your children’s children’s children will say to the whole world ‘Christ has risen! He is not dead!’”

You see-the world may tell you that you’re past your prime, but the Resurrection says “Just keep swinging!”

The world will tell you you’re too far out at sea, but the Resurrection says “Just keep swimming!”

The world will tell you that it’s all over the moment you fall down, but the Resurrection says “Crawl if you have to, but by God finish the race!”

The world may see nothing but embers and smoke, but the Resurrection says “Sing out to the Lord! Come together as One, and look to the future, because honey- you ain’t seen anything yet!”

For that, we can say “Amen!”