Sermon Archive
Signs of Resurrection
Sermon preached by Clephane Hume at Holy Communion on 18 April 2004, Low Sunday
Acts 5.27-32 ; Revelation 1.4-8 ; John 20.19-31
No choir, lots of people away for the local holiday, it all adds to the feeling of Low Sunday. At Christmas time the momentum carries on but now we have no New Year to lift us. But if you think about it, life cannot be lived on a high all the time, or we would never understand what happiness really means.
And in any case why should this be a time of lowness - we are Easter people. Not the disciples trying to re-establish their lives without Jesus. We are the ones who know about the joy of the resurrection. The wonderful imagery of the Book of Revelation describes Angels singing 'glory and praise and honour for ever', - crying 'worthy is the Lamb' - Jesus - a wonderful picture of enduring celebration and thankfulness.
If we stop to reflect, we can find examples of resurrection in our day to day lives and I'll return to that idea later.
Meanwhile, in our consideration of the events following the first Easter day, the gospel tells us that Jesus appears to his disciples after they had returned to their homes to try to pick up their lives again after all the events of the preceding days. We are told that the door of the house was locked. They were frightened and had been making attempts to secure themselves against their persecutors.
Do we think this means that Jesus walked through a locked door? Nothing, after all, is impossible for God. But it doesn't actually say that - merely that he came to the disciples while they were together. Jesus comes to fulfil his words 'I will come to you again' and to commission his disciples to their work of healing and preaching. They were overjoyed to see him.
Thomas, always literal in his outlook, doubts the news that he receives from his fellow apostles. Not having been there to see for himself, perhaps he thought that in their state of bereavement, they were confused, deprived of sleep, or even intoxicated. Or perhaps he desperately wants to believe, but is safeguarding himself against disappointment. So he questions whether this really is Jesus. Which seems very understandable. Most of us like to be certain about what we are seeing or doing before committing ourselves to anything.
St John appears to understand our difficulties. So he writes that Jesus returns once more, and gives Thomas the chance to see for himself the marks of the nails and the wounds in his side. But it is also recorded that Jesus said, 'blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' That is faith. Belief without proof. For faith doesn't need facts.
But in order to get the message across to his readers, in his conclusion, St John specifically states that these are just some examples of the miraculous signs, which happened after Jesus rose from the dead, recorded so that we may believe. Other things happened and were witnessed by the disciples, but these examples are to provide evidence for us. To strengthen our faith.
The later book of Acts records that as witnesses to the resurrection, attempting to spread the good news, the Apostles were put before the Sanhedrin. Doubtless any upsurge of potential rebellion or subversive activity was to be severely quashed before there could be any more trouble. But they were all by then convinced of what had happened. Jesus had come back to them. They had not lost him. And that was something they had to tell the world. That we have to tell the world.
If there had been no resurrection there would have been no church. The drama of the Passion would have been as it is in Mel Gibson's film - unexplained in terms of the Christian faith. A bloody crucifixion, but for what purpose? A working out of mankind's more brutal tendencies? If you didn't know the story, Gibson's film could be interpreted as merely an episode of gory cinema - but I'm not going to get sidetracked into my opinions about that.
So the Disciples were persecuted and left standing alone. Sam may understand that feeling. He is being admitted to communion today. And it is daunting to be the only one, because he was away at Easter when the other children were admitted to communion. But Sam has a family who will support him. I remember, from my schooldays, his great grandfather, who was a bishop, so he has a firm foundation of faith. And his family will tell him that although life can be difficult and challenging at times, we can also see examples of hope in our day to day lives. Signs of new life.
I always think that Easter in autumn, or in a country without spring would be dreadful. For the signs of new growth so eminently visible all around us help our understanding.
This year there are other signs. It is ten years since the people of South Africa gained their democratic right to vote, and the country became one of free people. The recent elections do not hide the difficulties which have ensued, but they show how the country has developed. Risen from the dark days.
On Good Friday morning I did something that I would never normally consider unless I was ill or stuck in an airport lounge - I sat down and watched TV. A compelling programme introduced by John Bell, providing examples of the Good Friday experiences of people in South Africa during the time of apartheid, and more recently because of AIDS, but all with demonstrations of how people had overcome their difficulties and gone on to new lives. It was a profoundly moving programme, and one which gave plenty scope for thought on that particular day.
But what does this say to others today? The children being bought and sold in Nigeria and other countries. The Palestinians in the face of the change of policy by the USA earlier this week? The people caught up in the ongoing struggles in Iraq? Will they in time find the meaning of the resurrection? We must pray that they will.
Death causes feelings of bereavement, and traumatic death even more so. But it is always impressive to witness what human strength and courage can overcome. Those who struggle with loss do not have the joy of the resurrection to sustain them - in the same way as Jesus returning to the disciples. But faith is of course of great comfort to those who have it.
We as Christians are charged with the responsibility of sharing the news of eternal life with others. Like news reporters, the gospel writers give different interpretations of what has happened, but the basic message is the same - the risen Lord is alive and with us now, and forever. He has conquered evil and our sins are forgiven. So we have confidence to reaffirm our faith later in this service.
The current best seller list includes a book with the title 'Change your life in 7 days.'
I suggest to you that Holy week and Easter are 7 days that changed your life. Rejoice! And like the angels, give praise.
In the words of Desmond Tutu:
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours through Him who loves us.
An African Prayer Book, ed. Desmond Tutu (p80)
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