JOURNEY TO THE CROSS: LOOKING FOR JESUS

Sermon Notes, March 31, 2013

Pastor Jan Sinozich and Pastor Gary Smith

 

The Easter Sunday message was titled “Journey to the Cross: Looking for Jesus” and was based on John 20:1-18.  Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb while it is still dark, and sees that the stone has been rolled away.  She has questions—Where is Jesus?  Have they taken him away?  She runs back and tells the disciples.  Peter and John run to the tomb. John sees that it’s empty, and Peter goes right in.  Peter sees the linens, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head folded up nearby.  John remembers what Jesus had said, and believes.  Mary sees two angels in white and they question her—Why are you crying?

It’s a mystery.  A mystery has questions—and resolutions.  Where is Jesus?  It’s as if his body has evaporated.  We often ask “Where is Jesus?” when we have difficulties: health problems, mortgage foreclosure, bankruptcy, a wayward child.  Mary is looking for death in a cemetery; Jesus is not there.  Her natural assumption is that his body has been stolen.  She turns around when someone asks, “Who are you looking for?”  She doesn’t recognize him, thinks he is the gardener.  Then he calls her name, “Mary.”  And she knows it is Jesus. 

He tells her “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet returned to the Father.  Go tell my brothers I’m returning to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”  He’s saying “Don’t hold on to me in an earthly way.  I’m coming back in a way I can be with you all the time.”  Mary goes back to the disciples again, saying “I have seen the Lord!”

Where is He?  Are we trying to hold on to Jesus the human being as Mary did? He’s as close as the breeze.  He’s with us here, right now.  He knows your name.  We can say with Mary “I have seen the Lord!”