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There is a song I get in my head around Easter time. It’s Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now”. It’s about that moment of “I’m going to be all right” that eventually comes after your life has been utterly turned upside down with a loss. Sorry, I’m just going to have to sing it. If you know the words, join me.
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun shiny day
I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun shiny day
Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun shiny day
I like that song at Easter. Because it does what a worship service on Easter is supposed do – be a moment of seeing clearly; seeing that nothing is greater, nothing is more powerful than our living, loving, life-giving God who raised Jesus from the dead and started a New Creation that will one day blossom to be the whole creation filled to the brim with his glory. And just as God raised Jesus from the dead so will he raise us from the dead to live in the New Creation that is no longer diseased with Sin; and Evil will be no more; no more Death; no more futility; no more grief; no more sickness. Just everything healed and filled with the glory of our life-giving God.
I got a taste of seeing clearly one warm December Sunday morning in 1999. At about 4:30 that morning my brother called to tell me our Dad had finally gone to be with our Lord after a bought with cancer. With it being Sunday and kind of late in the game I didn’t want to have to back out of the church services I had to conduct in my charge down in West Virginia. Truth is I just wanted to be with God’s people that morning and worship. I did the main service in Marlinton and then had to head up Elk Mountain to one of my little churches, Mary’s Chapel.
With it being so warm that morning a fog had settled down in the bottom there in Marlinton. The road up Elk was a main road but it climbs pretty fast and has a lot of turns. I didn’t know what to expect with the fog going up the mountain. Would it be thick as pea soup or would I be able to see the road a little bit? Fortunately, it was the latter. About two-thirds up the mountain I drove out of the fog and the sun was bright and the sky was cloudless. There happened to be a fortuitously placed overlook there so I stopped and got out and had a look. It was absolutely beautiful. The leafless trees were glistening silver in the bright sunshine. The fog was now a cloud below me that stretched out like a blanket as far as I could see. I could see it clearly. My Dad was my best friend. He had died but at that moment looking out over glory, I knew everything would be all right. God had set that moment up for me just to tell me that.
Mary Magdalene, probably Jesus’ closest friend, went to Jesus’ tomb looking to be with him, to anoint his body, say “Good bye”, to cling to him. He wasn’t there. Instead, there are two angels and they ask, “Woman, why are you weeping? What are you looking for?”, as if she should have been expecting to find the tomb empty. I can’t imagine her shock. Then there’s a man standing behind her. She’s too shocked to see that he’s Jesus. “Where has he been taken?” She demands. “Mary!” the man says and she realizes this is Jesus. They have a moment meant for her alone. She goes back to the others and says, “I have seen the Lord.”
Occasionally, like Mary, we have moments with Jesus; moments in which we know he lives and so we will truly live; moments that he’s orchestrated just for us just to let us know that all things are in the hands of our loving Father in heaven and nothing, not even Death can separate us from that love. In these moments we sense that Jesus comes to us as he did with Mary. He calls us by name; he gets our attention in ways particular to us each…and we see clearly.
So also, in this moment now we see our Lord. Gathered here around this table. He is with us. His body given for us. His blood shed for us. His presence with us. We can see clearly now. God raised Jesus from the dead. We’ve nothing to fear.
This morning we gather for worship. It’s Easter morning and God with the help of Bob Marley has a message for us:
Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright!"
Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"
Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright!"
So, as those who see clearly now, we must live as those who have hope; real hope. As Paul said, “…be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.” In this world that is ate up with the futility of selfish ventures, we who see clearly of all people must conduct our lives in such ways as to give other people hope. It is very easy for us just to do our thing hoping the Lord will take care of us and bless us and those we love. But, Jesus doesn’t call us by name and give us clear sight for our own sake. As those who see clearly we must live our lives in such a way as to create a hope-filled vision of God’s New Creation Day coming for everyone to see. Amen.
