Seeing Clearly

John 20:1-18

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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.

  

Seeing Clearly

John 20:1-18
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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; no more Death; no more futility; no more grief and sickness.  Just everything healed and filled with the glory of 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 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.  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 stretched out before me like a blanket as far as I could see.  I could see it clearly.  My Dad was my best friend.  That moment I knew everything would be all right.  God had set that moment up for me just to tell me that.

This morning we gather for worship.  It’s Easter morning and God wants you know everything is going to be all right.

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 the 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 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.

As those who see clearly now, we must live as those who have hope; real hope.  As Paul tells, “…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 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.

Return to Eden

John 20:1-18

We are all familiar with the Bible’s story of humanity’s beginning in the Garden of Eden.  God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden with the instruction not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil les they die.  God would also come around daily in the cool of the evening to visit with them.  It’s a very idyllic scene of unhindered fellowship between God and us.  But then, a serpent tricks Eve into eating the fruit and brutish and dull Adam joins her.  They suddenly loose their innocence, become ashamed, and begin to hide from God.  When God comes to visit that evening he discovers what they had done and banishes them from Eden lest they also eat of the Tree of Life and their diseased state go on forever. 

Among the consequences of their actions are death and the loss of face-to-face, daily fellowship with God ended.  Their relationship with the LORD God is distant and they no longer meet with him face to face.  Their own relationship becomes strained with a lack of equality.  Eve has pain in childbirth.  Adam must toil at his work.  And most traumatic of all, this spiritual disease they now have, which we call Sin, passes to the next generation and becomes all the more vile.  Their oldest son Cain murders their youngest Son, Abel, over a religious dispute.  The murdering continues into the next generations and they start to build those dastardly cities.

That’s the beginning of humanity’s story in and out of the Garden of Eden.  In John’s Gospel, the way John tells the story of Jesus he reverses all this.  He claims humanity has had a new beginning in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and also there is a return to Eden.  

Towards the end of John’s Gospel we find Jesus and his disciples spending a lot of time in the Garden of Gethsemane, time reminiscent of the unhindered fellowship that Eve and Adam spent with God in Eden in the cool of the evening.  This Garden fellowship abruptly ends when Judas the betrayer brings the Temple police and a Roman cohort to arrest Jesus.  This time the banishment is dramatically different for now.  This time it is humanity banishing God from the Garden and condemning God to death.  The powers of evil embodied in a collusion of religious authority and empire crucify Jesus at the execution grounds just outside the walls of the “Holy City” of Jerusalem.  Then two secret disciples of Jesus from among the wealthy religious elite do right by him and take and bury his body in a Garden tomb.  Is this the end of God and his Garden?  Has sin-diseased humanity finally done its worst?

(I’m sure the science fiction writers who first heard John’s Gospel are expecting a Black Hole to open in the tomb and all of creation to start spiralling in towards it’s ultimate and final destruction.)

Well, that’s Friday.  Then there’s Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, the day of rest.  Jesus’ body lies dead in the tomb.  Our confessions state that he descended into Hell to proclaim release to the captives there.  Then, Sunday morning comes.  Sunday in the early church was called the Eighth Day, the first day of the New Creation.  On this day, as Paul says it in first few verses of Romans, God the Father publically declared Jesus to be the Son of God in accordance with the Holy Spirit by raising him from the dead in that Garden Tomb.

Early that morning Mary Magdalene who obviously held great affection for Jesus goes to the tomb.  (It’s okay to think about Eve here)  She finds the stone rolled away.  Not looking in and fearing the worst she runs and gets Peter and the beloved disciple (could be either John or Lazarus).  They sprint back to the Garden Tomb to find it empty with the burial linens lying about and the head cloth placed rather neatly aside.  Not knowing what to think the two men leave the Garden and go home.  (It’s okay to think dull Adam here.)

Yet, Mary, a very distraught Mary, (unlike Adam and Eve hiding in shame) stays behind in the Garden and is weeping near inconsolably.  Then a man whom she thinks is the Gardener comes and tries to console her.  She explains and pleads if he might know where Jesus’ body might be.  The Gardener calls her by name.  “Mary!”  She realizes it is Jesus and calls him by what was probably her pet name for her beloved Rabbi.  “Rabouni!”  Fellowship between God and humanity is restored.  Mary, symbolic of Christian fellowship, the new Eve and Jesus the New Adam have returned humanity to Eden. 

Jesus tells her not to cling to him because he had yet to ascend and be enthroned as Lord at the right hand of the Father, but to go and tell the others.  This she does.  She goes and tells them, “I have seen the Lord.”  I like how the Greek sounds here.  “Heoraka ton Kurion!”  It’s kind of like “Eureka!”  It means she literally had seen him.  It was not some sort of mystical experience.

What does this mean for us?  Jesus’ disciples (that includes us) gathered for prayer and study, worship and fellowship are now where Eden can be found.  When we gather, the LORD God is walking in our midst in the cool of the evening.  Personal devotion time is also time spent face-to-face with the LORD God in the Garden.  In fact Garden fellowship with the LORD God can be anytime and anywhere.  But, we aren’t meant to simply tarry in the Garden.  Like Mary, we are not to cling to him.  We who have seen the Lord bear the onus to go and tell others that the Garden is now open.  Especially we are to proclaim that Jesus is indeed Lord.  Idolatry, Empire, and Death are now his captives.  Amen.