OPENING PRAYER:

O Lord, as we worship in this place, help us to feel the presence of the risen Christ in our midst. Bless us even in the midst of our doubts. Even as our lives are centered around the events and demands of our time, help us to encounter you as you break into our lives. Bless us in the struggle we may have with our faith, even when it is you that we wrestle with. For we pray this in the name of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Easter Service at SMCC

So, it's a week and a half after Easter and we're having an Easter service. Some of you may be wondering why. After all, nobody ever heard of having a Christmas worship service a week and a half after Christmas, right? Or a Thanksgiving worship service a week and a half after Thanksgiving? Or a birthday party a week and a half after the birthday? So, why have an Easter worship service a week afer Easter? Well, the answer is this: It's still Easter! In fact, Christians celebrate the Easter season for fifty days – a period of seven weeks. And during that time we celebrate the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead and we read scriptures from the Bible about how that wonderful miracle affected the lives of those who followed him and witnessed his presence with them before he ascended into Heaven.

So, really! That's what we're gathered here today to do – to remember and even to celebrate the wonderful event of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, it is our job to ask the very important question: So what?! And I don't mean that question in a flippant or sassy way. Rather, the question, "So what?!" is a good question for us to ask about the resurrection, especially if asking that question causes us to try to find the answer to that question. Because there is an answer to "So what if Jesus rose from the dead?". For the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ points to some very important things that can make a big difference in our own attitudes, in our outlook on life, in how we may think about ourselves, our friends, our teachers, our families, and everybody else.

"So what?" So what if Jesus rose up from the dead? What's in it for us? How's that supposed to make any difference in our lives?

Well, perhaps the scripture lessons we have heard this morning may give us a clue to the answer to "So what?". Were you paying attention? Were you listening when the angel and Mary and Jesus were portrayed in the song that was sung about Mary's recognition of Jesus in the garden on the morning of the resurrection? Were you awake when the scripture about poor old doubting Thomas was read – about how he had to see and even feel the marks in Jesus' hands before he could believe? And do you still remember the story that was told by the readers this morning who related the story from the New Testament of how two disciples met the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus? Each of those accounts help us to answer the question, "So what?!"

So what? What was the problem with Mary Magdalene on that Easter Sunday morning? She went to the tomb of Our Lord Jesus and didn't find what she was looking for. She had expected o find the body of her Master lying in the tomb. Her job was to be Jesus' mortician. Have you ever heard it explained that way, before? But, it is true. That was the work of women back then. To them fell the duty of preparing the bodies of loved ones for burial. And, because Jesus' body had been taken down just before the Sabbath there had been no time for anyone to do a proper preparation.

So, here, it was the third day after his death. And Mary had gone to the tomb with the other women expected to find Jesus' body and smell the odor of death. But, that's not what they got, is it? What did they get? You know what they got! An empty tomb with mysterious messengers telling them that Jesus wasn't there.

But what did Mary do? She didn't know what it all meant. She couldn't even begin to ask the question, "So what?" Instead, she was asking other questions, like, "What in the world is going on?" "Where's Jesus?" "Where have they taken his body?" And she asked these questions as she stood there in the garden of the resurrection with tears in her eyes – afraid – unknowing – unsure – and feeling quite alone.

But, you know what the amazing thing is, here? And it is amazing, I tell you! Are you listening? What's amazing is that while Mary was asking all these desperate questions she wasn't alone. For Jesus was with her there. In fact, she thought he was a gardener, just a guy taking care of the flowers. And, so, she was asking him the questions because she didn't know who he was.

So, what?! The answer is this: This is the way it happens in our own lives over and over again. When faced with frustration or fear or the unknown or uncertainty and we feel all alone what do we do? What do we do? What did Mary Magdalene do? She cried. She panicked. Who knows what other things she might have done. But Jesus was there for her. And that's something that this story teaches us: Jesus is there for you and for me, as well, no matter what. No matter how bad it might get. No matter how awful you may feel. No matter what you may think other people are saying about you. Jesus is there for you – in sickness or in health, at the death of a loved one, in the midst of hurts, or even when you are at the height of your joys – Jesus is there for you.

And that's what Mary Magdalene learned as she stood there in the garden looking for Jesus' body.

"So, what?!" We witnessed, this morning, the story told by our readers about how two disciples were joined on the road to Emmaus by a strange traveler. The disciples hadn't heard the news about the resurrection. Here it was late in the afternoon of Easter day and their thoughts were still on the crucifixion of our Lord.

Isn't that the way it is? When you think about Easter, what is it that you think about the most? The crucifixion or the resurrection or both? I mean, you couldn't have had the resurrection without the crucifixion. But, really, when we think about Easter we should be struck with the significance of what happened that day! Jesus rose from the dead! He defeated death! And he walked around and even met two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

And here these two guys were, Easter evening, and they were talking about how Jesus had died. Like Mary Magdalene, they didn't realize that Jesus was right there – there for them – as they traveled down that road. And he walked with them and talked with them. And when they stopped for supper he even broke bread with them. And wouldn't you know that it was then that they realized who he was – when he broke the bread?

"So, what?!" Well, that's the way it is with us, isn't it? How many times have you walked down this road of life and bumped into Jesus and not even known it was him? Have many times has Jesus walked at your side, listening to your pain, or beckoning you to follow, or asking for your help and you didn't know it was him? And so you let go of the moment, or you turned him away, or you ignored him. It happens. It's happened to me.

The trick is to recognize the moment that Jesus is there – in the face of someone in need, perhaps? In the voice of someone offering a better way for you to go as you journey through life? In the gentle presence of someone willing to listen to your story, perhaps? You never know when Jesus will come into your life. And will you know him when he does?

"So, what?!" I do keep asking that question, don't I? So, what! What difference does it make? Well, it does make a difference to know that Jesus is with you – walking with you – here for you. I mean, it does make a difference, doesn't it?

The disciple, Thomas, experienced the risen Lord in a very radical way. He had told his friends that unless he could see the wounds and actually touch them with his hands he could never believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. How can you believe something you can't see?

You know, there are many things that you and I believe, but cannot see. Do you believe in DNA simply because someone told you about DNA? Do you have faith in oxygen because someone has convinced you that there is such a thing? Oh, yeah, sure! A handful of scientists have claimed to have proved the existence of DNA and oxygen, but are you going to believe them? Or do you have to see it to believe it? Why do you believe these funny things that your teachers tell you? How do you know the world isn't flat? Have you been around the world? How do you know men have been on the moon? Have you been there? How do you know that a guy with a funny name like Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492? None of us were around back then! And, yet, we believe – as strange as these things are.

And, yet, when someone tells us that Jesus rose up from the dead are we like Thomas who doubted that such a thing could happen? Do we insist on being there before we can accept it? Or can we believe what the Bible says about Jesus, just like we believe our teachers who tell us about black holes and quasars and galaxies that are four billion light years away?

Thomas doubted. So what?! You know, it really is OK to doubt? But, you know what? With Jesus walking at your side, talking with you, nagging at you, pointing the direction you should take, carrying your loads, sooner or later, every once in a while, maybe for a minute or two, or for five minutes, or for an hour, Jesus gets through those doubts. And when he does you don't forget it. It's then that you have to have faith, not only the in Bible, and in the teachings of the church, and your in teachers, but in your experience about Jesus, as well.

Do you know that Jesus is here for you?

Mary Magdalene knew it before she left that garden of the resurrection. And do you know that Jesus is walking with you, even now? Those two disciples knew it at the breaking of the bread. And do you know that Jesus can break through your doubts, no matter how strong you think they are? Just give him some time. Listen to his voice. He's risen from the dead. And he's here for you. Happy Easter.

Amen.

CLOSING PRAYER:

O Lord, as we go off to finish a day full of classes and learning, help us to find you in the needs of others, in the good advice of friends and teachers, and in the love of family and friends. Help us to wrestle with our doubts and strengthen us in the encounter. In name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.