3 Theories about Thomas

We find ourselves in the twentieth chapter of John, verses twenty-four through twenty-nine. Prior to our reading, the resurrected Jesus appeared to ten of the disciples. The two who were missing were Judas Iscariot, the one who had betrayed Jesus. By this time, he had committed suicide. The other absent disciple was Thomas. We do not know where Thomas was, but we know where he should have been. He should have been with the other disciples experiencing the resurrected Jesus. The other disciples told him about their experience, but their words were not enough. Thomas responds with these famous words, found in verse twenty-five, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” He must have regretted those words. For generations, people have judged Thomas for them.

Except for Judas Iscariot no other disciple has been judged more harshly by history than Thomas. It is unfair. His life was more than that a single sentence. Just think about it for a moment. Thomas was selected by Jesus, himself, to be one of the disciples. That means he traveled with Jesus for three years. He heard the lessons. He felt his authority. He saw his miracles. He was excited on Palm Sunday and devastated on Good Friday. Tradition tells us after Pentecost, he went to India to evangelize about Jesus. Even his death had meaning. Tradition tells us, he died in service to the Lord, martyred with a spear. He had an incredible life, but we remember him for one sentence, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” Why is it, we all remember those negative words? Could it be that we all point to that one moment of doubt because it was the one moment, we are the most like Thomas? You are not the first person to wrestle with doubt, and you will not be the last. However, this is the question of the day:

Why did Thomas doubt? Throughout the centuries, many have tried to answer that question. I have my theories. Maybe you have your theories? James W. Moore (1938-2019) was an author and the pastor of the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas for many years and he had his theories. In this blog, I want to look at his theories – I believe they have some merit. They speak to me; I hope they speak to you too.

This is theory number one: Thomas doubted because he had dropped out. In other words, Thomas had some doubts because Thomas was not present, so he doubted. That is worth considering. We still see it today. How many people do you know question the resurrected Jesus, because they have dropped out of church? For that reason, many have a poor personal theology. They simple don’t understand God’s ways.

How many church dropouts do you know? I cannot blame them 100% of the time. The church is made up of imperfect people, so the church is not a perfect institution. Truth be told, there are times churches are downright ugly. We fight amongst ourselves. We gossip about one another. There are times when small groups like to run the whole show. There have been times when pastors do some horrible things. I know those things, but I also know this: there is no excuse for dropping out of church. Despite all our problems, church is still the best place to learn about God. If you do not go to church, then where do you learn about God? If you are not going to church, then you are self-taught. For a short time, Thomas dropped out. Church dropouts are missing the whole Christian experience. No wonder they have doubts and questions. They simply do not know God’s ways.

This is theory number two: Thomas doubted because he gave in. In other words, Thomas had some doubts because he let science become the final answer. You cannot really blame him, the resurrection of Jesus is hard to believe because it is a miracle! It cannot be explained by science. If you do not believe in miracles, then you cannot believe in the resurrection. Do you know anyone who says people who believe in miracles are foolish, uninformed or uneducated? Do you know anyone who has given in?

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the chief writer of the Declaration of Independence and Third President of the United States, gave into science. He was a deist. In other words, he believed in God, but God never broke natural law. For this reason, he had his Bible re-written. He wanted everything that could not be scientifically explained eliminated. Just think about it for a moment. Just think of the things Jefferson rejected. He dismissed the virgin birth, the healing stories, and the resurrection. In my opinion, that dismissed him from the Christian faith. Your belief in the resurrection of Jesus is not optional, it is mandatory. I have seen copies of Jefferson’s Bible. It is approximately one-third the size of our Bible.

I hope you do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that science is bad. I believe it is one of the paths to truth and knowledge. However, I do not believe it is the only path to truth and knowledge. Some of the most powerful forces in our world today cannot be explained by science. Can you give me the scientific formula for love, honesty, courage, faith, goodness, or humility. There is not a scientific explanation for patience, self-control, or kindness. You cannot put mercy or grace into a test tube. Those things cannot be scientifically explained, but we see examples of those things every day. Perhaps Thomas doubted because he gave in to science? Science is good, but it is not the final answer. The final answer is always God. Perhaps Thomas doubted because he dropped out or gave in.

This is theory number three: Thomas doubted because he gave up. In other words, Thomas had some doubts because he let death be the final answer. The scripture does not tell us where Thomas was when Jesus appeared to the others. However, I have a good guess. I believe he was doing what many do when they are upset. They walk to get some fresh air, clear their minds, and think. If you use your sanctified imagination, you can see him walking down every back street of Jerusalem. He is trying to answer the question, “How did it go so wrong, so fast?” As he walked, he couldn’t believe it was over. He was devastated. He thought it was over when Jesus died! However, he was wrong. It was not over. It was just the beginning. Why? Because Jesus was not dead. He had been resurrected; he was alive! Do you know anyone who lets death have the final word? Do you know anyone who has given up?

The other day, we observed the 30^th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. You remember the ugly story. On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh (1968-2001) attacked the federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. I remember that day. The picture that caught my attention from that day was of a firefighter carrying a little girl away from the destruction. We found out later that the little girl was one year old. She celebrated her first and only birthday the day prior to the bombing. Reporters asked that little girl’s mother, “How can you go on?” She responded, “The only thing that keeps me going is the fact that my little girl is in heaven. Someday, I am going to see her again.” Can you relate to that mother? Your life would come to a grinding halt, if not for the belief that you will see your loved one again? Perhaps Thomas doubted because he was overcome with grief. Never forget! Death is not the final answer. The final answer is Jesus! I do not know why Thomas doubted, but he did. Do not be hard on him. We all have questions and doubts. Let me end with this story.

Years ago, I received a phone call from a young man by the name of Derrick. He was a student at Youngstown State University who was enrolled in a religion class. His assignment was to call a minister in the area and ask some questions. I was more than happy to answer his questions. However, before the first question was asked Derrick wanted to make a confession. He said, “Rev. Adams, I don’t want to scare you, but I have some questions and doubts about Christianity.” I said, “Derrick, the fact that you have questions and doubts doesn’t scare me. The only ones who frighten me are the people that say they have all the answers.” Voltaire (1694-1778) said, “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” So, accept your doubts and ask your questions. They are a sign of a growing faith.

Because You Believe

We find ourselves in the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew. Much has already happened. It is impossible to summarize everything in a few words. It will have to suffice to say, Jesus was dead, executed Roman style on the previous Friday. He was crucified between two common criminals. The picture was not pretty. It is difficult to hear the details all these years later. However, Jesus was lucky in two ways: first, Jesus died quickly. Some lingered much longer on the cross; second, it was not uncommon for the crucified to be taken down and thrown into a pile of lifeless corpses; their bodies would be eaten by buzzards or wild dogs. Not so with Jesus. Arrangements were made by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus that Jesus’ body would be taken down and placed in a new tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to contain the smell and to protect it from thieves. The Roman government was persuaded by Jesus’ enemies to place guards in front of the tomb to eliminate any future problems. This was all done by dark on Friday because the law prohibited any burials on the Sabbath. Once this was completed, Jesus’ loved ones grieved because Jesus was dead! That takes us to our reading.

According to our story, early Sunday morning, Jesus received his first visitors – two women with the same first name. There is Mary Magdalene and another Mary. They were the supporting characters in a scene that would change the world. Three miraculous things happened. First, there was an earthquake. Only Matthew mentions this earthquake, but this earthquake is worth mentioning because it reveals to us that God had done something truly special. Second, the giant stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. Third, it was announced Jesus had been resurrected. According to verse three, it is made by an angel, whose clothes were white as snow, symbolizing purity. The angel tells the women about the resurrection, but the women experience the resurrected Jesus for themselves in verse nine. In time, Jesus would appear to others, including the disciples. It is important that at some time in your life, you have experienced the resurrected Jesus too.

Jesus was not the only one to be resurrected in the Bible. There are stories in both the Old and the New Testaments about others being resurrected. There are no fewer than eight, Lazarus being the most noteworthy. However, Jesus’ resurrection is different. The others had human fathers. Jesus was the son of God. That means the baby in the manger at Christmas and the man on the cross on Good Friday are the same. Jesus was the incarnation of God, who not just became one of us, but died for us. He was the sacrificial lamb for our sins. God’s love is deep. How can you question God’s love for us? Never forget it! You cannot earn your salvation. You are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus.

Your belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not optional, it is indispensable. Many believe Romans 10:9 was the first creed in the history of the church. It says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If that is true, then the opposite is also true. If you don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then the fires of hell are waiting for you. The early church understood the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. They worshipped on Sunday morning because every Sunday morning was seen as a little Easter, or resurrection day. That is why most Christian churches still worship on Sunday mornings. Your belief in the resurrection is not trivial. It changed everything about your life. Consider these three things.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus there is forgiveness! Ephesians 1:7 says it clearly, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richness of God’s grace.” On the moment Jesus walked out of the tomb, mankind had the opportunity to experience forgiveness. One of the great hymns found in the church today is Amazing Grace. It was written by John Newton (1725-1807.) He was a former captain of a slave ship, who was saved by grace. The hymn reminds us we are all sinners, who are saved by grace. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus you are forgiven!

Because of the resurrection Jesus your life has purpose! Philippians 3:13-14 says, “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” It has been reported only 10% of Americans feel like they know their life’s purpose. I do not find that figure surprising. In my time in the ministry, I talked to people regularly who were clueless about their life’s purpose. Many confuse their purpose with their vocation. Your purpose is to glorify God. The Westminster Confession of faith says the purpose of life is to glorify God. What are you doing today to glorify God? Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your life has purpose!

Because of the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” On the day I die, don’t cry for me. I am going to heaven, not because I am a good person. I am going to heaven because I worship and serve a perfect and resurrected Jesus. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright too!

Located on an island in the Seine River in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral is a piece of history. It is a “must see” in Paris. Construction began in 1163 and took two hundred years to complete. It has been the backdrop of French history for generations. They say on an average week 12,000 tourists visit Notre Dame daily. During Holy Week, that number swells to 30,000. I am fortunate. I have been there three times. The first time I was with my parents as a teenager. The second time I was with wife Kathryn fifteen years ago. It happened to be our wedding anniversary. The third time was recently. I insisted we visit Notre Dame.

We went to lunch in a nearby café. As we ate, we studied the ancient structure, and we remembered April 15, 2019. That was the day Notre Dame burned. Many grieved for Notre Dame that day. I remember being moved by the emotions of the crowd who gathered to watch the blaze, some praying, some singing, some crying. They feared the building would be lost forever. That did not happen. At first, they said it would be reopened by the Olympics in July, but that is not the case. Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen on December 8, 2024. It will be a wonderful day for the Parisiens. I will be honest with you, on the day Notre Dame burned, I mourned for the building and the history, but not the faith. The Christian faith cannot be captured in a building.

The Christian faith is found in the hearts of men and women who believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. It changed the way you viewed your past – you can experience forgiveness. It changed the way you live today – your life has purpose. It changes your eternity – someday we are going to heaven. John Ortberg (born 1957) is a Christian author, speaker and pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo, California. He once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” Never forget, we serve a risen savior!

Give Up

Lent is the Christian season of preparation prior to Easter. Excluding Sundays, it lasts for 40 days. The season lasts for forty days for a reason – the number forty is sacred in the Bible. It rained for 40 days and nights in Noah’s story. The Hebrews wandered for 40 years before entering the Promised Land. Jesus fasted 40 days before being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. The resurrected Jesus walked the face of this world for 40 days before ascending into heaven. This year Easter is March 31 so Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, was February 14.

One of the traditional readings during Lent is Matthew 16:21-28. Do you remember the story? Jesus had become a celebrity. Everyone was talking about him. Everyone wanted something from him. Everyone was guessing about his identity. However, Jesus was not interested in what the masses thought about him. Jesus wanted to know what the disciples thought about him. So, he asked them the question that changed everything, who do you say I am? The normally chatty disciples grew strangely silent. It is not that they don’t have an opinion. It was they don’t want to be wrong. It is Peter who answered first and correctly: Jesus is God’s Messiah, the son of the living God. Instead of Jesus renting a billboard to announce his identity, Jesus asks the disciples not to tell anyone.

His messiahship was to be kept a secret. We call it the “Messianic Secret.” The reason Jesus wanted to keep his identity secret is simple. That generation misunderstood the word, Messiah. They longed for a military Messiah to liberate them from foreign rule. They had grown tired of the Romans. Instead, Jesus was a spiritual Messiah who came to liberate them from sin, itself. Jesus says it clearly, but the disciples don’t listen. As the spiritual Messiah, Jesus would suffer, be rejected, and die. Jesus warns them to be prepared for the same. True discipleship is not about glory, it is about service and sacrifice. Traditionally people give up things for Lent to show the world they are completely committed to Jesus. That leads us to a common question in my Catholic community.

What are you going to give up for Lent? The idea of giving up something for Lent is based on Matthew 16:24, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Giving up something for Lent is not a second chance at your broken New Year’s resolution. It is about self-denial. Giving up something for Lent should be done prayerfully, so we can wholly renew ourselves in Christ. Giving up something for Lent is not a bad thing. It can be a good thing. Giving up something for Lent tests our self-discipline.

These are the most common things people give up for Lent. I found this list on the internet, so it is not original. It is found in a variety of places. What you give up for Lent changes from generation to generation. Are you giving up any of these things for Lent?

1. Chocolate or Sweets

2. Alcohol

3. Smoking

4. Fast Food

5. Swearing

6. Social Media

7. Shopping

8. Sports

9. Caffeine

10. Sex

A television personality announced on Ash Wednesday she is giving up goldfish crackers for Lent. Some believe people who give up secondary things in their lives are not giving up enough for Lent. Some believe it is more important to change your attitudes. I am in this camp. You must dig deeper.

There is a website called Catholic Extension. I found an article on that site called What to Give up for Lent. This is their list of what to give up:

Give up bitterness; turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred; return good for evil.
Give up negativism; be positive.
Give up complaining; be grateful.
Give up pessimism; be an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments; think kind thoughts.
Give up worry, trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement; be full of hope.
Give up anger; be more patient.
Give up pettiness; be more mature.
Give up gloom; enjoy the beauty around you.
Give up jealousy; pray for trust.
Give up gossiping; control your thoughts.
Give up sin; turn to virtue.

That list speaks to me. When I was in the ministry, I prayed people would give up complaining for Lent, but it never happened. Some believe you can still go deeper.

In AD 590, Pope Gregory I (540-604) revised a list of sins that had existed for centuries. We call them the Seven Deadly Sins. St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) elaborated on them in the thirteenth century. The Seven Deadly Sins are the origin of all sins. These are the seven deadly sins and a brief examination.

Pride – a feeling of high self-worth based on accomplishment or talent.

Greed – a selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.

Lust – an illicit sexual desire. This often leads to immoral behavior like adultery or pornography.

Envy – an emotion which occurs when someone lacks another person’s quality, skill, or achievement. Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC) defined envy as pain caused by another’s good fortune.

Gluttony – an overindulgence of food or drink, which in time will harm the body.

Wrath – a loss of self-control.

Sloth – laziness. Every day is a gift from God and not a single day should be wasted.

Some believe if you want to give up something for Lent, then give up something that can be traced back to one of these sins. They have a point because these are the things that are frustrating your spiritual development.

Unlike Christmas and Easter, Lent has not crossed over into the secular world. The reason is obvious. Christmas and Easter emphasize receiving something – presents and candy. Lent emphasizes giving up something. Did you know, according to Life Way Research, only 24% of all Americans observe the season of Lent? That means 76% of all Americans ignore Lent. That means, mathematically, we are in the minority. That does not bother me because Jesus was never interested in the crowd. Jesus was only interested in the committed. How committed are you to Jesus? What are you giving up for Lent? Perhaps, Jesus said it best, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

Responding to the Resurrection

In January, Kathryn and I went to Washington DC. It was not our first trip to our nation’s capital. We had a short list of things we wanted to see. On that list was Arlington National Cemetery. My father-in-law, who I barely knew, John Trojan is there. He is in the columbarium, located in the southeast section approximately one mile from the Memorial Gate. The cemetery personnel drove us there, but they didn’t stay as we visited his plague. Instead of waiting for a ride to return, we decided to walk back. There is no other way to say it. It was moving walking by those countless graves. There are approximately 400,000 graves in Arlington. The words between us were few, but they were meaningful. That evening we had dinner at a restaurant near the National Archives building. It was full of people having a good time. Arlington was moving, but the restaurant was fun. Let me state the obvious. It is more fun to be with the living than the dead. May we never forget we serve a risen Savior. Jesus is alive and well!

We find ourselves today in the twentieth chapter of John. Each one of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, have their own account of the resurrection of Jesus. The details vary, but the main point remains the same. Jesus is resurrected! This is John’s version. Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb early on Sunday morning. It is so early; it is still dark. It was the first time the law permitted anyone to touch the dead. Corpses could not be touched on the Sabbath. When she arrives, she discovers that the stone in front of the entrance had been rolled away. She is shocked by this discovery and assumes the worst. Someone had taken Jesus body! The abuse Jesus had endured on Friday was not enough. Now they had taken his body to continue the cruelty. She wants to find Jesus, so she enlists some help. There is no other way to say it. They lost Jesus! (Don’t you hate when you lose a corpse?) She ran to tell two disciples that Jesus is missing. The first is Peter. The second is described the one that Jesus loved. That is John’s way of describing himself. Instantly, the two run to the tomb and it is at this point the scripture comes to life for us.

The story is familiar because we have looked at it countless times. It is hard to preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ annually and be original. John’s account of the resurrection is unique. It illustrates for us the three responses to the resurrection. They are not unique to John. They are not unique to John’s time. They are the same ways people respond to the resurrection today. The question you must answer is, how do you respond the resurrection? Are you skeptical about the resurrection of Jesus? Are you curious about the resurrection of Jesus? Or, do you believe, in your heart of hearts, Jesus was resurrected?

Peter plays the role of the skeptic. Look at the text with me. It says when Peter got to the Jesus’ tomb he went in and saw all the clothes of clothes scattered. Verse ten says he does something that he must have regretted the rest of his life. What does that verse say? It says after he saw clothes scattered on the tomb’s floor, he went home. He missed the whole thing because he went home. It made logical sense to go home. The problem is the resurrection is not logical. It is a miracle that cannot be explained by science.

Do you know any skeptics? Our world is filled with skeptics. Our world has always been filled with skeptics. The story of the resurrection has always been surrounded by skeptics. Do you know how many theories exist trying to disregard the resurrection of Jesus? One theory says someone got to the tomb ahead of Mary Magdalene and stole Jesus’ body. One theory says Mary Magdalene got confused and went to the wrong tomb. (You know how women are with directions.) One theory says the women confused Jesus with someone else. After all, if you have seen one Jew then you have seen them all. One theory says Jesus never died on the cross. Instead, he was drugged and once his head had cleared, he simply walked out unnoticed on Saturday. Do I have to go on? We live in a skeptical world because many believe science is the final word. Miracles are dismissed because they cannot be proven. The resurrection is a miracle, so it must not have happened. There is only one problem with this line of thought.

The final word is not science; the final word is God. God is not frustrated by scientific law. God does, what God desires. Part of God’s plan of salvation for the world was to resurrect Jesus.

Mary Magdalene plays the role of the seeker. What does the text say? She followed Jesus to his tomb. She was going to treat his body. She thought it would be her last loving act for Jesus, but she was wrong. What does the text say? It says that after Peter and John examined the scene they went home. What did Mary Magdalene do? We are told that she stayed at the tomb. She knew something had happened, but she didn’t know what. She had been part of the great story of the resurrection, but she didn’t exactly know what happened. She waited outside of the tomb crying trying to comprehend what had happened. In other words, she had a few questions.

Does anyone here have a question about the resurrection? In your mind you understand that Jesus came back to life! However, that fact has not yet penetrated your heart. You are just like Mary Magdalene? You know something happened, but you can’t comprehend the true meaning of the resurrection. Ask all the questions you want because it is the best way to learn. Do you have any questions? Do you know anyone who is a seeker? Could it be you are a seeker? It is fine to be a seeker. I have a few questions myself.

John plays the role of the saved. The text says when he got to the tomb, he didn’t go in. Peter went into the tomb first. John stayed outside. There may be several reasons. Maybe he was resting? After all, he had just been running. Or maybe he was afraid that Mary Magdalene was wrong. He didn’t want to see Jesus’ mangled body. Or maybe he did not go in because he was just afraid? Roman guards could be waiting inside to arrest any Jesus supporters. He didn’t go in until Peter went in first. When he went in, he discovered Mary Magdalene’s account was accurate. Verse eight gives us one more piece of vital information. It says that after John examined the tomb he believed. He remembered everything Jesus had said about his own death and resurrection. John remembered those things and believed. His belief in the resurrected Jesus saved his very soul. Do you remember what Romans 10:9 says? That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This is the question of the day.

What is your response to the resurrection of Jesus? I hope you are not a skeptic about the resurrection. No, science is not the final answer. The final answer is God! I hope you are not a seeker, just curious about the resurrection. It is the one thing you cannot question. I hope you believe that you are one of the saved. The resurrection changed everything. It changed the way you look at death, itself. It changed your final destination. May we never forget we serve a risen Savior. John Ortberg (born 1957) is the Senior Pastor of the Menlo Church in Menlo, California. He once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection”If you believe in the resurrection, then, like John, you are saved!

Why is Easter Important?

When we last left Jesus, things looked bad! Everyone knows what happened. Jesus, the son of God, the long-awaited Messiah died. It was a Friday afternoon, and he passed between two criminals. His lifeless body was taken down from that instrument of death and everyone cried. Broken hearted his loved ones placed him in an unused tomb. Those who had the unpleasant job, must have turned to take their last look. In my station in life, I have taken that last look many times. It is amazing, how quickly a body turns into a corpse. Then, they rolled the stone into position. It had to be tight so the smell of decay wouldn’t be released. Covering all the details, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate to have a guard placed in front of the entrance of the tomb so the body couldn’t be stolen. There was nothing more to do. After all, Jesus was dead! However, this is Easter morning, and we know it isn’t over, until God says it is over!

According to our reading for today, it is dawn on the first day of the week. That means, it is early on Sunday. Jesus was executed on a Friday. Two women both by the name of Mary appear at the tomb of Jesus. That were preparing to do what the law prohibited them to do on the Sabbath, treat the body of the dead. They went early for two reasons. First, they couldn’t sleep, Jesus’s death was hard to accept. Second, they went early because they wanted to complete the horrible task. The only question haunting them was how to roll away that massive stone. There was no need to fear. According to the text, there is a great earthquake. God, himself, had rolled away the stone, exposing to the world the truth, Jesus had returned from the dead. I do not know how that happened because I can’t explain a miracle. However, I do know that miracle changed everything.

To those of us of faith, Easter is more than the celebration of spring. It is the very heart of our faith. Historically, Easter is the oldest festival on the Christian calendar. In the Greek Orthodox tradition many tell jokes on Easter because, God, himself, played a joke on Satan. It looked like Satan had won, Jesus was dead! Satan must have celebrated on that Silent Saturday. Then, Easter Sunday came. Jesus returned from the dead. I Corinthians 15:14 says, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Yet, the resurrection is not just some theological point reserved for some academic classroom. The resurrection is practical. Today, I want to look at the practical side of the resurrection. I am going to do that by answering the question, why is Easter important? That single question has three answers.

First, Easter is important because it defines our faith! Today, we celebrate with Christians around the world the resurrection of Jesus. The church stands alone. The scientific world has dismissed the resurrection as nonsense. The secular world has replaced the resurrection with community service. Other world religions have simply denied it. We are the only ones who know of the significance of the resurrection. It is the cornerstone of our faith and the only thing that really matters. One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 10:9. It says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Many consider that verse to be the first creed in the church. It is a timeless truth. Your belief in the resurrection is not just important, it is indispensable. It is the one thing that separates us from everyone else. The resurrection is the only thing that really matters in the church.

Several years ago, I preached a sermon series called Christianity’s Family Tree. It was originally developed by Adam Hamilton of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. We looked at all the branches of our family tree. We examined all the various traditions and customs found various churches. Human beings have a way of looking at differences, God only sees what we have in common. Just think about it for a moment. Within the body of the church we baptize differently. We experience the Eucharist differently. Some churches have a call system and some churches have an appointment system. Some churches emphasize the Holy Spirit and churches promote missions. Some observe the various liturgical seasons, and some don’t. Some traditions embrace icons, some statutes and some nothing. I will be completely honest with you. None of those differences bother me. The only thing that really matters to me is the resurrection. It is the one thing we must have in common. Your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable. It is the one thing that separates us, Christians, from the rest of the world. We worship a risen savor! Other world religions just remember a dead founder. Easter is important because we are embracing the resurrection, the defining moment of our faith. We serve a risen Savior!

Second, Easter is important because it demonstrates God’s power! One of the pivotal lines in the Easter passage is verse two. That verse tells us there was a violent earthquake. It is only found in this account of the resurrection, but it means so much. The earthquake does two things. First, the earthquake rolled away the stone that covered the entrance of the tomb. Second, the earthquake underscores the power of God. There are many who ignore the power of God. We live in incredibly arrogant times. Consider two Bible verses with me. The first is Colossians 1:16. It says, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers, or rulers or authorities, all things were created by God and for God.” The second is Psalm 115:3. It says, “Our God is in heaven; he does what he pleases.” Think about those words.God created this world for himself, we act like God created this world for us!

We live in incredibly arrogant times. We forget the power of God and try to hold God accountable to our standards. Do you know of anyone who tries to make God accountable to them? They wonder why God doesn’t do something about world hunger. They ask why so many people in our world feel unloved. They wonder why there are so many diseases. They wonder why God didn’t give them a perfect body. They wonder why their families are so messed up. Do you know of anyone who is trying to get God to live up to their standards? The answer to those questions is very simple. The answer to those questions is because God is God. In comparison to God, we are nothing.

This is the real question, why don’t we do something? Why don’t we do something about world hunger? Why don’t we start loving the unlovable? Why don’t we spend more money on medical research and education and less on our hobbies? Why don’t we start living healthier lives? Why don’t we start taking some accountability for our broken relationships? Never forget the truth. We are accountable to God and God is not accountable to us. Easter is important because it demonstrates God’s people.We serve a risen Savior!

Third and finally, Easter is important because it determines our eternity! David Seamand’s (1922-2006) life was dominated by missions. He was raised in a missionary’s home and served sixteen years in the mission fields, himself. I got to know him at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He once told of a Muslim who became a Christian in Africa. “Some of his friends of the former Muslim asked him, ‘Why have you become a Christian?’ He answered, ‘Well, it’s like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly it forked. Next to the road were two men, one dead and the other alive. Which one would you ask for directions?’” We serve a risen savior!

Several years ago, someone asked me, “Russ, what do you look forward to when you get to heaven?” The person was disappointed in my answer. They wanted me to say singing in the eternal choir or standing at the throne. The truth is no one wants me in the choir, and I am too hyperactive to stand anywhere too long. This was my answer. What I look forward to when I get to heaven is being reunited with people who have passed. The twelfth chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews tell us there is a great crowd of witnesses surrounding us at this moment. Some of those saints include some of the spiritual giants of the past. Some of the saints include some of the saints in our families. Some of the saints include some of the saints of this church. Some of the saints are personal friends. It is a great cloud of witnesses. Can I ask you a question on this Easter morning? Who are you going to look for when you get to heaven? Easter is important because it determines our eternity. We serve a risen Savior!

Why is Easter important? Easter is important because it is on that day, we remember the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. The resurrection is practical. It does three things. First, the resurrection defines our faith. Without the resurrection, we are like everyone else. Our belief in the resurrection means we stand alone. We serve a risen savor! Second, the resurrection demonstrates the power of God. Never forget, we are accountable to God and not God to us. Third, the resurrection determines our eternity. Someday, we are going to heaven. John Ortberg (born 1957) is the Senior Minister of Menlo Church in Menlo, California. He once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” I agree.