This is one of those “old” DEAR ABBY stories.
It’s about a guy about to graduate from High School and he “expected” his parents to give him – a brand new car.
So, Bill and his father spent months looking at all kinds of cars and the week before graduation- they had found the perfect vehicle.
On the eve of graduation, his father handed him a gift wrapped Bible, Bill was so angry that he threw the Bible down and stormed out of the house.
He and his father never saw each other again after that moment. It was only the news of his father’s death – that brought Bill back home again.
As he sat one night going through his father’s possessions that he was to inherit, he came across the Bible his father had given him.
He brushed away the dust and opened it to find a cashier’s check, dated the day of his graduation – in the exact amount of the car they had chosen together.
It’s funny how life sometimes works out!
In our world we are taught if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
A lot of us have been taken in – by the empty promises of others.
We become leery of people and their word.
The world of advertizing is based on total deception.
We know that the world is full of “all kinds of promises,” most of which are empty.
Unfortunately, a great many of us have learned to become skeptical of everything and everybody – including God.
This morning I have been talking about “three promises” of Easter. It worked out well, too, because, as you know, we have three liturgies. One promise for each – liturgy. How awesome is that!
The first promise was the promise associated with the empty cross, and of course, I drew everyone’s attention to the cross in the center of our view. The first promise, was the promise of “the forgiveness of our sins.”
The “second promise” of Easter was the promise associated with the empty tomb. That promise, is the promise of “eternal life.”
The third promise, like the first two, also has to do with emptiness…the empty cross and the empty tomb…
The “third and final promise” for this morning has to do with the “empty burial clothes.”
This one was a “little bit stranger” than the first two.
“Empty burial clothes” – who would have thought…that a promise could be tied to burial clothing?
And, what could that promise be?
So, after the angel had spoken to the women, they immediately went to the apostles and reported what happened.
They of course, reported the empty tomb.
And, of course, the church made a “big thing” of the women’s report…calling it an “idle tale…” It was a patriarchal society after all! Their report was immediately dismissed…as being silly talk, nonsense. Chaos and confusion was everywhere. Everyone was puzzled and perplexed. The Apostles feared the report of the women was just a foolish yarn, sheer humbug. Nothing of substance…
With this “astonishing and crazy news,” two apostles go to see for themselves. It did not take them long for them to discover that the tomb was just the way the women had said it was—empty. Filled with nothingness.
That’s when they spied “the clothes” that Jesus had been buried in. They too, were empty. A laying by themselves…
This could have meant only one thing —
Jesus was alive!
If the body had been stolen, as some had suggested…they wouldn’t have removed the burial clothes and folded them up neatly and left them where they lay.
Truly, Jesus was resurrected!
It would not be long at all, before Jesus himself would appear to Mary Magdalene, and to all the Apostles, and eventually to over 500 people.
What a roller-coaster of emotions…from tears to cheers! From fear to bravery…
According to the scriptures…Jesus would eventually sit down with people. He would appear where they were. He would walk with them. He would talk with them. He would even eat with them.
It was unbelievable…but the unbelievable was true…
Once again, individuals would find themselves in fellowship with Jesus.
This is the third and final promise of Easter morning…Jesus was resurrected AND he wants to be in fellowship with you.
That would leave the ball in your court. It is now up to you – as to what you will do – with the good news of the resurrection.
Jesus has risen. He is risen indeed.
Amen.
Happy Easter, everybody!