Christ is Risen

We begin where the gospel lesson ends. We have come to church this morning because we have heard of an empty tomb, and we stand amazed, like Peter, not sure if we dare believe the unbelievable. Like the disciples that morning, we have only the women's word that they found the tomb empty, and they had only the word of strange angels, to explain the shocking absence of a body in the tomb of the crucified Jesus.
"But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel." A disciple said to a stranger on the road to Emmaus, later that same day. The disciples dared to hope in Jesus, they thought he might be the messiah, the king promised in scripture, the one who would end Israel's sufferings once and for all and reestablish the reign of King David. All the signs were there! He was a prophet, the spirit of God was with him. We saw miracles! The lame walked, and lepers were cleansed, and the blind discovered their sight. We saw him feed a multitude on a few loaves and fish. "We had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel."
But instead of victory, his disciples witnessed his death. Jesus was betrayed, and he was arrested, and he was tortured, and he was crucified. Jesus died, and his body was placed in a tomb.
At sunrise on the first day of the week, the women went the the tomb and found it vacant. "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has been raised. Remember, he told you this would happen."
So the women ran to tell the disciples, but they considered it an idle tale. The mad ravings of hysterical women. And they did not believe it.
Can you blame them? They had been through a lot in the previous week, the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the clearing of the temple, the Passover meal and celebration. And then the horror. The dark night in Gethsemane, the betrayal, the police and the angry mob. Jesus was beaten and crucified to death, and Peter and the other disciples could do nothing to stop it. They had been high and they were brought low. Could they dare to believe? Would you, would I, would we dare to believe?
Good news: their disbelief did not negate the truth of the resurrection. Their disbelief did not disqualify them from later witnessing their risen Lord. Their disbelief did not invalidate their discipleship. Believe it or not, death is defeated, Christ lives. Christ is risen, indeed.
Despite evidence to the contrary, Christ lives.
Despite wars and rumors of war, Christ lives.
Despite heartbreak and separation, Christ lives.
Despite poverty and sickness, Christ lives.
Despite even death, Christ lives.
Despite all the powers of hell at work in our world today, Christ lives and walks among us, and is seen in everything that is true and beautiful and good. I have seen the risen Christ in the photos that Joey Halvorson took in Haiti-- Christ in the doctors and nurses who cared for the sick and the wounded, Christ in the faces of those who had suffered, Christ in the joy and laughter of people who had been through hell, and still they rejoiced, and danced and sang, and lived and loved.
I have seen Christ in the church basement, serving and being served. Christ napping on a cot in the Sunday school room, Christ serving hot dish. I have seen Christ in the kindness, Christ in the courage, Christ in the love. Christ died, and Christ is risen, and Christ comes again, and again.
The resurrection means that death is defeated. Because death is defeated, nothing can stop us from living fearlessly, loving lavishly, even laying down our lives for our friends, confident that life is restored.
Do not be afraid to live, to love, to serve God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, because your life is yours, given to you as a gift, as an everlasting gift. Rejoice and be glad, for Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia! Amen.