The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to thank Rev Marjory McPherson, Edinburgh Presbytery Clerk, for her thoughts on Easter Sunday.

Transcription

1 Easter Sunday Easter Sunday 1 April 2018 The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to thank Rev Marjory McPherson, Edinburgh Presbytery Clerk, for her thoughts on Easter Sunday. Please note that the views expressed in these materials are those of the individual writer and not necessarily the official view of the Church of Scotland, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly. Contents Introduction... 2 Acts 10: OR: Isaiah 25: Psalm 118:1-2, Corinthians 15: John 20: OR: Mark 16: Sermon ideas... 7 Time with children... 8 Prayers Musical suggestions... 18

2 Introduction When is Easter this year? is a question often asked, as the date moves between 22 nd March and 25 th April. At the Council of Nicaea in 325 it was determined that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21 st ), and this practice has continued in the Western Churches. Once we have the date sorted we then reflect each year on what it means for us to live as Easter people, living in the light of the resurrection. At what points in our own story does Easter seem real and tangible when we experience a resurrection faith that brings light in our darkness and new life to moments where death or hopelessness might rule the day? The readings for today move between accounts of empty graves and stories of resurrection appearances and raise questions about our response to such events. Along with the first believers we too are asked to bear witness to good news and are invited to celebrate, indeed to feast, as a response to the saving work of God. Acts 10: Two strands that are mirrored in other texts for today are seen in this passage in Acts: being witnesses; and eating and drinking together as signs of salvation and new life. The backdrop to this encounter between Peter and Cornelius and the gathered assembly of Gentiles invited by Cornelius to hear Peter speak is set out in the earlier part of the chapter, whereby visions lead to this meeting. Firstly Cornelius, who is a God-fearer and centurion in the Italian cohort, sees an angel of God and hears that he is to send to Joppa for Simon called Peter, as God has heard his prayers and noted his actions. As men are on their way to Joppa to call on Peter, Peter himself has a vision of unclean animals being offered to him for food. As he recoils from this, a voice says that what God has made clean he must not call profane. By these visions the two men are drawn together to meet in Caesarea and Peter is emboldened to be the first missionary to the Gentiles as he enters a Gentile home, eats with Gentiles, and affirms that those from any nation may be acceptable to God. Peter s witness here is a short account of all that God has accomplished in Christ, from anointing Jesus, to being with Him in His ministry and finally raising Him from the dead. Not everyone saw Jesus, as this was given to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. In the brief account of Peter s preaching we hear the salvific action of God in working through Jesus to bring healing and hope, even overcoming death by raising him up, and now this invitation to forgiveness and new life is opened up to everyone, even those who are not of Israel s race.

3 The witness is the one who saw and experienced these life-changing events and who then can tell others. Yet there is also a focus on those who ate and drank with the risen Lord, perhaps reflecting Jesus controversial habits of eating with those who were not deemed acceptable during His earthly life, and eating again with those who denied Him and left Him and yet could be welcomed into His risen presence to eat and drink once more. OR: Isaiah 25: 6-9 These few verses contain allusions to the universal nature of God s relationship to all nations and peoples of the world, yet with their own special emphasis. Whereas in Chapter 24: the kings of earth will be gathered in a pit and made ready for punishment, and in other texts in Isaiah and the prophecy of Haggai, the emphasis is on what the nations can bring to Jerusalem, now the climax of the pilgrimage to Zion is a great feast that God bestows upon the nations. The nations are not bringing an offering but receiving from the great bounty of God. The feast is of the best of things: fat, rich food, and unlimited strong wine. It is an outpouring of generosity, designed for great enjoyment and all the nations will share in it together. The shroud over the nations will be destroyed and in verse 8 there is a reference to swallowing up death forever that many commentators see as a later addition. What is it to remove a covering, a veil from the people? It may be to expose them to the sun or to anger or to judgement or, as appears to be the case here, it is to remove the shroud that is a sign of death or mourning to allow those once dead to live and feast and those who grieved to be glad. Or it may be the lifting of a cloud after days of suffering and darkness. These verses, set between a prayer of thanksgiving for God s power over the cities of ruthless nations and a prophecy of the fate of Moab, are a promise of life and salvation for those who come to Zion. Suffering and death will end, exile will be over and this leads into the song of thanksgiving that we read in verse 9. Once more food and feasting are signs of life and salvation. There is also a mirroring of the pilgrimage of the nations to Zion that we find in the Old Testament, while in the New Testament we find the witnesses going out and doing the work of mission, beginning in Jerusalem and going out to all the world. In the work of witness and in the eating and drinking together is the work and provision of God, who makes all of this possible.

4 Psalm 118:1-2, It is said that this was Luther s favourite Psalm, providing words of great encouragement and inspiration in any time of anxiety or trouble, for it is a Psalm that tells of the deliverance of God in the face of enemies and trials. It is in part an individual voice, most likely that of the King, and also has a congregational voice. It is not clear from the Psalm itself when exactly it might be read but some commentators attach it to the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple or the autumn festival of Yahweh. It was likely read just outside and then inside the Temple with the cry, Open to me the gates of righteousness, suggestive of that movement. The focus is on the saving work of God with language reminiscent of being led out of Egypt. God is liberator, refuge, strength and bringer of salvation. It has been a long and arduous journey to reach this place of salvation but God has heard and answered. There is now the hope of a new life wrought by God but that also brings with it the responsibility to be a witness; to recount the deeds of the Lord (v 17). The Psalm also holds a universal element as the first few verses call on the people of Israel, then the house of Aaron (the priests) and then the God-fearers to affirm the steadfast love of the Lord. The reference to the stone that the builders rejected becoming the chief cornerstone that holds in tension the weight of the building from two directions, is often seen as a reference to Jesus in the line of King David, from whence would come the hoped-for salvation. Now that hope has been fulfilled and the one despised and rejected is our salvation. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (v24) 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 This is one of the earliest accounts of the resurrection appearances of Jesus that also sets out an order of events. Jesus, raised on the third day according to the scriptures, appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve, then to 500 men and women, then to James, then to all the apostles and lastly to Paul, least of all the apostles having been a persecutor of the Church and yet he is what he is by the grace of God. It is interesting to set this early account against the canonical gospels that, for example, do not refer to a post-resurrection appearance to 500 brothers and sisters, giving rise to discussion around whether such an account has been conflated with the events of Pentecost, or indeed whether Luke s account in Acts is a reference to a post-resurrection

5 appearance. The canon does not refer elsewhere to Jesus appearing to James, but the noncanonical Gospel according to the Hebrews does refer to such an appearance. It also lists separately the 12 and the apostles, which clearly envisages a larger group than twelve and one that certainly includes Paul, despite his background. Paul seems to struggle to define his birth into this new life, referring to himself as one untimely born. Yet of course by grace all things have become possible for him. The passage here is a preamble to Paul s attempt to tackle the church in Corinth on their understanding of the resurrection of the body or indeed their doubts about the resurrection of the body. He reminds them that resurrection is an essential part of the Gospel he handed on to them. He explains the chain of the spread of this good news and that what he received he then handed on to them. He handed on a body of established truth; namely that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day, also in accordance with the scriptures. It is not easy to tie the reference to raising on the third day to specific texts and indeed much of this would seem to fit with an overall reading of the scriptures and their sense and direction, rather than fitting into a search for specific chapter and verse. God s eternal purpose has been the salvation of God s people and this we see in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul is aware of his critics, of those who discount him but he wishes to remind these believers that he passed on to them the Gospel which includes the resurrection belief and as the church they are committed to that. Paul is clearly working in a difficult context of Jewish and Gentile communities, both of which bring their own unique understandings of life after death and the place of the soul and the body. John 20:1-18 As we saw in reading Paul s letter to the church in Corinth, Paul provides an early account of resurrection appearances. The early tradition of resurrection stories can be divided into two forms, namely appearances to the followers/disciples of Jesus and stories of discovering the empty tomb. Mostly we read of one sort of story followed by another yet John seems to weave both together as Peter and the disciple Jesus loved discover the empty tomb and then Mary Magdalene, who remained behind, encounters angels and then realises that the man she assumes is the gardener is in fact her Lord who appears to her. Woven into this resurrection story are themes common in the Gospel of John. One is the place of seeing and believing, here also related to touch. It is enough for the beloved disciple to follow into the tomb after Peter, to see the clothes lying and the tomb empty to then see and believe. Later in the chapter, Thomas will have to touch Jesus hands and side

6 and see Him in order to believe. For Mary the empty tomb means that someone has taken away the body of her Lord and she weeps, even as she sees the angels. The voice of Jesus does not recall her until He calls her name and then she sees and believes and wishes to touch and hold onto Him, although He tells her not to. Another Johannine theme is the central role of the beloved disciple. Though Peter first enters the tomb, the beloved disciple outruns him on the way to the tomb and reaches it first and is the first to see and believe the moment he goes in and sees that Jesus body is not there. The third theme is the central place of the ascension of Jesus to be with the Father. The risen Jesus discourages Mary from touching or holding onto Him, because He says He is still to go and ascend to the Father. He tells her to inform the disciples that He will ascend to the Father of them all. It appears that resurrection is a step along the way to the great glory of ascension. And yet in the verses that follow we read that in his doubts, Thomas is encouraged to see and touch and so believe. Has something happened in the interim to make touch seem possible, or was it simply that Jesus did not wish Mary to delay in telling the news to the disciples and so should not hold onto Him? Despite this theme of ascension in John s Gospel it is only Luke who writes about it the ascension as an event in time. OR: Mark 16:1-8 Although perhaps the most enigmatic of the accounts of the empty tomb, the Gospel of Mark ends in an unlikely place. Though there are other verses after v8, these are generally agreed as later additions, but the question remains then as to whether this is Mark s intended end to the Gospel or whether his actual ending was lost, but if so, why was it not copied again? To end with the women terrified and silent rather than with a story of witness and sharing good news strikes an odd note. In Mark s Gospel those who witness Jesus signs and miracles are often told to keep the truth of their discovery to themselves, to preserve the secret of the nature of Jesus and His mission. Here at the end, when resurrection has happened and the angel tells the women to share the news, they instead rush away and tell no-one. In the Gospel of John Jesus says I will be ascending to the Father, and calls on Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples. In Mark, however, the angel announces that the women should tell Peter and the disciples that Jesus goes ahead of them to Galilee, where they will see Him. Why Galilee? Is it because this is where they were first called and first became followers and, having now fallen by the wayside, betrayed and deserted him in time of such

7 need and pain, Jesus wishes to begin at the beginning back in Galilee, to call them again as His witnesses and disciples and there show them the way to new life? While in Paul s letter to the Corinthians he writes of resurrection appearances, Mark s Gospel only contains the empty tomb. By itself, the empty tomb is not a sign of the reality of resurrection, so the appearances become crucial. However, there is the promise of seeing the risen Jesus in Galilee, though at this moment it looks as if the women are too afraid to tell. Yet we know from other accounts that for those who encountered Jesus there was an experience of the resurrection. This experience, this event, is due to the work of God who raised Jesus from the dead, as the angel told the women. Sermon ideas On Easter Day we celebrate what God has done throughout history to bring salvation to all the nations. God s work of grace and mercy is ours in which to rejoice, but also requires that we bear witness to it. Whether encountering the empty tomb or having a sighting of the risen Lord, these early witnesses have a story to tell. Peter bears witness in the house of a Gentile centurion; Paul bears witness to his fledgling church communities; those who ate and drank with a risen Lord bear witness to what they have seen and heard; the disciples once on Jesus side, then fleeing from him are witness to the love and forgiveness that gives them a fresh start; angels gather at the tomb to bear witness that he is not here, he is risen; from the Old Testament the Psalmist bears witness to the saving hand of God for those who suffer and are lost; while Isaiah draws the nations to Mount Zion to a place where the past is forgiven and all are joined together in one celebration, where they witness the love and generosity of God. What is the story to which we bear witness today? Where are the signs of newness of life and hope or the longing for those things that we may set against the trials of our time? What have we received that we pass on to others? And how do we bear witness is it in words only or actions? Mark said that Jesus will meet the disciples in Galilee and will go ahead to meet them there at the place where faith was born and discipleship began. Is there a place where Jesus meets us again and again to renew hope and faith and sustains us for the onward journey? And are we at times afraid to speak or act? Are we running to the place of meeting and encounter with Jesus and the world, or just running? Of course to be witnesses we need first of all that experience of resurrection: the seeing, the touching, the believing, the change of heart and life that makes Easter real for us. You might wish to explore some of the encounters with Jesus and the points at which resurrection became real to Gospel story characters, and to people in other times. Easter day falls on April Fools Day and many then and now mock the Gospel story, yet Paul, and many since, have chosen

8 to be fools for Christ because they knew a resurrection faith and found the Gospel to be true. Easter falls on different calendar dates, but when was it real for his first followers and what are our personal experiences that make Easter arrive so that we too can bear witness to what we have seen and heard? OR The Prophet Isaiah presents a picture of the nations gathering on Mount Zion and being welcomed by God at the finest of feasts. Acts refers to those chosen as witnesses to the resurrection who ate and drank with the risen Lord in a context where Jew and Gentile meet as friends rather than strangers and breach the dietary laws. Feasting and food are acts of hospitality and welcome, bringing together disparate peoples from different lands and different experiences of life and faith. With a faith that focuses on fellowship round a table, with the promise of being fed and nurtured, and with biblical images of feasting in this life and the next we have a hospitable, generous gospel to share with the world, with those of other nations, with those within and outwith our denomination who are not like us but who are also invited to share in the generosity of God. With whom do we share, to whom do we show hospitality, with whom do we celebrate and feast? Where and when do we know the newness of life that resurrection promises? Time with children Take a number of objects with you that have familiar and well-known advertising slogans. Talk about adverts on TV and whether you watch them or switch channels. Have a variety of adverts in mind that would be familiar to older and younger generations such as Who makes exceedingly good cakes? Mr Kipling Just do it Nike Think different Apple L Oréal because I m (you re) worth it Sometimes adverts make big claims for their products such as The egg marketing board used to say you could go to work on an egg how does that work? A bounty bar was a taste of paradise try it and see what you think! Kiwi polish said when your shoes shine so do you is anyone shiny? A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play but does it? Minstrels claimed the chocolate melts in your mouth but not in your hand try and see!

9 Sometimes adverts make huge claims about the way they will change us or our lives slimming products, face creams and so on make big claims about how we will be changed. Do we believe them? What s the evidence? The Church makes big claims too about Jesus and all he did and how he was raised at Easter. Jesus changed from being in the grave to being alive forever. Do we believe and it and how do we see it s true? Then talk about those who saw Jesus, who had been afraid, who had run away and how they overcame fear to tell good news to others they were changed. The women at the tomb were changed, the disciples were changed. Easter is about changed lives, about lighting up the dark, bringing new life, about hope and joy and people seeing themselves differently and as part of a new community. One last product is Ronseal the advert says it does exactly what is says on the tin. Expand on the idea of a Christian as a follower of Jesus, a person whose life has been changed and the kind of place the Church is and can be in the light of Easter as we seek to do and be just what it says on the tin a community of new life.

10 Prayers Approach to God While it was still dark Before thought or sound or hope of daylight Those who love Who watch and wait Rise from sleep Approaching the place Where death dwells Never knowing what they seek Feet falling heavily upon the earth Hearts burdened, minds confused Stumbling in the moment before the dawn We come to the tomb Only to find that while we sleep God is at work Rolling away impossible stones Clearing obstacles before us Shaking death out of dry bones Working with angels Tellers of good news Raising up life In the quiet still moments before the dawn An empty grave Sets feet running Hearts pounding Voices telling Things too strange Too unknown Too wonderful for believing Linen wrappings all that remain When death cannot hold in place its work And life appears at the breaking of dawn We make our way to You God this Easter day Walking, running, wondering,

11 Half-believing, certain and sure Emerging out of the darkness of Friday The waiting of Saturday To find all fulfilled on Sunday In a garden far away Long ago Tended by You The seedbed of our life of faith Where together we claim We too have seen the Lord. Amen Thanksgiving Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures for ever! Rejoice when for the last time The sun has set On a day of darkness Rejoice when for the last time The sun has set On the disciples fear Rejoice when for the last time The sun has set To the sound of weeping Rejoice when for the last time The sun has set To the beat of lament Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever! For now As if for the first time The sun rises In all its brightness

12 As if for the first time The sun rises On a world renewed As if for the first time The sun rises To children s laughter As if for the first time The sun rises To the cry Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good His steadfast love endures forever! And Christ that was dead Is raised to life Christ that suffered Has overcome the world As if for the first time We rise, risen Lord, to greet You And give thanks that You are good. Amen Confession Outside the tomb Beside the angels Peering into the grave We stand perplexed At love so great, so deep To suffer for us To die for us And not yet leave But rise to tell a new story A different story Not just for You But for each one of us

13 A new story for Peter Who confessed he denied he knew You As we too confess the days, the hours The distractions, the business, The pressures, the selfishness That say to the world We do not know the man We confess, we are sorry We look for You Not in the tomb But out in the world Living with us A new story for Mary Who confessed her past and her present fears As we too confess The failures, the disappointments, The forgotten gifts, the unused talents That say to us and to others We are too unworthy to act We confess, we are sorry We look to serve You now Forgetting the past And looking to the future Walking with You A new story for Paul Who confessed that he persecuted the Church As we too confess Our lack of love for the Church, and her people, The frustrations, the impatience That say to one another We have too little love We confess, we are sorry We look at one another afresh And ask for faith to increase That we might be as light Serving with You

14 Outside the tomb Beside the angels Peering into the grave An unlikely place for a journey to begin Yet You offer us a place to say sorry To confess the past To walk into the garden And beyond Forgiven, renewed Our steps made lighter By the life You live And offer us in fullness Christ our Lord Risen for us and our salvation Amen Intercessions And there shall be no more crying No more death, or weeping For on God s holy mountain There will be feasting and joy The best of food and wine strong and lasting The covering of darkness, the veil of mourning Will be lifted by God To reveal the light of the sun Dawning on a new day This, all this, God will accomplish As people from all over the world Gather to worship in faith and freedom And know the blessing of God among them Woman, why are you weeping? The words to Mary at the tomb Before her tears turned to joy As Christ was risen And appeared before her The gardener of all the world Creating life and beauty

15 Out of darkness and death Teacher, healer, friend, and Lord Filling hearts with gladness On Easter morn So God now as then Recall the world to Yourself Gather in the peoples from east and west North and south To celebrate together this good and glorious news That Christ is risen for all with eyes to see And all are invited to the feast To celebrate the resurrection life For those who have no clean water Who die of thirst and disease We pray the water of life To refresh and heal them For those who have little food Scratching out a living on barren soil We pray the abundance of God To feed and sustain them For those who mourn loved ones Who see no end to their pain We pray the covering of peace To bring solace to their souls For those who are victims of war and oppression Who are locked into unforgiving lands or cast out as refugees We pray shelter from the storm To begin to rebuild shattered lives For those who rule, who lead and inform Who are lost to their better desires We pray the wisdom of Solomon To govern and speak with truth and love

16 For those who have faith And wish to have more We pray the light of resurrection To inspire faith into action May our tears be tears of joy Our weeping turn to gladness For Christ is risen And we are witness to His love Amen An Easter Sunday post communion prayer As we gather up bread and wine Broken here for us at this table As we bring together the pieces that are left When all are fed and nourished We unite into one body We re-member Jesus Risen for us today As we gather up a week of holiness Lived out for us in word and action As we bring together the memories we shared When all have travelled the way We share the cries of Hallelujah! Repent the shouts of Crucify! For Jesus is risen for us today As we gather up the tears of the women in Bethesda Shed over the feet of our Lord As we bring together the tears of women at every cross Who bear such heavy burdens We turn sadness into joy We laugh once more For Jesus is risen for us today As we gather up the betrayers and deniers Fearful once of the future As we bring together disciples past and present

17 Waiting silently in the shadows We hear with them forgiveness We know we live For Jesus is risen for us today As we gather in the morning That dispels the darkness of the night As we bring together all our hopes and dreams Hold our breath for the sound of life We rejoice and are glad For Easter day is ours And Jesus is risen for all today Amen

18 Musical suggestions In CH4 the Easter section begins at Hymn 406. CH4 406 They crucified my Saviour and nailed him to the tree speaks of Mary and the stone rolled away CH4 407 Comes Mary to the grave refers to Mary weeping and recognising Jesus as in the Gospel of John CH4 409 Jesus is risen, alleluia ties in with the theme of telling and witnessing CH4 416 Christ is alive is a reminder of the good news for people everywhere in every age CH4 419 Thine be the glory is a great traditional Easter hymn linking to the themes of the Isaiah passage as there is triumph over death CH4 424 Blest be the everlasting God and CH4 425 The Saviour died could fit well with a reading of the Psalm that reminds us of the saving and liberating work of God CH4 429 Alleluia! Jesus is risen! links to the Isaiah passage and John that weeping will end CH4 430 Christ has risen while earth slumbers speaks of the resurrection hope to which we as people of faith bear witness CH4 433 Haven t you heard that Jesus is risen ties in with Paul s letter to the Corinthians CH4 794 Surrexit dominus vere provides a chant during prayers or communion CH4 800 Send me Jesus is a call to witness to good news