04/20/2025 ~ Resurrection of the Christ ~ Easter Day ~ * Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 ~ YOUTUBE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SMC8IjdgmM

VIDEO OF WHOLE SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701/video/1077944141

Trusting Truth

“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Upon getting there this apostle stooped and looked in but could see nothing but the linen cloths, the wrappings, on the ground. Then Peter left, amazed at what had occurred.” — Luke 24:12.

The disciple headed back down the road, exhausted. Peter had been running. Despite his age he was not in bad shape. But he was older than the others in the group. So they looked to him for leadership.

It may not have simply been running which led to the exhaustion. Another reason was he had fully expected to see the remains of the Rabbi in the tomb.

But over and over Jesus had said, “Wait three days. Just wait three days.” That insistence always puzzled Peter. And somehow, someway, Jesus was no longer in the tomb, no longer where Peter knew the body of the Rabbi had been placed.

So at least in part, the exhaustion Peter now felt was not from running. It came from the recognition that there was nothing in the tomb except wrappings on the ground. The reality of that truth left Peter emotionally exhausted.

Perhaps thinking it would somehow help control his emotions, Peter began to review everything that had happened since he first met the Rabbi. After all, Peter was there when Jesus preached all over Galilee, there when Jesus healed the sick, fed five thousand, recited parables.

Peter was the one who answered the pivotal question, “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, he insisted. And when Jesus was transfigured it was Peter who heard that voice, a voice which insisted Jesus was the Chosen One. Peter… was… there. (Slight pause.)

Then, when Jesus was taken as a prisoner of the state, Peter… was… there. (Slight pause.) Right after that Peter’s friend, Peter’s teacher, Peter’s guide, Peter’s companion— was murdered by the state, crucified by the Romans. Peter watched from afar as his friend Jesus… died. Peter… was… there.

But now, now this… this… empty tomb and the reality, the truth of the wrappings on the ground. So yes— Peter was… spent, exhausted, emotionally exhausted. (Slight pause.)

And so with the truth of this burden Peter trod toward Jerusalem, toward the house where the other disciples waited, knowing there was yet another emotional hill to climb. He needed to face the women who all the others had doubted.

It was the women who on the first day of the week, at dawn, went and found the tomb… empty. It was the women who were told, “Why do you look for the Living One among the dead? Jesus is not here; Christ has risen.”

It was the women who then told everyone about the empty tomb, about what they had heard, saw, felt. It was the women who… no… one… believed. The women were told their tale was… idle, nonsensical.

Peter was the only one who went to the tomb, the only one willing to face the reality of the empty tomb. Why? Peter realized if what the women said was true he needed to affirm the truth, needed to affirm them. He wondered if they now would, in turn, ridicule him because of how the others had ridiculed them. (Slight pause.)

Peter burst through the door into the large room where everyone was gathered, entered into a cacophony of chatter and raised a hand. What had been a wall of noise turned into immediate silence.

“It’s true,” he said, gesturing toward the women who were standing together away from the others. “They spoke the truth. The tomb is empty.” (Slight pause.) “I’m exhausted. Let me sit.”

Peter sat on a bench. Perhaps the flood of emotions had finally caught up with him. It suddenly felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on his back. He bent over and just stared at the floor.

The women were the first to notice this distress. From a corner of the room, a question was asked: “Peter, are you all right?”

Peter knew that voice. Was it Mary of Magdala? He thought so. She was perceptive. She knew before anyone else when something was amiss.

Peter, his eyes closed, responded. “Yes. I’m all right. I’ll be fine.”

Then Peter started to sob. His body quaked. Tears streamed down his face, his beard. He wept and he wept and he wept.

“Peter? Peter?” He was sure it was Mary’s voice.

The disciple felt a hand softly touch his shoulder. He knew that hand. The touch was tender, healing. “Mary is offering solace in my time of need,” thought Peter.

After a bit, the crying began to cease. Peter tried to force a sense of logic, order on the multiple emotions he felt.

Slowly he wiped away the tears. The hand which was resting on his shoulder patted three times and then lifted away. Peter opened his eyes.

Across the room he saw Mary of Magdala and the other women. Quickly he looked around. No one was behind him. No one had dared come near him.

“Mary! Were you just near me? Behind me?”

She offered a quizzical look. “No.”

“Someone was behind me. Someone was touching me. I felt it!”

Everyone in the room stared at him not knowing what to say. This was, after all, Peter, a speaker of truth, the seeker of reality, the one among them who saw everything clearly, the first one to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ.

He pointed toward the women. He shouted as loud as he could. “You have given me— no, you have given us the greatest joy imaginable!” he shouted. “Jesus is risen! Jesus is risen and you, you were the first to be told and so you shared that. You told us. What a wonderful gift.”

The women nodded and smiled.

Peter was emotionally drained but at the same time somehow filled with joy. Softly, Peter said it again: “Jesus… is… risen. Jesus… is… the Christ.” (Long pause.) Amen.

04/20/2025 ~ Sunrise Service and the 10:00 a.m. Service
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is a précis of what was said: “I need to say two things: first, in Aramaic, which would have been spoken in Roman Judea in New Testament times, to be saved meant to be made alive. We moderns do not seem to understand that. Second, I want to suggest to merely say ‘Happy Easter’ is not a Christian sentiment. So, let me make a suggestion: if someone walks up to you today and says, ‘Happy Easter’ smile and say, ‘Christ is risen.’ Why? ‘Christ is risen’ is the Christian sentiment.”

BENEDICTION AND EASTER ACCLAMATION

Hear now this blessing and then please join with me in the responsive Easter acclamation found in the bulletin:

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the love of Christ, Jesus, and in the knowledge of the Holy Spirit this day and forever. And please join with me in the Easter Acclamation.

ONE: May the love of God, the power of the resurrection in Christ, Jesus and the presence of the Spirit be with us always.
MANY: And the blessing of God surround us this day and forevermore.
ONE: So, indeed, rejoice! Rejoice people of God! Christ is risen!
ALL: Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!