POSITIVE WRITTEN SERMON - Easter
Time Sensitivity: Easter Sunday
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For hundreds of years, Hebrew seers had believed that a man was to come, who would fulfill the noblest ideals of humanity. This ideal man, they foretold, would be the Messiah, the anointed One, the beloved of God, the Savior. They prophesied that He would lead His people out of darkness and distress, into the light and joy that was to come. From the days of Moses, who declared, Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken [Duet. 18:15, KJV].
Throughout the period of the great literary prophets, there had been these predictions. How and when this Messiah was to come the prophets did not know; nevertheless, they had a definite conception of what He would be like. Of all the prophets, Isaiah had the clearest vision. He said that a maiden would bear a son whose name would be Immanuel (which means God with us). He would be a redeemer, a king to whose sovereignty there would be no end.
Allow me to share with you Isaiah 9:2-5. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined … For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace [KJV].
Isaiah gave a clear description of the nature of the anointed One. The Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the [respect] of Jehovah … and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his words; but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, an decide with equity for the needy of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins [Isaiah 11:2-5, KJV].
The prophet declared that the kingdom of the Messiah would be universal, not only for humans, but for all creation. And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them … They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea [Isaiah 11:6-9].
Truly this was a remarkable person. Allow me to share with you the most remarkable story of all–the Easter story, what we are here to celebrate this morning.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.
There is an important fact here. There were two disciples, who ran to the tomb, and there are two disciples who run to your tomb–whatever you have entombed in your life; and whatever you are hoping on this Easter morning will rise again.
The two disciples were Peter and John. They spiritually represent faith and love.
But love gets there first. Mary Magdalene, the soul that has found faith and love, is not afraid once they come.
With love and faith, we, too, can face anything. Allow your love to go forward and your faith will follow. The two have a great, united strength where you can do anything; where you can face your fears if you allow these two powers, which are with you (Christ powers), to go ahead.
You remember, the two disciples ran on their way to their homes, but Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
You can just hear Jesus saying this. My Jesus, and, I hope, your Jesus, is a smiling Jesus, a Jesus with joy and a great sense of humor. I can just see Him. It is one of the peak moments of His life, filled with joy. And here is Mary in sorrow. He looks at Mary and says, “Mary, why are you weeping? Here I am. I am right here.”
But she supposed Him to be the gardener. She had tears in her eyes; she was in great sorrow. She looked up, but could not see clearly. She was still crying uncontrollably. She said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, [probably in total disbelief] “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
There were five appearances of Jesus on the day of the Resurrection (Easter Sunday). Appearance #1 was when Mary was standing at the tomb weeping. Mary’s weeping was the human reaction of grief over the death of a loved one. And added to her grief was the fear that someone had stolen Jesus’ body.
The two angels represent the positive words of life that bring spiritual power to bear; that lift the body out of matter into spirit. These two bright and shining powers are possessed of animated intelligence.
Jesus was standing nearby, but Mary’s eyes were filled with tears and at first, she did not recognize Him. When He asked why she wept, she thought He was the gardener. However, when He called her by name, she turned and knew Him in that moment. Jesus said to her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father.”
Why did Jesus not want Mary to touch Him? Later, in the same afternoon, He appeared to other women and did not object if they touched Him. It would seem that Mary was closer to Him than the others; for she had served Him continually from the time He had healed her, early in His ministry. Her grief, therefore, was heavier to carry than theirs.
In order to rise into the realm of God purity, the Christ must not be attached to the clinging affections of the soul. Jesus did not want the sorrowing thought of Mary to touch Him. The spiritual mind does not grieve; it does not look to matter and the limitations of the flesh for life eternal, and it dissipates the thoughts of sorrow by a denial of their reality or their power to affect the mind of the Son of God
The second appearance of Jesus was to the other women, who had come with Mary Magdalene to anoint His body. It probably took place in the garden of Joseph of Arimathaea. It is recorded only in the Gospel of Matthew.
And behold, Jesus met them, saying, “All hail.” And they came and took hold of his feet and worshipped him. Then saith Jesus unto them, “Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me [Matthew 28:9, 10].
The third appearance of Jesus Christ was to Peter. The details of it are unknown, though the visit is referred to by Luke and also by Paul in I Corinthians 15:5. “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon” (Luke 24:34).
The fourth appearance of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday was toward evening. Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This is a beautiful instance of Jesus’ desire to open the eyes of those who believe. The two disciples, with sad and anxious hearts, were discussing the incidents of the past two days, when a stranger joined them and asked about their distress.
I love Jesus and I love the way He smiles through all these events. He just joins them and walks with them for a while. I can just see Him doing this.
The stranger said, “Tell me why you are so sorrowful?” They were surprised that anyone who lived in Jerusalem had not heard of the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people [Luke 24:19]. It had been their hope that He was the long-awaited Messiah. True, the report was abroad that He had risen from the dead, but no one had seen Him. These two had not heard of His appearances to Mary Magdalene and the other women.
After He reproached the two disciples for their lack of understanding and faith, the Master explained the Old Testament prophecies concerning suffering and glory that were to be experienced by Jesus Christ. When the three arrived at Emmaus, the disciples invited Him to share their food.
When he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said to one another, “Was not our heart burning within us while he spoke to us on the way, while he opened to us the scripture? [Luke 24:30-32, KJV].
With all speed, the two disciples returned to Jerusalem to tell the great news to the apostles. They found them and others with them, but before the two could relay their news, they were greeted with the joyous tidings, “the Lord is risen indeed.” Then the men from Emmaus told of their experience with the risen Jesus Christ.
The fifth appearance of Jesus was in the evening. Ten of the apostles were together in a room. The door was closed. Suddenly, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, “Peace be unto you.” And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whosoever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained [John 20:19-23].
John the Baptist had baptized with water unto repentance, but he said of Jesus, “He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire” [Matthew 3:11].
When we have received a concept of the relation that we, as spiritual beings, have to God, the old state of thought is easily dissolved and washed away by that of which water baptism is symbolical–denial. Then, there come into our mind ideas directly from God, and we see everything in a new light. This baptism of the Holy Spirit quickens the whole human. When the mind has received words of God, the way is open for the healing power, which is called the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of wholeness, to descend further into the body consciousness. This outpouring or inpouring of the Holy Spirit is the second baptism.
This second baptism may be considered as the taking on of Divine ideas by affirmation of total faith.
The ten apostles gladly accepted the news, but Thomas thought the news was just too good to be true. He said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” [John 20:25]. A week after the Resurrection, Thomas was given the proof he required.
Through His Divinity, we understand our own connection to God. What is the secret of Jesus’ enduring influence? One basic reason is that man is a spiritual being, made in the image and likeness of God. Everyone may not be aware of this, but we, instinctively, respond to the One whose every word and act was evidence of His divinity.
The voice of our spiritual self may be faint; we may even deliberately close our ears to it, yet it continues to sound and ever urges a climb to higher ground. Jesus made this ascent, and by our spiritual kinship with Him we are drawn to Him.
In mind, we are all related to a great creative Spirit of God that infuses its very life into our mind and body, when we turn our attention to it. We have, mentally, wandered away from this creative Spirit of God and lost contact with its life-giving currents. Jesus made connection for us, and through Him, we again begin to draw vitality from the great fountainhead.
This higher state of consciousness is what we are here to celebrate this morning that can overcome anything, that can overcome any tomb, anything that is dead in our lives. This higher state of consciousness is possible to all who follow Jesus by claiming their Divine heritage of choice to know they, too, are connected with God.
His promise is I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may be also. Through His great overcoming, Jesus released the Christ consciousness into the universal ethers. Those who keep His word may enter into it.
The Easter story! And it is true–every last word of it is true. It is the enduring influence we have of His message and the possibility of attainment we have by following that message that we are here on this Easter morning to celebrate.
God bless you!
PRAYER / MEDITATION_________________________________
What a joy it is to again pray. As you close your eyes, realize you are not only praying with your family, but also with people around the world. I ask you to join me in this time of prayer.
At this sacred time, we come together for a single purpose. That single purpose is united prayer. The prayers we share reach out to touch people in every corner of our city, at all churches, for prayer is universal.
We join our hearts and minds in stillness. God surrounds us as we move into this time of tranquility. We relax our minds and bodies, and we turn our thoughts toward God’s Presence. A calming peace washes over you and you feel at one with the Christ.
As you dwell in the silence of prayer, you remember these comforting words of Jesus Christ: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Take this thought with you, this Easter morning, into the silence of prayer. ..
Our prayer for inner peace is: The Christ is risen as peace. Hold that in your thinking. You are centered in peace.
You now focus your thought on Divine direction. You know that you are never alone as you travel the path of life. The Christ is always with you, to guide and direct you. In every situation, Christ is the ray of light that shines brightly, illuminating our way.
We walk through life serene and secure. We know our paths are bright and our way is clear. How grateful we are, dear God, for guidance. How certain we are that the way to the perfect plan lies before us.
Make me to know Thy ways, oh Lord. Teach me Thy paths. Our prayer for guidance is: The Christ is risen as light. My path is clear. Accept that, now, in the silence of prayer …
Centered in the Christ presence, we gently turn our thoughts to healing. Begin to sense that irrepressible desire for perfect health and wholeness. Our nature is to be strong and well. As we pray and believe, we feel the healing work taking place within us.
We know that even the smallest cell reacts to the Christ presence. Each atom of our bodies attracts the healing love of God. We are bathed in perfect health, which becomes more and more evident.
“For I will restore health to you; and your wounds I will heal,” says the Lord. Our prayer for healing is: The Christ is risen as life. I am healed. We totally accept that thought, now, in the silence of prayer. As we do so, it moves into our body-consciousness; the atoms and cells of our physical body temple accept that thought at the same time …
And now we, consciously, open ourselves to the good that awaits us. Our world is filled with abundance of every kind, and it is ours to enjoy. We have faith that Christ is providing for all of our needs. As we realize this, any impression of lack disappears.
As we bask in the light of prosperity, we remember that as children of a loving Provider, we are always cared for in generous ways. As we learn to graciously receive, we also learn to give; and we are twice blessed.
And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity. Our prayer for prosperity is: The Christ is risen as love. I give and receive bountifully. Accept that right now in the silence of prayer …
We now return our attention to the present moment, bringing with us, on this Easter Sunday morning a new perspective, of the activity of Christ within us. We are filled with thoughts of peace, guidance, health, and prosperity. We go forward from this place to rediscover our God-given good.
The light of God surrounds us;
The love of God enfolds us;
The power of God protects us;
The presence of God watches over us.
Wherever we are, God is!
In Jesus Christ’s name we pray … Amen.
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