I rarely do this, posting sermons, but I thought I would share what I preached this morning. The text is Mark 16:1-8
I deny the resurrection of Christ.
In a blog post entitled “My Confession: I deny the Resurrection,” author Peter Rollins comments on accusations that he denies the resurrection.
Here’s what he says:
Without equivocation or hesitation I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think…
I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.
However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.
I don’t know Pete personally, I’ve only read his books and heard him speak once – but I suspect this is an honest admission on his part.
But it resonates deep within me, convicting me in a way that compels me to confess the same to you this Easter Sunday morning – I deny the resurrection of Christ.
I deny the resurrection of Christ not only every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, but also when I consume more than what I need, more than what is rightfully mine, leaving less for those who need it.
I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I choose to watch an extra half hour of TV instead of spending that time listening to and talking with God.
Or when I do not care for God’s creation, throwing out that plastic bottle rather than recycling it or when I take a long, hot shower in the morning.
I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not tell another person the ways in which my life has been transformed by the radical, rule-breaking, self-sacrificing, life-giving love Jesus has shown me.
I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I let fear and anxiety get the best of me – believing what the world would want me to believe.
The silence of my words and actions in the face of violence and injustice very loudly proclaims to the world that I do not trust that empty tomb, the one we gather here today to remember and celebrate.
And every time I deny the resurrection, I deny the sacrifice and love shown by Jesus on Good Friday. I deny his very willingness to go to the cross – able to save himself and yet choosing not to.
And every time I deny the resurrection of Christ and the cross – I deny Christ himself.
Yes, I too confess that I deny the resurrection of Christ – all too often.
But, I suppose, I am not the first to deny the resurrection. The first were the women who fled from the empty tomb early that first Easter.
They let their fear get the best of them, their terror and amazement.
They fled from the tomb – having been commanded by the young man there to tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus was going ahead of them to Galilee, to tell them of what they had seen.
But instead they flee and say nothing to anyone because they were afraid.
In this moment of fear and terror, these women denied the resurrection of Christ – denied the command to tell the world of the resurrection.
And in doing so, denied the faithfulness and love Jesus showed them on the cross.
In that moment, they denied Christ.
And in their denial, they have deprived the world of what they have seen, what they have experienced; of that love and sacrifice, that empty tomb.
Denied the world of the ways in which he changed their lives, the kindness and love he showed them.
Denied the world of the ways he gave them worth and value, especially when that very world dictated that they were property rather than people.
Each denial of the resurrection of Christ, whether that of the women fleeing the empty tomb or each of us, deprives the world of the knowledge, of the change it so desperately needs.
It deprives the world of its Lord and Ruler – of a kingdom where justice reigns.
It deprives the world of truth, peace, freedom, and love.
It deprives the world of a God formerly incarnated in one man, but now incarnated in a whole community of people.
Even as we gather here today, on this beautiful Easter Sunday morning, having heard the accounts of Jesus’ death again this past week and now celebrating the empty tomb and that he has been risen from the dead, we know there are countless times we deny the resurrection of Christ – when we deny this empty tomb – and the power it holds for us and the world.
But while we may deny the resurrection, God never does.
God remains faithful, knowing exactly what power this empty tomb holds.
The power to conquer the infection of sin whose symptoms we try to manage every day – the power to conquer death.
God does not deny the resurrection – instead God boldly proclaims it to the world, to us – going ahead of us to meet us.
“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ (Mark 16:5-7)
Jesus does not hide the fact that he has been resurrected. No, he lives and breathes yet again – going ahead of his disciples to Galilee to meet them – to walk with them, to be there.
To remind them of the resurrection – to prove to them that he has indeed been killed and then raised from the dead.
He shows up to prove to them the resurrection is real – no matter what the world tells them.
Jesus goes ahead to remind them all of the resurrection – to affirm it.
He meets them in Galilee, the every day of their lives, just as he says – so that they may see the resurrection as having real ramifications in their lives.
It isn’t just something that happened once – never to be forgotten or denied.
But something that has very real effects for every part of their daily lives.
Jesus goes ahead to remind them of the resurrection even though they have failed him over and over, not trusting him – even though they have denied him.
So it is with us – Jesus goes ahead of us, meets us in the everyday of life, reminding us of the resurrection, affirming it for us.
Jesus affirms the resurrection for us in the best of things, the joys of life – celebrations of new life, triumphs, jobs well done, and laughter with friends.
The resurrection is affirmed when the hungry are fed and the naked are clothed. When we give those who live their lives on the margins a place at the table and their voices are heard. The resurrection is affirmed in sitting with those who have suddenly lost a loved one or lost a job and are now looking for a place to turn, for a kind ear to listen.
Jesus meets us in our daily lives, affirming the resurrection even in the most mundane, normal things – in dirty diapers and picking up toys, in confused meeting times and places, grocery shopping, cleaning up the house, even in reconciliation after a fight with those closest to us.
But he also goes ahead of us, proclaiming the resurrection during those awful times – in crisis, thoughts of suicide, the loss of a place to live, the inability to feed our families, a shooting or drug related violence.
He is there reminding us that these things no longer have any power – because of the empty tomb.
He has gone ahead into death, conquering it and giving us new life.
He has already been to all of these places – there is no place we could ever go where Jesus hasn’t already been before.
He has already been to those times and places where we deny the resurrection – and affirms it for us, reminding us of the power of an empty tomb.
Even though we may deny the resurrection of Christ – Christ does not and he never denies us.
Peter Rollins. My Confession: I Deny the Resurrection. January 31, 2009 (http://peterrollins.net/blog/?p=136)
Photo courtesy of Keith Bacongco
