"Do You Believe in Easter? ”

An Easter Sermon Preached by
The Rev. Jean Niven Lenk

There is a story told of a woman from Little Rock, Arkansas who had a habit of introducing herself to strangers in this way: "Hello, my name is Ethel. Do you believe in Easter?"

As you might imagine, people would respond to Ethel’s question in a variety of ways. Some would turn on their heels and walk away without a word. Sometimes people listened politely as Ethel explained the meaning of Christ’s resurrection, but once she was out of sight, they never gave her words another thought. Sometimes, when Ethel asked “Do you believe in Easter?,” people would answer, “Oh, yes, I believe; it’s all about egg hunts and chocolate bunnies and dressing up in pretty pastel dresses.”

You would think that Ethel would have been discouraged by such responses. But every once in a while, she would come across people who would listen – really listen – to her explanation of Easter, and for many, it was the first time they had heard about Jesus, the first time they had heard about the promise of resurrection and the hope of everlasting life.

And so Ethel kept asking the question, “Do you believe in Easter?” and she kept telling anyone who would listen the meaning of this day we celebrate.

We come this Easter morning to the festive beauty of this holy place and the joy-filled welcomes of friends and strangers, to sing the familiar hymns, to hear the stirring music, and to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, which is the foundation of our Christian faith. What if “Easter Ethel” were here with us this morning -- out in our lobby greeting you as you came in, here in this sanctuary as you took your pew -- and what is she asked you the question: “Do you believe in Easter?” How would respond?

Surveys¹ tell us that most people believe in God, or a higher power of some sort; and most people believe that there was a man named Jesus – who was a prophet and a teacher and a healer, who lived a moral life and died on the cross.

But when it comes to the empty tomb, many people hesitate. They stop short of believing in Christ’s resurrection, for then they would have to admit something that sounds impossible is possible; something that sounds unbelievable is believable; something that can’t be rationally explained by mere mortals can still happen with God.

Today, Easter Sunday, is the most important day of the Christian calendar, and Christ’s resurrection is central to everything that Jesus taught concerning himself and the Kingdom of God, to everything the church has proclaimed since the day Jesus ascended into heaven. It is the key to our faith and to our hope as Christians.

But, the story of Jesus’ resurrection is not an easy one to grasp. It’s not like Christmas; we “get” Christmas; we can relate to the story of a couple having a baby.

But Easter is different. It’s not that we don’t want to believe that there is a power greater than death; it’s not that we don’t want to believe that death is not the last word. It’s just that it’s hard to comprehend with our reasoned, rational minds what happened 2,000 years ago. And the idea of resurrection seems to have no connection or relevance to the daily experience of our lives.

In that, we are not unlike Jesus’ followers on that first Easter. The Gospel of Luke tells us that the first Easter morning is not full of the joy and exultation that we would expect. Instead, it is a story of grief, fear, confusion, and lots of doubt. The first witnesses do not know what is happening, and they don’t know how to react. And it takes them time to believe.

The women come to the tomb expecting to prepare Jesus body for burial, but when they arrive, the stone is rolled away and Jesus’ body is gone! We know that Jesus is alive again. But the women’s first reaction is fear and perplexity. It’s not until two angels tell them what has happened that the women remember what Jesus had told them about dying and rising on the third day. And when they do, their fears subside and their doubts evaporate.

Do you believe in Easter? The women at the tomb do, and they run to tell the news to Jesus’ closest circle of friends, his disciples.

The disciples are huddled together somewhere in Jerusalem, so in mourning over the death of their leader Jesus that they are unable to move or comprehend the news that the women deliver. Even though Jesus had told his friends repeatedly that he would die and rise on the third day, when the disciples hear the women’s story about the empty tomb, they think it is nonsense, an “idle tale.”

Do you believe in Easter? On that first Easter morning, most of the disciples don’t.

Only Peter is curious enough to go and check out things for himself. But even though he sees the empty tomb with his own eyes, he is not yet convinced.

Do you believe in Easter? Peter is not sure.

You see, nobody on that first Easter morning expects resurrection. Despite what they see with their own eyes. Despite what they have heard or experienced. Despite what Jesus has told them.

Do you believe in Easter?

Maybe you are like the women at the tomb – you have to have some sort of divine encounter, perhaps with an angel – to convince you that Jesus lives again. Or maybe you’re like the disciples and dismiss the resurrection story as the idle tale of preachers and religious fanatics. Maybe you’re like Peter – curious, open, wanting to know more – but not yet convinced enough to believe.

Or perhaps you need solid proof, like Thomas, the doubting disciple. Even when the risen Christ is standing right next to him, he responds, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Do you believe in Easter? Thomas doesn’t, until Jesus says, “Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” And when Thomas puts his fingers into Jesus’ wounds, he believes.

Theologian and Harvard preacher Peter Gomes has commented that on Easter, preachers sound like attorneys, producing evidence and arguing from reason and logic that the resurrection is possible, even if it is unbelievable. Well, I’m not a lawyer and I don’t plan to act like one this morning. But I’m going to share this with you. I have seen resurrection; I have experienced resurrection. The literal meaning of the word resurrection is to stand up again. I believe in Easter because in my life, I have been knocked flat on the ground by grief and loss and despair and hopelessness. And Christ picked me up and made me whole again. Christ turned my hopelessness into hope. Christ turned my despair into joy. Christ healed my broken heart so that I could love again.

What about you? Have you experienced resurrection? Do you believe in Easter?

When we are imprisoned by anger and hatred and Christ frees us to offer reconciling forgiveness, we can believe.

When we fall into an anguished and hopeless despair, and Christ pulls us back into the light – we can believe.

When our hearts have been broken, and Christ heals us so that we are able to love again – we can believe.

When our hopes are dashed, when we lose a relationship, when illness visits, when death intrudes – and the Risen Christ gives us strength to keep on going – we can believe in Easter.

Easter is not about proving the mystery of the event that happened 2000 years ago. Easter is about the here and now; it’s about how we live our lives today. It’s about living the mystery of Christ which liberates us from our tombs of depression, shame, guilt, despair, regret, denial and loss. It is about rolling away what locks us up and blocks us from wholeness. It’s about defeating the things that diminish or destroy life, that sour or kill love, that keep us from reconciliation, peace, forgiveness. Easter is about overcoming whatever threatens life’s joy and possibility, whatever tears us apart and separates us from one another. And Easter tells us that death is not the end; death is not going to have the last word. Because Christ will heal our hearts, renew our lives, and make us whole again.

Easter transcends reason, intellect and even our most terrifying human emotions – fear, confusion, depression and anxiety – and it grasps what the heart knows to be true: that faith outruns despair, that hope outweighs doubt, that love overwhelms death.

Do you believe in Easter? On this glorious Resurrection morning, the Risen Christ says to all of us, “Stop doubting, and believe!” Amen.