HTLC Sermon Notes: 4.5.26 Easter Sunday

This is the day that the Lord has made! Christ is risen, and through him all creation is made new! Christ’s resurrection truly brings new life to everyone. We sing hymns of praise, gather around sacred words, and proclaim God’s faithfulness, power, and love in the feast of Holy Communion. With Mary Magdalene, we are astonished, elated, and grateful.

I know that on Easter there are most likely people here who absolutely trust and count on the promise of the resurrection, people who wish they could believe it more, and some folks who are here simply because it’s tradition or because it makes Mom or the grandparents happy!

It doesn’t matter what your reason for being here or tuning in … welcome!

All four Gospels tell the story of the first Easter, but each has a slightly different focus. The Gospel of John, which I read this year, talks about Mary Magdalene as the first person to see the empty tomb. She went and told the disciples, and the scene unfolds from there.

It’s a good telling of the events, and this morning I want to focus on three things: we are resurrection people for the sake of the world, the resurrection is always personal, and miracles still happen.

The resurrection is just as much for this life as it is for the next. Resurrection isn’t just God’s promise to bring us back to life after we die. Resurrection is God’s desire (and ability) to bring us back to life now. And not just for each individual’s own sake, but for the sake of the whole world.

There’s a word for this “resurrection-hope” — protopia -- a future that may not be perfect, but is better than today or yesterday. Protopia -- a future that is better tomorrow than today -- comes about from the choices we make, perhaps especially the choices resurrection people make for the sake of all the people God loves (and here I must remind you that the people God loves is everyone). A beautiful example of this was the launch of Artemis II on Wednesday. Despite all the turmoil and division in the world, people watched in awe as we literally rose above all the negative to do something powerful.

Each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray for God’s kingdom come and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That means each of us, doing our part, makes the world a better place.

Another important focus for today is that the message of the resurrection is highly personal.

After Mary stood outside weeping, Jesus appeared to her. The scriptures tell us that she didn’t recognize him until he said her name, “Mary.”

How wonderful that we have a Savior who knows us by name! You can’t get much more personal than that! The fact is, God loves us. Jesus died for us. No matter who we are! So, not only should we strive to make the world a better place, we can take great comfort in knowing that God is a personal God.

The final focus for today is that miracles are still happening. We are surrounded by miracles every day. Some are bigger than others, but if keep your eyes open… you’ll find them.

So, we should all do our part to make the world a better place. We should remember the fact that God knows each of us by name. We should be aware of the many miracles that surround us.

I’m going to finish today by telling you a story of a big real-life miracle. A story about a young man who now can testify that God cares for us personally. A miracle that this congregation helped in a small part to create.

You might remember that at the end of October we had a prayer chain going for a young man named Steven. We gave Steven and his mom Colette prayer shawls. We have kept Steven in our Sunday prayers all this time.

Steven gave me permission to share his story today.

On October 30th he was driving home from work on Rt. 303 about 2:30 am. At that time in the morning there were no other cars on the road, and Steven was chatting on the phone with his girlfriend, Maggie. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a car came barreling toward him, crossed the center line, and hit him head on. It is known now that the woman driving the car had some sort of psychotic break. Officers determined that she was driving over 100 mph. She was killed. We know she is in God’s care, and we pray for her family.

Steven was traveling the speed limit. He thought he had a split second to try to avoid the crash, but there wasn’t time. His car was smashed, the driver’s door was jammed, he was badly injured, but he never lost consciousness and crawled over the console and out the passenger door.

Now here come the miracles:

~Maggie hung up the phone and reported the accident, so help arrived within about 20 minutes.

~Steven sensed at the very beginning that he would survive.

~ He was not alone! Steven had a friend who committed suicide a couple of years ago, and he sensed his friend’s presence next to him.

~Although he was badly hurt, he felt no pain and again had the sense that he would be OK.

I’m not going to share all the details, but I will tell you that Steven suffered many internal injuries, broken ribs, and a crushed right leg and ankle. He had to undergo several surgeries to put his broken body back together.

The doctors predicted that he would be in the hospital and rehab for at least six months. Had that been the case, he should have been getting home just about now.

~I’m happy to tell you that Steven left the hospital about a month after the accident and rehab a month after that. He was home for Christmas!

~The doctors weren’t sure he would ever walk again, but thanks to hard work, determination, and of course God’s grace, he’s walking and able to live a normal life.

Steven is a good friend of some of my grandkids. He is a musician and is writing an album of songs about his experience. He has promised me that he and my grandson Jake will come to Holy Trinity and play one of the songs for us when he’s ready.

I asked Steven what lessons he learned from this. He was quick to reply that life is short, and we should never take anything for granted.

So you see, miracles do still happen! Whether it’s reconciling a relationship, finding a wonderful job, or hearing the cry of a newborn baby, thanks to God’s love and the resurrection of Jesus we must remember to give God the glory and rejoice!

And as we leave this place with joy-filled hearts, let’s be ready to proclaim God’s amazing love.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, alleluia!