The Triumph of God In the last few sermons that I have preached here, we
First Presbyterian, Warren
have been following Jesus and his disciples along the road of
Easter 2011
C. Drew Smith, Ph.D. discipleship as they travel toward Jerusalem. We have learned
about Peter’s misconception of what it meant for Jesus to be
Mark 16:1-8
God’s Messiah, we have been warned of the dangers on the
road of discipleship, and last week we witnessed Jesus’
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might intentional clash with the religious authorities of Jerusalem and
go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the his ultimate clash with the political authority of Rome,
week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They
embodied in the person of Pontius Pilate, who ordered Jesus’
had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone
for us from the entrance to the tomb?" 4 When they looked up, death by crucifixion.
they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been
rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, We learned that in that death, Jesus was epitomizing the
dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were judgment God was placing on any system of authority that did
alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are not lead in justice and compassion, but instead ruled in
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 oppressive power and violence. In the creative reflection on
But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you the cross, the earliest Christians found a symbol of political
to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." 8 So resistance against the norms of the Roman system. Their
they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and
resistance to Rome was not found in rebellious or violent
amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone,
for they were afraid. uprising against a power that would surely annihilate them,
which certainly would have ended the Jesus movement. Rather,
their resistance took the form of living in stark opposition to
the norms of Roman society. In this way they carried out a
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011
subversive resistance to Roman authority by living as the triumph of God over God’s enemies. Such a sentiment is
community of Jesus. superbly expressed through the Paschal greeting practiced in
many churches on this day, “Christ is risen. He is risen,
But, we must wonder about the death of Jesus, the
indeed.”
leader of this movement. Was not this death, at least in the eyes
of his enemies, a failure on his part? It certainly seems so, at Yet, although we celebrate this most glorious event
least based on the mocking Jesus receives from those standing today, along with fellow Christians from all over the world,
and watching him die. “He saved others, but he cannot save perhaps it is good for us to return to the tomb with the women
himself,” mocked those bystanders, clearly indicating their as if we have perhaps never heard the story before. In doing
belief that they had done away with this upstart trouble maker so, we must embrace a naiveté, an innocence and an ignorance
who tried to subvert their authority. as to the events of that day, just as if we were walking to the
tomb with them. In other words, just as Mark compels us to
But, perhaps even more so is the victory that Rome may
walk with Jesus and the disciples as if we were actually there
have felt, at least from Pilate’s perspective. He had ended
as participants of the story, we should also approach the
Jesus’ life, and thus he had, at least in his own mind, thwarted
resurrection narrative from the point of view of these
any revolution of this so-called “King of the Jews.” Yes, it did
unknowing female disciples, who come not expecting what we
seem that Rome was once again triumphant in killing an enemy
now know they experienced.
of the state. But as we know, this was not the end of the story.
In doing so, I want to first look directly at two
The central event celebrated by Christians across the
statements that actually come together into one that defines the
world is the event of the resurrection. This event is the vital
central message of Christian faith. When the women arrive at
part of Christian belief, more so than any event, including
the tomb of Jesus they are met by a young man dressed in a
Christmas, and since the earliest Christians first experienced
white robe. He knows why they have come, but he, as God’s
the resurrection of Jesus, this event has been viewed as the
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011
messenger, is there to correct their understanding about what been raised is in what is called the perfect tense, which means
has happened. And in doing so, he offers the succinct it did happen in the past, but it has present implications.
statement of Christian faith.
And so we have in these two words, crucified and
"Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of raised, the whole story of Christianity: On Friday, Jesus was
Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised.” What is crucified by humans, but on Sunday Jesus has been raised by
interesting about this statement is that the two statements “who God. In other words, what happened on Friday has now been
was crucified” and “He has been raised,” are actually expressed overcome by God on Sunday. God has triumphed.
in the Greek text by two words standing side by side, in
But there seems to be more said here than Jesus’ death
juxtaposition of one another. In what seems to be an
at the hands of humans that was overcome by God, although
intentional stark contrast between what has happened to Jesus,
this would be enough. In other words, if we take our places
that he was crucified by humans, and what has now happened
with the women who go to the tomb, then we can find in the
to Jesus, that he has been raised by God, the author of Mark is
young man’s message the eternal and powerful message of the
asking us to consider the stark opposition that exists between
resurrection story that gives us hope.
the evil of humanity and the triumph of God.
What do these words mean for the faith of these first
This is made even clearer by noticing that both words,
witnesses and for our own faith in our own world? What is
crucified and raised, are expressed in the passive voice,
said here in these words about Jesus’ resurrection that has
indicating that others acted upon Jesus. The Romans crucified
anything to do with me and my faith? In these few moments
Jesus, but God raised him from the dead. And, we might also
this morning, I want us to discover together that the message of
add that the term crucified is in the past tense, which means
Easter is more than what to happened Jesus on that first Easter
that it did happen in the past, but the word translated as has
morning, for the God who triumphed over evil on that first
Easter, continues to triumph over evil in our world.
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011
First, in the resurrection of Jesus God’s power was evil act by raising Jesus from the dead and vindicating his
overcoming human evil. We have already seen how the innocence. God’s power in the resurrection overcomes any
message proclaimed by the young man in the tomb shows that evil humanity brought upon Jesus.
humans crucified Jesus, but God raised him from the dead.
For the first believers who heard these words, this gave
Here I want to highlight this a bit more.
them assurance that evil would not win the day. Although
If we go back to the arrest, trial and crucifixion of many would face persecution at the hands of evil for their faith
Jesus, we see the true evilness of humanity. Jesus, a man of in Christ, God’s power to raised Jesus from the dead gave them
innocence and goodness, was falsely convicted of a crime he hope in their own resurrection.
did not commit, and then sentence to death by a Roman
God’s power to raise Jesus in the face of human evil is
politician who cared more for political gain than justice, and so
the same power God demonstrates in overcoming human evil
he gave into the pressure of the public, and he had Jesus
in our own world. It is the power God gives to us, through our
crucified.
own hope in Christ’s resurrection that empowers us to live as
An arrest in the dark of night, a betrayal by a friend, a faithful disciples of Jesus who continue to seek to overcome
trial that was conducted illegally, and a chorus of false evil with good.
witnesses all characterized Thursday and Friday of that week.
We have certainly seen our share of human evil. From
And then on Saturday, while the crucified Jesus lay in a tomb,
the violence that occurs in our homes and neighborhood streets,
those who tried, convicted, and executed him, reveled in their
to the violence that continues on an international level, human
victory.
evil seems on the surface to be winning the day. But God has
Yet God had a loud answer to their evil: The had, does now have, and will in the future have an answer to
Resurrection. Those who perpetrated the evil against Jesus human evil: The Resurrection. Jesus was crucified, but he
would not have the final say, for God was overcoming their has been raised!
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011
Second, this statement spoken by the young man in the distance, but does come into the court yard where Jesus is.
empty tomb also implies that in the resurrection God’s Then Peter begins to be questioned about knowing Jesus, and
faithfulness was overcoming human failure. so starts his denial. In Mark’s telling of the story, not only
does Peter deny Jesus, he also moves into the forecourt further
You remember the scene at Jesus’ arrest, trial and
away from Jesus. Peter was not only denying he knew Jesus,
execution. Where were the disciples? They were not with
he was also slowly and surely leaving Jesus to face his fate
Jesus in his time of need, for they had become deserters, who
alone.
turned their backs on Jesus. They had moved from being
followers to failures. And so now we come to the empty tomb, where this
young man in white tells the women, “Go, tell his disciples and
But in the resurrection, God’s faithfulness overcomes
Peter, that he will meet you in Galilee.” While Peter was a
their human failures. Notice what the angel says to the women
failure at Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, in the resurrection
who come to the tomb. “Go and tell Peter and the others that he
God was continuing to be faithful to Peter, Jesus, and God’s
is going ahead of you to Galilee.” Why does he single out
plan to bring the good news to the world.
Peter? Was it because Peter was seen as the leader of the
disciples? Maybe. Was it because Peter was with Jesus at But Peter and the disciples would not be the only
important times in Jesus’ ministry? Possibly. But more than failures who would find redemption and restoration. Even the
likely Peter is singled out because he becomes the chief of all young man in the tomb’s story becomes important here. I do
deserters by denying he ever knew Jesus. not know if you have ever notice something peculiar about
what takes place at the arrest of Jesus, but maybe you have.
Recall Peter’s denial at the time of Jesus’ arrest.
During the commotion at Jesus’ arrest, Mark tells us in chapter
Despite Jesus’ prediction that all will become deserters and
14 verse 52 that, “A young man, wearing nothing but a linen
Peter will deny Jesus, Peter had insisted that he would remain
faithful. Then, when Jesus is arrested, Peter follows at a
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011
garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled faithfulness to all of us humans who fail. Jesus was crucified,
naked, leaving his garment behind.” but he has been raised!
This is an oddity that is only found in Mark’s account, There is a third truth communicated by the message
and many have speculated who this young man might be. from the tomb that first Easter morning: In the resurrection
What is interesting is that the term “young man” is the exact God’s joy was overcoming human despair.
term used to speak about the messenger in the tomb. While the
The women who come to the tomb that day come to
other Gospels call this messenger an angel, and Christians have
find a corpse. They carry spices and oils not to place on the
traditionally accepted that he was an angel, Mark only tells us
body of a living person, but on a person who is dead. Their trip
that it is a young man wearing a white robe. Could this young
to the tomb is filled with grief and despair. They are hopeless,
man, who is now wearing a white robe, be the same young man
not only because a dear friend has died, but also all their hopes,
who, in his fear, ran away at the arrest of Jesus, leaving behind
dreams, and joy had died with him. This man they believed to
his cloak? And if so, who might this person be?
be the Messiah, God’s anointed one, who would redeem his
Though there is no historical evidence for this, I believe people, and bring in the Kingdom of God. They had invested
that the author of Mark has inserted himself into the story, and their hopes and dreams into this preacher from Galilee, and
his leaving his cloak at a time of failure was the symbolizing of now he was dead, and so too was their hope and their joy.
the leaving behind of his former life of failure. Now, because They went to the tomb on that morning to finish burying their
of God’s triumph over human evil and failure, the man wears a master and their joy.
new robe and proclaims a new hope.
But when they arrived, the message to them was that
The resurrection of Jesus was not only God’s Jesus was not dead; he was alive. And in that message their
faithfulness to Jesus. It was a proclamation of God’s despair and hopelessness was overcome by joy that God had
given by raising Jesus from the dead. You can imagine being
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011
those first women to witness the empty tomb. They had left purpose for which they had given their lives was now lost, and
the other disciples in mourning, but they returned to them with they returned to lives of unimportance and purposelessness.
joy. Their conversation on their way to the tomb, if there was a
Yet when the women left that tomb on that first Easter
conversation, was filled with words of unhappiness,
morning, they left with a new purpose for living: To proclaim
hopelessness, and despair. But their conversation on their trip
the gospel of the resurrected savior. These women, who would
away from the tomb was filled with words of hope, celebration,
have been consider as second class citizens, had now become
and sheer joy. The resurrection not only gave these followers
the first ones to proclaim the greatest message to ever be
of Jesus back their master, it gave them back their joy.
preached: He is alive!!! In the resurrection, the
Our world is full of despair and hopelessness. People purposelessness of humanity was overcome by God’s purpose
live lives that only sees this side of death, thinking that there is for humanity to proclaim loudly and boldly that God has
no hope past this life. But because of God raising Jesus from triumphed over death in the resurrection of Jesus.
the dead, we no longer live in a state of hopelessness and
A basic existential question asked by many people is,
despair, for God’s joy and hope has been extended to us. Jesus
“Why am I here? “For what purpose was I born?” And yet,
was crucified, but he has been raised!
although people often ask that question, they often do not find
The final implied message in the statement given to the that purpose that is so real and eternal that it changes their lives
women at the tomb is that in the resurrection of Jesus God’s from insignificance to significance. The women who went to
purpose was overcoming the purposelessness of human the tomb that day found the divine purpose for living, to go and
existence. The women on that day went about their custom of tell the others that Jesus was alive. You and I have a divine
placing oils and spices on the body of a corpse. The disciples purpose for living: To proclaim that God offers life and
went back to their daily routines. Life for these early followers purpose to those who will follow the resurrected Jesus. Jesus
of Jesus had returned to insignificance. On the cross, the was crucified, but he has been raised!
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011
Jesus was crucified, but he has been raised! Such a
short little statement. And yet it is the statement that changed
the world. It changed the world in the first century, and it
continues to change the world in the twenty-first century. For
in this simple but profound statement God was proclaiming
that his power had overcome human evil; that his faithfulness
had overcome human failure; that his joy had overcome human
hopelessness; and that his purpose had overcome the
purposelessness of humanity.
On Friday, the cross held our dying savior. But on
Sunday, the cross and the tomb are empty, and God has raised
Jesus to be our living Lord. Jesus was crucified, but he has
been raised! He is risen indeed.
©C. Drew Smith, Ph.D., 2011