"Alive!"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Alive!"

The Lost Tomb of Jesus documentary that aired on the Discovery Channel a few weeks back was a hit by cable TV standards. 4 million people tuned in. I’m sure some were curious, others angry, others uninterested but found the special while channel surfing and still others tuned in because, for some reason, they really like documentaries. Now it’s available on DVD. With all the viewers and all the accompanying press coverage the program did, at least for a short time and maybe much longer, get people talking more about Jesus. It got scholars issuing press releases supporting and contradicting the theories put forth by the program.

It’s true that some have been vocal that the idea that an ossuary containing Jesus bones would contradict the resurrection. The filmmaker, however, have responded to this one saying that their theories don’t contradict the resurrection, but only the idea that Jesus physically ascended into heaven after the resurrection.

Others continue to be skeptical. Some are skeptical about all the documentary’s theories. Others are skeptical about anything that contradicts the documentary’s theories.

But let’s put this a little in perspective. People have been "discussing" ideas about the resurrection of Jesus since . . . the resurrection of Jesus!

(Matthew 28:11b-15 NRSV) some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. {12} After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, {13} telling them, "You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' {14} If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." {15} So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

You might not be surprised to hear that not everyone believes in Jesus’ resurrection. Here are some theories I’ve come across over the years:

1. Jesus didn’t really die -- he was just very weak from hanging on that cross. When he woke up from his coma-like state he simply came out of the tomb and visited his disciples.
2. Jesus never really did come back to life -- his disciples started to understand that Jesus had predicted his resurrection so they stole the body and started the rumor.
3. Jesus didn't really appear to anyone from the time of his claimed resurrection until his claimed ascension in to heaven. People just "saw" Jesus because they wanted to and they heard that others had seen him.

What others have you heard before?

I can’t offer any physical or scientific evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. I can tell you that I believe in it.

I believe that Jesus the Christ lived on Earth, was crucified, died and was buried. And I believe that on the third day he really did rise from the grave -- alive.

There are people who disagree with me. There are people inside and outside of the Christian church who believe differently. But that is what I believe.

I believe:

• After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea took his body, wrapped it in linen and placed it in a new, rock-hewn tomb.
• The women who followed Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others saw where the tomb was, went home to rest on the Sabbath and then came back to the tomb early on the first day of the week with spices and ointments to prepare Jesus’ body for burial – since there was not time before the Sabbath.
• The women found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
• The women encountered Angels or two men in dazzling clothes who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. They reminded the women that Jesus had told them as much would happen.
• The women ran to tell the disciples.
• The disciples didn’t believe them.
• Peter ran to the tomb and saw that it was empty – and he didn’t know what to think
• Eventually (well, pretty soon) the disciples understood that Jesus really had come back to life.

And I believe that we have reason to celebrate today. Today is the day that defines the rest of the days. We’re worshipping on Sunday to celebrate – every week – the resurrection of Jesus. Christmas means something because of the resurrection of Jesus that first Easter morning. Jesus’ teachings and miracles and everything about Jesus’ life on Earth have new meaning because Jesus came back to life!

• Life – it’s what Jesus came to give us.
• Life – It’s what Jesus came back to.
• Life – it’s what we have because of Jesus.

Scholars and skeptics can debate and discuss it.

Those who believe without any doubt can still trust in it

Any who do not believe can doubt or deny it

But I’m still celebrating – Jesus died and rose again. Jesus lives! Jesus gives us life – the fullest kind!

We all can listen and learn from people with all kinds of opinions about Jesus. We can listen and learn from people with all kinds of opinions about the resurrection, creation and all that has happened and all that is to come.

But we also can still celebrate. Jesus died and rose again. Jesus lives! Jesus gives us life – the fullest kind.

This is a great week to simply celebrate. Celebrate Jesus’ resurrection – celebrate the life we have in Jesus. Celebrate that the life we have is a life surrounded and filled with God’s love. Celebrate that because of that love we can share it with all we meet.

Celebrate because it just makes sense – We are . . . . Jesus is . . . . Alive!

Close with prayer.

© 2007 Union Congregational Church, All Rights Reserved