"They Were Afraid"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "They Were Afraid"

Instructions and reaction

The young man dressed in a white robe said, "Do not be alarmed"

The women who were at the tomb reacted by fleeing in terror and amazement: "they were afraid."

The Gospel of Mark, from the earliest and most reliable manuscripts, ends right there. No understanding of what has happened. No appearance of Jesus to the disciples. No ascension into heaven. No promise or great commission. It ends with fear. Other endings to Mark, from later manuscripts, wrap up things a little better. Jesus appears to many, commissions the disciples and then ascends into heaven. It follows the other three gospels more closely.

But this ending -- this ending without closure -- reflects well what the earliest followers of Jesus spoke of and wrote down. They didn't know what really had happened and they didn't know what any of it meant.

And they still followed Jesus.

Following Jesus isn't about knowing all the details or understanding the resurrection completely or even at all. It's about the life Jesus offers. It's about the two greatest commandments. It's about loving God with all that we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Can you do that while being filled with terror and amazement?

Sure!

Look – there’s a lot to be afraid of when it comes to following Jesus. There are lots of questions. There are lots of things to doubt. There is the realization that we don’t get it.

In this morning’s Easter reading there’s plenty of that.

• A task no one else seemed interested in doing
• The impossibility of moving a huge stone from the tomb
• Some dude in white just sitting there
• The announcement – He has been raised – he’s not here! (That is a complete game-changer – it comes with a whole new set of fear, questions and doubt)
  • Did he come back to life?
  • Did someone steal his body?
  • Where is he?
  • Who are you – tomb-dwelling young man?
• The instructions: Go and tell his disciples and Peter
  • Why single out Peter – did he do something wrong? Is he better than the rest?
• You’ll see him in Galilee
  • How? Where? How can this be? What is happening?

This account of the resurrection isn’t about understanding it, having the right theology about it, having the right attitude about it, not having doubts about it or being at peace about it.

Jesus is risen! And whether we know that, get that, or even believe that, we are God's precious ones. Everyone is precious and loved by God -- no exceptions.

• The instructions: Go and tell
• The reaction: fleeing in fear

The story of God’s people continues

God creates – we mess up – God revives – we mess up – God forgives – we mess up –

It seems we never stop doing what we do.

God never stops what God does.

We don’t have to be afraid – but it’s OK if we are. It’s OK if we are afraid – because they were afraid

Close with prayer.

© 2009 Union Congregational Church, All Rights Reserved