Proclaimer Blog
The scope of the resurrection
It’s Easter (have you noticed) which means, for some of us at least, the special sermons get rolled out. I’m not sure what I think about this – Easter is rather curious for London churches anyway; many of our younger guys take the opportunity to go and see family; younger families are often away on holiday and – to cap it all – our local transport line is out of operation. Add in the change to British Summer Time and I may be preaching to my wife and the dog.
Still, the dog needs to hear about the resurrection, so I have been preparing with a happy heart: it is – after all – a grand theme. I’m preaching John 20 and the three encounters people have with the risen Jesus. It’s a fascinating account – not least because it widens the scope of the resurrection. What I mean is that this amazing event – surely the pinnacle of all of John’s signs (the tenth sign?!) is more than a standalone abstract reality. Of course, the resurrection is true: but it is not isolated from everything we believe about the Messiah.
More specifically, the encounter with Mary draws us to the ascension (John 20.17) according to Jesus himself. The encounter with the ten disciples results in the giving of the Spirit and the commission to go (John 20.22). The final encounter with Thomas shows us that we live by faith in the risen Jesus and not by sight (John 20.29). These three astounding truths are not disconnected. Mary wants to hold onto Jesus, but he must ascend. His Spirit therefore continues his work and presence. And because such a ministry is outward, the Christian life is one of faith not sight.
I’ve been thrilled by these extraordinary encounters and so my sermon on Sunday is about the breadth of the scope of the resurrection as John presents it. There’s lots here, so perhaps even those who turn up an hour late will still be in for a treat.