[This sermon is a dramatic interpretation of the events leading up to, and including, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in the form of an “eyewitness” account from a fictional disciple traveling with Jesus]

“AND NOW WE GO!”

To be with you today, I have traveled a long way and across many generations. In any case, thank you for inviting me here today to tell you about an experience me and my friends had which forever changed us, and I hope it will change you.

Let me get started right away. Let me start from the darkest moments; the time without him. We had all seen so much over the three years we had been together. In the beginning, Jesus gathered us from all over the countryside. Some of us from cities, some from vineyards, and others of us were simple fishermen. The only thing we had in common was him - and now he was gone. Crucified like a common criminal.

Luke’s words your pastor just read remind me how we felt. He was gone. He was dead. Now, what was going to happen to us? We had become like family to each other, working side by side and eating together. Laughing and crying as one big family. What would happen to us now that he was gone? He had warned us this day would come - but at the time we didn’t believe him. We couldn’t hear him.

Could there really be a tomorrow without Him? There was so much of his work, our work, yet to do. His ministry, our ministry, was unfinished - could it go on? Could WE continue His work now that he was gone?

Perhaps I should a little more about myself before I get too far along in my story. I’m one of the twelve - uh eleven. My name is un-important. It’s not one of the ones you would probably know anyway.

Our story takes place on a fateful night. The events of that night just might change the way you relate to God. I know they changed me.

Well, on with the story. Let me put things in their proper context. It was only a few days before that fateful night and things looked very different then. What a heady day that day was. We had all come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Jerusalem was teeming with people. The crowds were enormous; people everywhere. People on foot, livestock running loose, the roads were jammed.

We tried to tell Jesus that it was a bad idea to come to town. Not everyone appreciated what he had to say when he preached, particularly the priests and Pharisees. And let me tell you, Jerusalem had more than its fair share of priests and Pharisees. We told him it would be safer if we remained in the countryside and let the people come to him. After all, that strategy had worked many times before back in Galilee. But Jesus said no, that he had to go. So, reluctantly, we followed him.

As we drew near the outskirts of town the road was choked with traffic. But then, right on the edge of town something unexpected and most unusual happened. Those around Jesus recognized him and began to cheer wildly and clear a path for him and his donkey. Then the people began cutting tree branches and lay them ahead of him on the road. The news of Jesus spread like fire up and down the road. The crowd grew larger and larger as we entered the city. The people of Jerusalem were receiving him as a conquering king, come to claim his throne. Their enthusiasm calmed our fears.

As we walked respectfully behind him, I remember catching Peter’s eye and seeing him smile broadly. I began to relax. Now maybe some of you don’t know what Peter was like; Peter tended to be a rather excitable guy who was always worrying about one thing or another. So you see, if he was happy so was I. Maybe Jesus was right, maybe it was a good idea to come to town and celebrate Passover among the throngs.

I still hold the memory of that impromptu parade fondly in my heart. In a way, it was the brightest part of the week. However, things quickly began to go down hill. Where all those adoring folks were on the following Friday is still a mystery to me. They simply disappeared. ...No, actually they didn’t disappear, they turned on him. They abandoned Him as quickly as they had embraced Him.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Jesus had not told us what He intended on doing in Jerusalem, but we knew he would be preaching and sharing the Good News about God. Little did we know what that would bring.

One morning we all followed him to the Temple. We had no idea of what was to come. Going up to the Temple was something we all expected to do at some point during our time in Jerusalem. You know, to pray and make an offering.

The Temple was an exciting place to go. Outside of the Holy of Holies in the courtyard of the Gentiles, the merchants would have their stalls, and there would be the food vendors with their inviting aromas in the air, and of course the money changers. The priests wouldn’t accept Roman money for the Temple.

The Temple was a place noisy and bustling with activity. I had a cousin and his wife who lived in Jerusalem-he was a money changer by trade - and as we made our way through the streets toward the temple I grew excited at the prospect of seeing him for the first time in several years. We had been quite close growing up together in our village in Galilee.

As we entered the Temple Jesus grew angry at the sight of all the merchants and the money changers. We knew he was angry because his face changed expression and his speech became high-pitched and forceful. All of us drew back and clumped together for support. We had seen him upset before, but never quite like this.

Now mind you, Jesus was a physically strong person after years of working in his father’s wood shop and was normally soft-spoken. And the few times we had seen him lose his temper had taught us to respect him and get out of his way. Jesus could be a frightening person when angry.

Well, in the temple that day Jesus became angrier than I had ever seen him. He started turning the pigeons loose from their cages, untying the lambs, and scattering people with his loud voice booming throughout the outer-courtyards.

Then he came to the tables of the money-changers. Following him, I caught sight of my cousin and saw the look of fear on his face as Jesus grabbed his heavy table loaded with coins and tossed it over on its side, coins rolled everywhere. My cousin and the other money-changers simply ran in fear as Jesus disrupted the business of the Temple.

Jesus kept repeating over and over again, “My Father’s House is meant for prayer and you have turned it into a den of thieves”. Of course, those of us with him were watching the crowds - ready to whisk him away at the slightest sign of trouble. But much to our amazement the people were cheering him on and the Temple guards simply stood by and watched. Fortunately, we all escaped without injury.

We learned later though that the High Priest and the Sanhedrin were very angry over Jesus’ actions. However, because Jesus seemed to enjoy the approval of the massive crowds in town for Passover, they feared trying to arrest Him publicly. They would find another way to stop Him.

All in all it was a tumultuous week, filled with highs and lows. As Passover approached I began to feel as though maybe, just maybe, we would make it through all this without harm coming to Jesus. He was so calm each day. His serenity was infectious and calmed all of our nerves. I began to focus on the joy of the Passover feast.

The Seder, or Passover meal, is a wonderful festival. Family and friends gather about a common table. Scripture is read and the Haggadah, or story of our people’s escape from slavery in Egypt is retold. Wine is shared and bread is broken. The Seder is a time of intimacy and sharing. Over the last several years these people had become my family and Jesus my teacher. What an honor to be with them.

As we gathered on that Thursday night the room was filled with both tension and excitement. We were alone, no clinging throngs. Jesus was talkative and animated as we began. It was a tender moment in spite of the underlying uncertainty about what was going to happen. Jesus had offended a lot of people that week; powerful people who did not take kindly to those who challenged their authority. We all knew that, including Jesus.

Yet there he was, calm and relaxed, speaking softly to those on either side. Then something strange occurred. Jesus spoke across the table to Judas. I couldn’t make out exactly what was said, but I could tell it was not friendly. Judas stood up abruptly and left the room. Being at the far end of the table I did not hear the exchange, but I remember thinking to myself how odd it was for Judas to get up and leave in the middle of a Seder. If only I had known what he was about to go and do - perhaps I could have stopped him. Then again, Jesus could have stopped him but he did not. You see, even today, there is still much that I have a hard time accepting.

As the Seder drew to a close Jesus rose up and began to teach us. What he taught us you already know. And really, what he said and did is a story unto itself, so I will save the particulars for another time. Suffice it to say that he promised us He would be with us always.

After the Seder, we walked to this beautiful garden outside of town. It was a quiet and peaceful place to enjoy each others company. The evening was warm and the moon shone brightly. Life was good. We were with friends and we had our Teacher safe and sound after a perilous week in Jerusalem.

Jesus and James, John and Peter withdrew a few yards away to pray privately. The rest of us continued to talk among ourselves quietly. Before long the combined effects of the late hour, the food and wine took its toll on us and we began to doze.

Then, suddenly we were awake. Soldiers were everywhere, their torches blazing brightly against the night’s darkness. Jesus and the three had come back and stood in our midst. Out from behind one of the soldiers stepped Judas. He walked toward Jesus and went to kiss him. But Jesus prevented him. Jesus said something to him, but in the uproar I couldn’t make it out.

Then the soldiers arrested Jesus. Several of us drew our swords to defend him, but Jesus motioned us away. His time had come, he knew it and we knew it.

As they drug him off in chains we stood there in shock; our hearts broken and spirits sagging. We had failed. He was gone; taken to the High Priest’s house in the middle of the night. We looked at each other wondering what we could do. Peter took off to follow them but we stayed behind. We were unsure what to do next. Jesus was gone.

Our leader taken from us, we simply wandered away in all directions.

The next day, as was his custom during Passover, Pilot the Roman governor, offered to release one prisoner. He presented two options for the crowd gathered in front of his office; Jesus, or Barab’bas. We all yelled for Jesus, but to no avail. The High Priest had made sure the crowd would choose Barab’bas.

Jesus was going to die. Some of us followed the soldiers as they lead Jesus to the Hill of Skulls, or Golgatha as we called it.

There we watched in horror as they nailed our teacher to a cross. Such a death is gruesome and nothing more need be said. On that cross we watched him die, full of pain and anguish. Yet just as he breathed his last, struggling to speak, he raised his head toward heaven and praised God. Even in death he was a faithful Jew.

What happened next is so painful to remember. HE WAS GONE. No more would we have his gentle touch with us. No more would he guide us as we studied the Law and the Prophets. No more would we have him to tell us of the wonders of God. I can only describe what I felt as utter devastation. I felt as though I stood at the edge of an abyss.

How could God have allowed this to happen? Jesus was the most faithful Jew I had ever met. He loved God so much - and now he was gone. Yet, he said he would never leave us. He said something like this might happen, and that when it did we were to have faith in him. But now, without him, we were totally lost.

For two days we did not gather as a group. There was nothing to say. On top of that, we were afraid that perhaps the High Priest was after us next. Without speaking for the others, I can tell you, those were the darkest two days of my life. I felt completely cut-off from God.

Then, on the first day of the week, we assembled in an upper room. I really don’t know why I went to the meeting. Without Jesus I had no hope that our work could continue. But I went anyway. Perhaps just to share my sense of loss with others feeling the same way.

As we were meeting, Mary burst in. She told us an incredible story. Jesus was alive! She had seen him and spoke with him herself. She had gone to the tomb and it was empty. He had then appeared to her and instructed her to tell us that he would meet us in Galilee. Some of us believed her, but not all of us.

Then Cleopas and another came in. They too had encountered a risen Jesus. This time on the road to a small village called Emmaus. They talked with him and broke bread with him. But then he left them.

I wanted to believe these stories. We needed him alive and leading us in our work. Still, I was not sure. Had he truly been raised from the dead? For he was dead; I saw him lying there lifeless myself. He had promised never to leave us, had he kept his promise after all? So much was racing through my head as I listened to these stories about a Jesus who was truly alive and with us.

Suddenly, there He was. Standing there just as I am standing here before you this day. Was this a ghost? Was it an evil spirit come to haunt us for our failure to protect Jesus from his enemies?

He spoke to us using our familiar greeting, “Peace be with you”. Yes, it was his voice. And yes, there on his hands, were the marks where the nails had been driven. He was hungry and asked for something to eat. This was no ghost before us. It was truly Jesus, the Christ of God. God had raised him from the dead.

He spoke to us quietly and His words were simple. We were to carry forth the work we started together and to teach that all that is written about him in the scriptures will come true. Moreover, it would be our job to preach and teach that message to the entire world.

But how could we? Again, I went from being overjoyed to being deflated. Alone we would not be capable of spreading the Good News, and he said he was going to be with the Father in heaven. Again, we would be lost without him.

Jesus knew what was in our hearts. He could see the frustration in our faces. Then everything changed with the next thing he told us, “You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

Yes, yes, of course, the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus would be with us, through the Holy Spirit. His promise never to leave us had come true.

We would be able to preach the gospel.

We would be able to teach the gospel.

We would be able to live faithful lives as he had taught us. Jesus reminded us that we could carry on his work because we would have him with us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Once again I was abundantly joyful, because I knew that nothing could happen or succeed without the power of God with us. And that power would in fact be with us.

After teaching us and charging us to spread the gospel Jesus lead us outside to a hillside. There he blessed us and left us. But we were no longer sad. We were elated and jubilant, praising God and giving thanks for our many blessings.

Well, that is my story. While it is sad in some ways, it is also the most joyous story ever told because it holds the promise that God is with us today and will never leave us. The important thing to remember is this, without the power of the Holy Spirit nothing would be possible, but with it all things in heaven and on earth are possible! AMEN!

Reverend Marc V. Mason

Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 28, 2006

Trinity Presbyterian Church

Travelers Rest, SC