Easter Sunrise Service

Corporation Beach, Dennis, MA

April 12, 2009

Brothers and Sisters, we gather this morning on a beach, a gift in creation, so vivid in color, texture and design we could be in heaven already. As the hour of our gathering rings out…we can ask: is this the end of night…or the beginning of a new day. Our questions would not be much different from those of the devoted women who came to care for Jesus in his tomb of death. “Where is Jesus…is he really alive or is he dead?” Shortly the timid, and even weak and cowardly disciples would ask each other the same question. Is this the beginning or the end of the story of Jesus?

For us, we know the rest of the story…but the followers of Jesus in that time did not. They were certainly afraid….the scripture says they had been seized by terror and amazement. Might we all have been the same? Was this the end of the story of Jesus…or the beginning as He had told his followers…then and now?

This gospel of Mark is short, ends abruptly, and leaves no indication of the rest of the story. There is no sweet ending to a story of suffering and death that helps us feel better. It is as if Mark calls us to be as faithful as Mary and Mary Magdalene at the moments they first experienced the empty tomb. Certainly he wants to open our hearts to the promise and possibility that Jesus is alive in the Resurrection without any more proof than the words of the women. We have the words and teachings of Jesus to hold up to the light of truth. They stand up to even great scrutiny than the empty tomb. For as many thought at the time, someone could have taken the body, the earthly body of Jesus to another place. All that Jesus has told us is true. All that it takes to be alive in Jesus is faith in the Resurrection. This was far from the end of the life of Jesus.

The very act of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is the conquering of sin and death….there is promise and truth in the resurrection.

Jesus death and resurrection hold up our worth to God….there is promise and truth in the resurrection.

Jesus death and resurrection are proof of his saving grace as the light of the world. ….there is promise and truth in the resurrection.

Jesus death and resurrection proves His promise to us that we will live in the resurrection.

Easter Sunday is the Resurrection story of Jesus that tells us so much about the power, love and presence of a God that raises Jesus from the dead.

Easter is the work of God…the God whose actions can leave us in terror and amazement. We know the story did not end at the cross. The cross is bare. Jesus is alive. The rest of the story is up to us…..Happy Easter