“Living the Resurrection” (John 20:19-31) - 2nd Sunday after Easter -

Everyday Easter

One church in Washington D.C got a phone call from one of the parishioners. The church member asked, “I heard Mr. President is coming to our church this Sunday. I want to find out if the rumor is true.” The church secretary said, “I am not sure whether the president is coming or not. But Jesus will be present for sure. So please come and join our worship service!” I think the secretary answered the question very wisely and well. The Risen Christ is here among us today. We are here to worship him and honor him for the glory of his holy name. Last Sunday we celebrated Easter, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we continue to sing, “Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song…” (UMH #304). This morning I want to ask all of us this question: “How do we live the resurrection in everyday life?” According to the Gospel of John, living the resurrection is nearly synonymous with living the abundant life Jesus promised. So, how do we live the abundant life Jesus promised? (cf. John 10:10; 20:31)

Two Laws Governing the World

There are two cosmic laws governing our world: “the law of gravity” and “the law of grace.” What is “gravity”? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines gravity as “the force that causes things to fall towards the Earth.” So symbolically, the law of gravity refers to the law of this world. For instance, when we have lost our loved ones, we grieve. When we are persecuted, we fear. When we see things or people change, we doubt. Those are natural reflex responses. But the Bible says there is another law, the law of grace, which transcends the law of gravity. How can we escape the Earth’s gravity? The answer is we need to travel at 7 miles a second to escape gravity. It’s called “escape velocity.” In other words, it’s impossible for us to escape gravity with our own strength. We need external help, rocket power. In the same way, we need the power of the resurrection to escape the law of gravity and live by the law of grace. What would living by the law of grace look like? In 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 Paul shares his life in this way: “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it, when we are slandered, we answer kindly.” This is what the life by the law of grace looks like. We Christians are the people who live by the law of grace, not by the law of gravity. Today’s Scripture tells us how to live by the law of grace, how to live the resurrection in everyday life.

Grace Greater Than All Our Troubles

Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene and the other women were grieving and worried. On the way to Jesus’ tomb, they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” They were heavy-hearted. They worried. They didn’t know what to do in front of the immovable stumbling-block. But in fact, the heavy stone had been already rolled away! God’s grace is greater than all the sorrows and worries.

Jesus appears to his disciples. On the evening Jesus was raised from the dead, the disciples were still filled with fear. They were extremely afraid that the Jews would come and kill them just as they did to their Master. So they locked all the doors and hid themselves. But then, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” It was a typical way of Jewish greeting, still used in the Middle East today. But here these words are far more than a greeting. Here Jesus was not simply making a wish for his disciples’ peace, but he was saying, “You already have my gift of peace. Don’t you see now peace is with you?” Probably, some of you have seen the film, “The Passion of the Christ.” I do remember the conversation between John and Peter after they abandoned their Master. Peter had many sleepless nights because of fear and guilt. John said to Peter, “Peter, you need some sleep.” Peter answered, “No, I need peace!” And Jesus did come to Peter and the other disciples and give them his peace. God’s grace is greater than all the fears. One of the Bible reading passages this previous week was 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. Goliath challenged the Israelites every morning and evening for 40 days (16). The armies of Israel were filled with fear. God didn’t remove Goliath, the cause of fear. Instead, God prepared one person, David, a man after his own heart. And God gave him strength to face the giant, strength and courage greater than all the fears. Probably, some of you may have heard about North Korean defectors. Many escape North Korea because of extreme hunger. Many of those who cross the Chinese border get help from Christians and hear the gospel from them. Amazingly, a large number of them who have become Christians go back to North Korea in order to spread the Good News about Christ to their family and friends with a high risk of death. God’s grace is greater than all the fears.

Jesus then appears to Thomas, “doubting Thomas,” a man no different from us. He had no experience at an empty tomb. He had not heard or seen the Risen Christ. So he said, “I will not believe it!” But our loving Jesus came to him and said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe!” If Jesus came to Thomas, he will come to you. Always expect the presence of the Risen Christ. Assume that Christ will be present regardless of what you feel – whether you doubt or not. Be open and ready to be touched by the Risen Christ. God’s grace is greater than all the doubts and feelings.

He Giveth More Grace

Living the resurrection is living by the law of grace. Living the resurrection is not a sorrow-free, worry-free, fear-free, doubt-free, or disease-free life. Instead, living the resurrection is experiencing the Risen Christ and his power of resurrection in the midst of all afflictions. In Psalm 34 David says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (ESV). The Message version translates it in this way: “Disciples so often get into trouble; still, GOD is there every time.” Lastly, I want to share the story about Watchman Nee. He was a church leader in China during the first half of the 20^th century. He was afflicted with serious illnesses, including a chronic stomach disorder and the heart disease. So, he prayed for healing everyday. One day he had a dream. In the dream he was crossing a river by boat. But, suddenly, a huge rock appeared in front of him and blocked his way. He prayed, “Lord, please take away this rock!” Then, he heard a voice. The voice said, “My beloved son, do you want me to take away that rock? Or do you want me to make the water rise that you may pass over the rock?” He answered, “Lord, please make me pass over the rock.” For life he was never cured of the heart disease. So, day by day his ministry was sustained by the power of the resurrection, not by his own physical strength.

If we focus on our problems, we have to ask God every single time, “Lord, take away this rock. Take away that rock, please.” But if we focus on God’s grace, we shall pass over all the troubles of life. How big they are, it doesn’t matter. Probably, some of you may have a number of huge immovable rocks in front of you this day. But James 4:6 says, “But God gives us more grace!” He gives us more grace as our burdens grow greater. He sends us more strength as our strength has failed. This gift of living the resurrection, living the abundant life is available to everyone right now. Come, and believe! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. He is here with us today. What shall you do with the Risen Christ?