Listen and Watch Sermon
“With Fear and Great Joy,” Matthew 28:1-10
Pastor Tom Johnson, April 12, 2020
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary leave the tomb quickly with fear and great joy. The angel tells them not to be afraid. Jesus tells them to not be afraid. The women had lots of reasons to be afraid. Just a few days earlier, they saw their Master brutally executed by public crucifixion. Jesus’ death and burial were both under the supervision of Roman soldiers. It is a courageous thing for these women to approach a heavily guarded tomb. Their only protection is to come under the cover of darkness. Another reason for them to be afraid is the earthquake that happens on their way. They don’t know it yet, but an angel not only rolls away the stone from the mouth of the tomb, but also rocks and rattles the ground which can be at great distance. When they arrive, they probably had expected to see the shadowy outline of Roman soldiers. Instead, they are greeted by an angel clothed in blinding light—so bright it would burn their retinas like looking at the flash of lightning. When they come across the battle-worn soldiers who are supposed to be guarding the tomb, they have just been jarred, jolted, and shaken into a stupor. They look like dead men who had just been flattened by the mere appearance of a glorious angel. They angel greets them. “Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” But the angel’s charge is also frightening. “Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead…he is going ahead of you to Galilee.’” Why doesn’t the angel send the message himself? He does a pretty good job of getting people’s attention and conveying the authority of God.
It’s a scary thing to be asked to convey a message to a group of men who are known to easily dismiss news from women. Luke’s Gospel said that they considered their message to be an idle tale and didn’t believe them (Lk 24:11). Public speaking is frightening enough. They likely knew their audience already would suspect their message to be a lie and a delusional story. They go as the angel commanded. They obey and go quickly. They go with fear. They run with great joy.
I recently discovered the emotion wheel. It’s a chart that helps identify primary emotions and to express, with words, how a person is feeling. I guess I should have known all along, but it still surprised me that I am allowed to feel more than one emotion at a time—even emotions that seem to be contradictory—like fear and joy. But there it is—right there in Scripture. As Mary and Mary go to preach the Easter message, they are filled with fear and great joy. Our humanity is validated by the Word of God. How apropos!
Easter is the one Sunday of the year when a preacher’s sermon should be a homerun and verbally hit out of the park. I’m especially filled with butterflies when I see the sanctuary filled with people. The pressure is on. This year, I’m looking out at empty pews.
I remember advice a seasoned pastor and church planter once told me more than 20 years ago: “Preach to the empty pews. Preach in a way that draws people into the empty pews—those who would otherwise never come.”
I am filled with other fears. When will we be able to gather again and exchange the signs of peace as sisters and brothers? When will we be able to break bread together and share the Lord’s Supper around the Altar? What happens if someone in my family or our church gets sick and we cannot be there physically to pray? What sort of deathblow will this be to the church at-large—already facing declining attendance? How many lives will be lost? How many jobs? How much damage to the economy and to our institutions, social fabric, and bonds?
Austrian Jew and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl survived three Nazi concentration camps during World War II—including Auschwitz. He said one of the things that enabled him to survive was cultivating a dark sense of humor. Just a little bit of joy in the midst of terror helped him through dark nights of his soul. Humor is finding joy even in worst of times. When this pandemic is over, I hope we as a church and as a global community do not lose our sense of humor and soon forget all the things that give us joy. As depressing as it is to look at an empty sanctuary and not see you all, it brings a smile to my face to know that you are not in your Sunday best here. Many of you are likely still in our pajamas. You can’t see it but I’m wearing running shoes. In the midst of all the sorrow, anxiety, and dread it is God’s will and delight that we experience even greater joy. After Covid-19, there will be other things that will compete with your joy. So it will be until the end of the age.
But here we are now with fear—but also great joy. Did you notice the intensifier is not on fear but on joy—great joy? “Greater is he who is within you than he who is in the world.” Greater the joy in your heart than the fear infecting the world! Christ has risen! He has defeated death—for us! He knocked a few Roman soldiers down with the mere appearance of his angel. That’s a detail in the Bible to remind you that God is not only all powerful but also has a sense of humor. The women quickly run with fear and great joy—and surprise. They run right into the resurrected Christ. He hilariously says one word. “Hi—greetings!”
Joy-filled Jesus playfully and lovingly greets them. Their fear melts away into reverential awe and profound joy. They fall at his feet in worship. Jesus sends them off with the same charge to tell their sisters and brothers the good news—Christ is risen indeed. It brings me joy that this crisis has increased gratitude for the many things we have so long taken for granted—a handshake, a hug, a shared meal, public worship, Holy Communion and much more. And even more so—the Gospel—Jesus who died and rose again to give us the assurance of grace, forgiveness for all our sins, and eternal life.
This is a sight that gladdens—What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens The joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake, No foe shall ever take
The hope which God’s own son In love for me has won.
(“Awake, My Heart, with Gladness” LSB 467 v. 3)
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
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