Tino Tika – the Big Yes!

This sermon can be listened to here

Gate Pa – Year B  Easter Sunday 2018

Readings:

First Reading:                         Isaiah 25:6-9                          

Second Reading:        Acts 10:34-43                         

Gospel:                        Mark 16:1-8   

What I want to say:

The resurrection is God’s Big Yes to the way of the cross. In the way of the cross we are reminded that all people are made in the image of God and we are invited to see God’s image in all people. In the resurrection God is faithful to all the covenants, that through Israel humanity is renewed and creation restored.

In the resurrection we are invited to live in the way of the cross

What I want to happen:

In what ways do we walk in the footsteps of those first witnesses to the resurrection?

The Sermon

       1.      Introduction:

Version of resurrection story heard this morning

from Gospel Mark

is very different from others

what heard this morning is all we have of Mark’s account

lots people feel is too brief!

can’t stop there!

-          women have not told anyone

-          all afraid

-          no resurrection appearances of  Jesus at all

Ü  seems to be really lacking

Couple of alternate endings offered

nearly all commentators and scholars would say are not written by Mark

more likely based on Matthew

real debate is around whether this is where Mark intended to stop

some say no – of course not

-          why would you finish here?

-          that’s ridiculous

-          clearly wrote another ending and somehow it has been lost

but a lot others say – yes

that is where mark intended to finish

one reasons they say this is where Mark intended to

in all ancient scrolls found recent years

no-one has ever found another ending

Why would Mark stop here?

two reasons

       2.      Tino Tika

For Mark and other gospel writers

resurrection was God’s big tick to the way of the cross

it was God saying “tino tika” to all that Jesus said and did

God’s affirmation of everything that came before in Gospels

including crucifixion.

ü  not a blip in God’s plan that need to be fixed

ü  crucifixion is the way God revels Godself to humanity

God saying yes to things like

-           that our neighbours includes all who share our humanity

o   all who are made in the image of God

-          that to follow Jesus is to serve, not to be served

-          to be follower of Christ is to be generous, compassionate, self-giving

o   as Jesus was generous, compassionate, self-giving

o   as God is generous, compassionate, self-giving

       3.      Here and Now

second reason is thought to be that Mark didn’t want people to just think that risen Jesus only found in Galilee

or that true disciples were in Jerusalem and Galilee

But wanted to affirm that risen Jesus went ahead of disciples - women and men

          Ü  everywhere

including to Rome – where Gospel Mark traditionally said to have been written

instead of listening to stories of risen Jesus from Jerusalem and Galilee

inviting them to tell stories of risen Jesus in Rome

            or wherever people were who had gathered to listen to his gospel

            including us here in New Zealand

and  tell stories of those shaped by risen Jesus

          Ü  that same invitation is given to us this morning.

          Ü  what might those stories look like

       4.      Elijah

On Friday night Bonnie and I were invited to a Jewish Seder or Passover meal in Hamilton.

good night,

privilege to join with them as they gathered on that most sacred night

again remember the story of when Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt

-          God rescued them from their oppression

-          God continues rescue them from slavery and oppression 3,300 years later

on table is “Elijah cup,

at table is and an empty seat for Elijah

a door is left open for Elijah

          Ü  all of which represent their ongoing trust in God’s redemption and protection

end night the head of family hosting the seder

-          invited to tell story of why Passover and hopes it holds are still so important

-          family Polish

-          suffered terribly during Holocaust

-          not sure if this story is set before or after WWII

-          Aunt and uncle survived and returned to their little village  - to die there in pogrom

-          killed because their Christian once neighbours did not want them to return their houses and belongings

-          killed because the Jews had brought the Germans into Poland

-          killed because they were the Christ killers

Our Easter and their Passover were always very dangerous times for Jews in parts of Europe

This story of hope is set in midst of this terrible situation

One Passover young children playing “Moses” in river

had baby doll in washing basin

when group Christian children saw them

accused them of being Christ killers and chased them.

they left leaving washing basin in stream

-          floated away

Later that night as their family gathered for Passover

-          door house broken down and angry mob entered the house with variety weapons

Head family rose to greet the mob to ask what the problem was

leader mob told him that his son had seen the Jewish children torturing a Christian child in a tub in the stream

            bleeding him for the bread for Passover

children denied it

things getting ugly

just then fisherman knocked on door

carrying the tub

he had found it at the mouth of the river

recognised who owned it

and came to return it to his neighbour

with doll still in it

day was saved – for now

leader of mob called his on forward

showed him the doll

gave him a cuff and they left

Patriarch invited fisherman to stay for the meal

said he couldn’t

what about drink

sure he said and drained Elijah cup

some present were upset

but patriarch wondered aloud if fisherman had not indeed been Elijah for them.

We might say this was risen Christ at work

what then are our stories of risen Christ at work in this land

what are our stories of followers of risen Christ bringing gods generosity, justice, compassion.

think about that as read poem

In what ways do we walk in their footsteps?

       5.      We walk in their footsteps

We walk in their footsteps

those women

so afraid of loss and

grief. Afraid of life

lessened and dulled.

They were afeared and yet

they followed all the way

to the darkest places

Gethsemane, Antonia

Golgotha, the tomb

They followed in despair

farewelling life

as hope unravelled.

At the end

Jesus was not there.

Too much life

to be lived, too much

hope to be to be held.

They were afraid those women

as life erupts in love.

He has gone ahead!

We walk in their footsteps.