Pastor Speaks - March 18, 2004
Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ

When Winston Churchill planned his funeral he included a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in England. After the benediction the bugler played "Taps," signaling that the service was over. But, Churchill also included a surprise at the end of the service. In another location, high in the dome, was a second bugler. When the first bugler had finished playing "Taps" the second bugler played "Reveille." It was time to get up and get going. Winston Churchill’s testimony was that history would end not with "Taps," but with "Reveille."

Before Jesus could be resurrected, he had to die. There could be no new life or eternal life without the end of the old life. Jesus could not be fully known in the future without the experience of the cross. He died rejected and defeated, but arose in glory and victory. Just as Winston Churchill surprised the people of England with "Reveille," Jesus surprised the people of his time with the resurrection. There was a new beginning. Death did not have the last word.

The Church continues to be the Church because of the resurrection. Without the resurrection the Church would not exist. Without the resurrection the life and ministry of Jesus ended in futility on the cross. The principle of the resurrection applies to all of life. Ending my career in the business world paved the way for my career in ministry. Leaving my hometown and moving to new and different towns provided me with new friends and opportunities. When part of us dies we are reborn, recreated into something new. Normally we want to hold on to the past lamenting over what was. Only by letting go can something new and better take its place.

A preacher in a rural community heard that a man in his parish had announced that he would no longer attend church services because he had decided he could commune with God just as easily in his fields and garden or among his trees. One Autumn evening the preacher called on his reluctant parishioner, and for a while the two men sat before the blazing fireplace saying little or nothing, and not a word about church attendance. The man waited uneasily for the preacher to broach the subject. Finally, the preacher picked up the tongs, lifted a single glowing coal from the fire and set it down on the hearth, and silently waited until the coal quickly ceased burning while the other coals in the fire continued to burn brightly. "You see what happens," said the preacher. "You need say no more," replied the man. "Man cannot live alone. I’ll be in church next Sunday."

Whenever we let go of the past, terminate a self-destructing habit or forgive someone we experience resurrection. Newness can’t appear until something dies. The Easter Story reminds us that God is powerful enough to help us overcome any obstacle that we encounter. If we go down a wrong path in life and find ourselves miserable or failing, we have the choice to turn in a different direction. The freedom to choose is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Any path that is leading us to self-destruction can be changed to wholeness. God always gives us another chance. God is a forgiving God, wanting us to continue our life’s journey with hope and newness. Without God’s forgiveness we are paralyzed, trapped, dead. With God’s forgiveness we are reborn, resurrected and alive.

The resurrection cannot be explained, only believed. We don’t know how Jesus was resurrected. There is no information about the process. It cannot be proven. We do know that he died, was entombed, but later appeared. We know that because there were witnesses to those events. They were his closest friends and disciples, both women and men. What makes the resurrection real are those who came after, those who remain faithful to the gospel and continue to be Jesus’ disciples. As you recall the disciples deserted Jesus when the chips were down. They were afraid. But after the resurrection their lives changed. They finally believed in Jesus and the power of God to overcome death. They were reborn and motivated to continue the ministry of Jesus in the world. Rather than live as cowards they became people of courage and spreading a gospel of love, peace, hope and assurance. We too, are to keep believing, keep going, keep loving and keep telling the story and the resurrection is the motivating force that will continue to propel the Church through the ages.

When the women appeared at the tomb that day there was an earthquake. There was also an earthquake on the evening Jesus died. "The earth shook and the rocks were split." This event was no tip-toe through the tulips. It was dramatic, earth shattering and shocking. Change is never easy. If you’ve ever watched a caterpillar go through the process of metamorphosis you know it involves a struggle. Likewise when any of us goes through a change there will be a struggle too. It may be difficult and even painful. However, just as the caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly we become changed people with a new spirit.

Resurrection is possible for all of us at any time in our lives. When we can "die" or "let go" or make new choices anything is possible. No doubt there will be some rocky moments. God, however does not leave us without help. God reassures us that in the process of dying and rising, God is present. We are never alone. Just as Churchill wanted to keep England alive with "Reveille," God keeps the Church alive with the resurrection.