Die Epistel: 1 Korinther 15:55-58
Das Evangelium: Johannes 20:1-8
Predigt: "ER SAH...UND GLAUBTE ES! UND DU...MEIN FREUND?"
Der Prediger: Herr Doktor James Zwernemann
English translation:
(ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF SERMON TITLE, TEXT & SERMON)
Sermon Title: "HE SAW...AND BELIEVED! AND YOU..MY FRIEND?"
Text: John 20:8-9 “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. [They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.]"
It is a fact that on Easter morning the garden tomb of the Town Councilman Joseph of Arimathea was empty ... that very tomb in which the crucified Jesus had been laid as dead. And it is a fact that it had been opened and truly, not by human hands, but through the almighty workings of God. And, thereby, the destiny of the world was overturned. Surely, it appeared that the tomb had been broken into and the dead body had been stolen. That is what it seemed to be.
Mary Magdalene (that poor Mary Magdalene!) also believed that was what had happened. But, if that were the case, it would have had a different appearance in the chamber of the tomb. There would have been disorder and confusion throughout. John, the author of the Gospel, and who was actually present at the scene, and, immediately understood the whole situation. He saw more than the tear-filled eyes of a grief-stricken mourning Mary Magdalene. This was no grave robbery or desecration. What happened here was entirely extra ordinary. With his own strength and power, Jesus, who had been dead (and have no doubt about that!) with his own strength and power came out of the tomb. There were the carefully laid out strips of linen. There was the burial head cloth laying folded up in a special place. John saw the situation “at a glance." And that what he saw gave him the firm knowledge and conviction that Jesus was no longer dead. Jesus lives! Where He was and how He was, He did not know at the moment ... But that Jesus was alive, that he saw and he believed it.
Now John was by no means a Superman (i.e. Super “intellect”) and he will certainly not affirm that he was, with these brief words. Quite the opposite! It is almost an excuse, and even a self-accusation, when he said: "They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead." (Jn 20:9). "They still did not understand from Scripture?" ... This “understanding” must be rightly understood. After seeing the burial head covering ... after having remembered the words of Scripture and the promise in the Old Testament they had the knowledge of what had happened. Very well! But this knowledge that had been made known to them up until this time had gotten stuck in their heads. It had not found the way to their hearts. The translation of Scripture is that they “did not yet believe." When John, however, saw the empty tomb, he knew within himself. It had happened! There, as "scales fall from the eyes," his eyes were opened. God graciously came to help him have the knowledge that up until that time had been in his heart. And he believed! And this coming to faith for him was amazing because it came almost 60 years later after the event, as the Scriptures point out, yet he joyfully writes (in his Gospel) “Then finally ‘the other disciple’ (that is John, the writer) who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.!".)
My friend, you too can acquire much knowledge in this world. But that is not enough for God. God looks into the heart. God expects faith (belief)! But you cannot learn faith or belief. It must be given to you. And the same way also, “belief’ in Easter must be given to you, the belief that Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, has risen from the dead. It is not enough if we know the Easter story from memory, word for word. In the end all “knowledge” is useless, and all the “knowledge” in our last hours of life will leave us feeling entirely alone. To the knowledge, belief (faith) must be added and God must give us that faith. And that faith on Easter morning breaks apart the chains that bond us to sin, death, and the Devil. That faith on Easter morning is the “empty tomb of Joseph of Arimathea” and it is a guarantee that also on Judgment Day our graves will be open and empty. If we do not have this faith, then, yes, even, if we have the knowledge of a hundred (100) Einstein’s altogether, it would not be able to give us comfort at the time of death, and no power in the times of chaos in this life. First must come the realization and acknowledgement that: CHRIST LIVES! First the belief (faith): Christ has overcome death for me! Rise up out of the dark night of uncertainty and the twilight of doubt!
How does it stand with you, my friend? Must you, perhaps, also say: "Oh yes, I know it all very well. I hear the message well. I am only missing the “belief’ part? Oh, pity the poor poet Goethe, who was so impressed with these words, but only up to this point. Or can you say with John:” I saw ... and I believed!"? And whenever you do come to this point you must look at that “pilfered” open tomb just as John first looked at it. So, I say to you: What John saw.,. What Peter and the Apostles saw, what the “hundred” saw (Note: the 100 who saw Jesus after the resurrection)... yes, and what is more, the evil enemy of the early Christian Church, Paul saw ... what they all saw and believed, and have all recorded it in God’s holy word ... I, and your Pastor, say to you today and over and over again ... what they have proclaimed because they saw it ... and because I believe it: CHRIST LIVES! CHRIST LIVES!
When you believe that, then I certainly do not need to say: "Fear not!" Then also no angel needs to call to you: "Do not be afraid." To the true Easter believers all the terrors of death disappear on their own. Whenever you can truly know and say:
"My Savior, has overcome the power of death, then you can with Paul mock death and laugh at hell: "Death, where is your sting? Hell, where is your victory ... but thanks be to God for you have given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Therefore, you approach all things, not through great knowledge of the world, but alone through the simple belief(faith) in the Easter message. For this reason, our way should again and always be THE WAY, which John took: the way to the empty tomb. John saw and believed. AND YOU MY FRIEND? We hear the message and believe .... and we are comforted people! HE IS RISEN! CHRIST LIVES! Amen