There are two significant events in the Old Testament where God stopped flowing water so the people of Israel could cross into a new land. Once was at the Red Sea when God’s people were fleeing slavery in Egypt. God parted the waters of the sea which allowed the people to escape from the Egyptian army and begin their journey to the Promised Land. A generation later, God stopped the waters of the Jordan River so the people could cross over from the wilderness into the Promised Land. That second time, God told the people to pick up 12 stones from the dry river bed to set up as a memorial so that in the future, when people asked about those stones, the story of God’s power and provision could be told again.
This year, before we move on from Easter too quickly, I was thinking it might be a good idea for us to pick up and hold on to a stone in order to remember what we have just been through. As you go for a walk or clean up your yard, I want to invite you to find a small stone that you can keep somewhere and maybe write on it, Easter 2020. Then in the future, when you see the stone or are asked about it, you can share what we have just been through.
When we are asked, what does this stone mean, we can answer, it means that no matter what - we celebrated Easter. 2020 was the year we realized that the resurrection doesn’t need egg hunts, family gatherings, and sanctuaries full of people or flowers. Easter isn’t about those wonderful activities, it’s remembering that the power and love of God are available to us each and every day.
Easter comes no matter what, which reminds us that God comes to us no matter what. No matter what is going on in our lives or in our land, God comes to us. God comes with power when we are weak. God comes with hope when we are in despair. God comes with assurance when we are uncertain. God comes with love that heals hearts and lives. Sometimes God just comes to us to say, hey, I’m here and I haven’t forgotten you.
Several weeks after Jesus had risen from the dead, the disciples were back in Galilee and there were back to fishing when Jesus came to them. The scene is quiet. There was no storm, no crisis, and no big problem, they were just fishing. From the boat they couldn’t tell it was Jesus on the shore, but when Jesus told them to put their nets over the other side of the boat - and they got a huge catch of fish when they did - they knew it was Jesus.
Peter jumped into the water and swam to shore while the rest of the disciples hauled in the boats and the fish. When they landed they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” And then he said, “Come and have breakfast.”
This was now the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples. He appeared to them twice in Jerusalem when they were filled with fear and doubt, and now he appeared to them when things were quiet and calm. So no matter what we are going through in life, God is with us. No matter what we may be feeling right now - God is with us. Whether we are adjusting to the new normal, or still stressed about the future - God is with us. Every day, God is willing to appear to us if we will open our eyes and look for him. Seeing a stone that says Easter 2020 might remind us on good days and on difficult days that God is with us - no matter what.
The stone can also remind us of the role a stone played in the Easter story. In fact, there would be no Easter story without hearing that the stone had been rolled away. When the women arrived at the tomb they were actually discussing how they were going to roll the stone away so they could get to the body of Jesus and properly prepare it for burial. When they got there it wasn’t a problem because the stone had been rolled away. This didn’t just open a grave, it opened up possibilities.
In the future, when we see a stone that says Easter 2020, we will be reminded that there are always new possibilities for us in life and that even in the midst of trials there can be triumphs. We can never look at challenging times as dead ends because with God we never face a dead end. With God there is never a sealed tomb - there is always hope and possibility. Even the cross (death) gave way to an open and empty tomb (life). With God there are always new avenues of living and loving.
While I do not believe for one moment that God caused this worldwide pandemic, I do believe that God is using it for good. The work of God is to always redeem what is broken. Through Jesus, God healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. Through Jesus, God forgave the unforgivable and loved the unlovable. God redeemed the pain of the cross by opening the door to heaven. God delights in showing us a way when we can’t see any way forward. That’s also the Red Sea and Jordan River story - God makes a way when we can’t see one.
For some of us, it’s hard to see a way forward right now. It’s hard to see the first steps of opening up an economy and redeeming the pain of this past month - but with God, all things are possible. The stone being rolled away means that there are countless new possibilities for us in life and faith and in community. Here at the church, the challenges of the past month have opened doors of opportunity. We saw this as an opportunity to get us live streaming so we could connect with each other, but it also opened up the opportunity for us to share the gospel of Jesus with people who might never come in our door.
We are hearing stories about family and friends finding us online and worshipping with us who never would have come here on a Sunday morning, and we are thankful for the new opportunity we have to simply share with them the message that no matter what - God loves them. And while we look forward to the day when we will get back together - our hope is that new people might join us that day because of the door opened to us during this crisis. God makes a way where we don’t see any way forward.
The grave stone was moved, it was rolled away, and it opened the door to new possibilities. What new possibilities is God wanting to show you? Is it possible that a stronger family, a more vital faith, and a more giving love can develop during a crisis? Can the possibility of developing a genuine trust in God emerge as we fail to be able to trust ourselves and the work of our hands during this time? These past few weeks have reminded all of us that there is only so much we can do, and that we can not control everything. Maybe today the door is open for us to trust God for everything. The stone has been rolled away and new possibilities are everywhere.
This stone means that no matter what - God is with us.
And there are new opportunities all around us.
This stone can also remind us that there is only one foundation on which we can build our lives - Jesus Christ. And of all that Jesus taught - there is one message which we can use as this solid rock, and it is a message that Peter heard 3 times after the resurrection. If you remember, Peter had denied that he knew Jesus three times the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, and so three times after the resurrection Jesus asked Peter a simple question that gave Peter the opportunity to erase the failure of his past.
John 21:15-17
This scene took place on a rocky coastline and today there is a stone church built on top of a solid rock commemorating this story. This scene with Peter reminds us that the foundation of our faith is what Jesus is saying here. What we build our faith on is our love for Jesus and our love for others. Peter, do you love me? Yes Lord, you know that I love you. Then feed my sheep.
Do we love Jesus? Do we love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength? And do we love others? Will we feed and care for others? What it all boils down to is this, love God and love others. When we don’t know what else to do we can always Love God and love others. When the future is uncertain we can always find a way, and maybe a new way, to love God and love others. Whether things are going well or the world is in crisis, we can love God and love others. It’s the rock on which we build everything else.
Peter and the disciples are in these very strange days after Jesus resurrection and before he ascends into heaven. They are kind of waiting - biding time - uncertain about their future, and it is in these very moments that Jesus comes to Peter to remind him of the rock on which they will build everything - Love God and Love others.
What’s the great commandment?
Love God and love others.
What do we do when we don’t know what else to do?
Love God and love others.
What do we focus on when we can’t clearly see the future?
Love God and love others.
What will guide us into all the new possibilities God has for us?
A love for God and love for others.
What is the rock on which we build our faith, our lives, our family and our future?
Loving God and loving others.
What does this rock mean?
We love God and love others.
Easter 2020 - when we look back to this year, what will this stone teach us? It will teach us that
● Easter will come no matter what because God is always with us.
● The stone was rolled away so there are always new possibilities and new opportunities for us.
● The rock on which we build our lives and our faith is simple. Love God and love others.
