"When God Whispers Your Name"

Sermon preached on Easter Sunday 2010

When God Whispers Your Name

(John 20:1-18)

Introduction:

A.  For the past week or so I have kept on in my office and often on my desk a crown of thorns.  I can only imagine having such a wreath place upon your head and hit upon.  John records for us some of the scene in John 19:1-3.

B.  The pain of the cross is a time of reflection for me.  I know that I am just as guilty for the death of Jesus as anyone else was 2000 years ago.  I know that he died, not because of Jewish cries or Roman guards, but because I sinned.  That crown of thorns was placed upon his head and my sin beat it into him.

C.  But God never leaves us in our grief and sin.  God provides for us comfort our hurting soul needs, but sometimes it starts with a question.

I.  Why Are You Weeping?

A.  Many times, we like Mary, come to that garden alone.  The Bible tells us that it was early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw the stone had been moved away.

B.  Mary is a remarkable woman.  This woman had a great devotion to Jesus.  During his ministry Jesus had healed this woman from seven demons.  What they did to her, the Bible does not tell.  What we know is that in many cases where her name is listed, she is listed first.  In each of the four gospels, we hear the story of Mary along with other women coming to the tomb.

C.  Her devotion to Jesus is seen here in the garden.  Peter and the beloved disciple come and see the empty tomb and go home, but Mary cannot leave.  How often do you walk in despair, hurt, and disappointment in others?  How often is your soul troubled and you feel alone?  Mary comes to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.  Then she is asked twice, “Woman, why are you crying?”

D.  That is a rather insensitive question to ask, unless the one asking knows something the one being asked does not.  She is crying because they have taken away her Lord.  There are many times when I feel alone, when I hurt within, that I want to know why, where, how, or other questions.  I struggle with my perception of reality.  I say that because as much as Mary hurt, the question asked to her was not insensitive, but Mary was hurting for the wrong reason.  She is weeping because she is looking for a dead man not a risen Lord.  She is weeping because the one who loved her was killed and now his body is not where it was supposed to be.  She was weeping because hope was lost and her world was in turmoil.

E.  From a heaven perspective, tears that Sunday morning made no sense.  Why cry when the great gift of victory over death has just been handed to mankind?  Brethren, we may come to the garden alone and hurting, but there is hope in that garden, a sound like no other.

II.  When God Whispers Your Name

A.  Christians hurt and grieve when death comes to ones we love, but we do not grieve as the world grieves.  1 Thes. 4:13-14

B.  We have hope of an eternal life with Christ our Lord.  We have hope because the tomb was found empty.  The angels and Jesus both asked, “Why are you crying?”  Don’t lose hope when all seems lost, for in that darkest hour the King of kings and Lord of lords is calling your name.

C.  Do you know what brought Mary Magdalene out of her trance of sorrow?  It was when Jesus called her name.  You can hear the chorus of the beloved song, “and he walks with me and he talks with me.  And he tells me I am his own.  And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”  Jesus says that his sheep know his voice.  God may not call your name in the same physical sense as he did with Mary, but God still calls your name when you reach out to him.

D.  Thursday I was privileged to baptize Cecilia Tarley into Christ.  The joy of the Lord was upon her.  We had talked about baptism the previous week.  When I arrived she had a smile on her face.  She had already decided that she wanted to be baptized.  God had called her name and Cecilia was responding to the call.

E.  He may be calling you from the pigpen of sin, and in your repentance you come home to your father’s arms to wrapping you in love.  He may be calling you from the depths of loneliness.  In your grief, hurt, anger, or fear you hear your name and feel his peace.

F.  The people who went to the tomb that day should have realized that Jesus had arisen just as he said, but instead many went in pain or wonder instead of faith.  Some Christians are very much like those disciples.  We should know our Shepherd’s voice, but it is so hard to believe, yet when we finally do, when we experience His divine grace we can’t help but share the joy.

III.  I Have Seen The Lord!

A.  When Mary heard her name and realized it was Jesus she cried, “Rabboni.”  Jesus told her to go and tell the disciples.  And that is what she did.  She went to the disciples and said, “I have seen the risen Lord!”

B.  When we come together every Sunday, we tell the world we believe in the risen Lord.  When we come around this table and partake of communion we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  When I think about the number of people in this congregation who had died, I think about seeing them again.  Why?  Because I believe in a risen Lord.

C.  Since he arose, he became victor over sin and death.  Since he arose, my body may die, but my soul will live with him forever.  I believe people like Thelma don’t have a weak body, and Patty’s eyes are open, and Charlie, Agnes, Richard and so may others won’t suffer from the ailments of the body, because we will have an incorruptible body.  It might be sown in weakness, but brethren we will arise in power because Jesus rose from the dead to conquer the last enemy.  I have seen the Lord!

Conclusion:

A.  Let me tell you about the joy that comes from being in his presence.  Let me share with you the good news of Jesus Christ and the desire he has to call your name in salvation.  When you respond that calling you too will die to self so that you can be born again, raised up, and to have your own resurrection in the power of Spirit as you are baptized into his death and raised in his power.  Let me tell you about the grace he gives to his children who have fallen, but come back to him in repentance.  Let me tell you about a new name written down in glory, written down in the book of life, waiting to be read as we stand before the throne on that great judgment day.

B.  I serve a risen Lord and I can’t help but share with you the greatness that comes from knowing that truth.  I am no longer the same and neither are you.  Today is a time not to reflect upon the empty tomb, but to proclaim the empty tomb.

C.  If you are here this day it is because God has whispered your name.  Listen.  Listen to his voice, his calling, his teaching, his grace and his love.  In obedience respond to him with a devotion of your entire self.  Give up yourself with all your sin to the one who championed the grave and is able to cleans you and set you free.  If we can witness your union with risen Lord, then come as we stand and sing.