EASTER SUNDAY :[2015]: John 20: 1-9

EASTER SUNDAY :[2015]: John 20: 1-9

Introduction:  The celebration of Resurrection is the first feast that early Christians ever celebrated.  In fact it was such a powerful event that they celebrated it every Sunday.  Yes, even today… Sunday is the day of the Lord, the day of Resurrection.  Belief in the Resurrection is central to Christian life.  It is the event and experience of Easter that confirms our belief in Jesus as the Son of God, as it confirmed the belief of the apostles.  St Paul tells us, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1Cor 15:14).

Symbol: In Egyptian mythology there is a bird called Phoenix.  The Greek poet Hesiod, who lived eight centuries before Jesus was born, wrote about this legendary bird in his poetry. There are Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Egyptian, and Native American counterparts of the Phoenix. (Fêng-Huang, Ho-oo, Firebird, Benu, and Yel respectively). All of these birds are identified with the sun. The sun that goes down in the evening to rise next day in the morning.

When the bird felt its death was near (every 500 to 1,461 years), it would fly off to Phoenicia, build a nest of aromatic wood and set itself on fire.  When the bird was consumed by the flames, a new phoenix sprang forth from the ashes.  Thus, the phoenix symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and life after death.  It sums up the Easter message perfectly.  Jesus gave up His life, and from the grave He was raised to life again on the third day.  New life rises from the ashes of death.  Today we are celebrating Christ's victory over the grave, the gift of eternal life for all who believe in Jesus.  That is why the phoenix bird, one of the earliest symbols of the Risen Christ, also symbolizes our daily rising to new life.  Every day, like the phoenix, we rise from the ashes of sin and guilt and are refreshed and renewed by our living Lord and Savior with His forgiveness and the assurance that He still loves us and will continue to give us the strength we need."  Let our faith in the Risen Lord open our eyes to new visions of life.

Joke:  Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was once asked if he believed in resurrection. “Of course I do,” said Huckabee. “Dead people vote in every election we have in Arkansas. Resurrection is very real to us.”

Practical Applications:  Let us live the lives of Resurrection people: Easter gives us the joyful message that we are a “Resurrection people.”  This means that we are not supposed to lie buried in the tomb of our sins, evil habits, dangerous addictions, despair, discouragement or doubts.  Instead, we are expected to live a joyful and peaceful life, constantly experiencing the living presence of the Risen Lord in all the events of our lives and amid the boredom, suffering, pain and tensions of our day-to-day life.  And each time we try to practice Christian charity, mercy and forgiveness and each time we fight against temptations, let us recall that we share in the Resurrection of Jesus here and now.