Christ is risen … no foolin’

Rev. Mike Henning
Walkersville United Methodist Church

(4/1) Easter’s exact date varies from year to year because it actually depends on the moon. The "formula" used to determine when Easter occurs is; it is the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. Because of this equation, Easter can come as early as March 22, and as late as April 25. When I was asked to write this article, for some reason I remembered in 2018, Easter fell on April 1, April Fool’s Day.

Because of this pairing of two completely different themes that fell on the same day I chose for my sermon title, Christ is Risen…No Foolin’. Now I am fully aware Easter does not fall on April 1 this year. However, I feel the topic of foolishness as it pertains to the Easter story is good topic to delve into. So bear with me, and hopefully I will make my point clear.

April Fool’s Day for some is about doing pranks, trying to catch people unaware, or trick them to doing something. When the person is tricked, the response from the trickster is, "I got you, April fool!" That first Easter day carried with it a wide range of emotions for Jesus’ disciples and faithful followers. From experiencing fear, confusion, despair, hopelessness, denial; to trusting, believing, and an overwhelming sense of relief and exuberant joyous celebration when they finally realized Christ is risen, He is risen indeed … no foolin’.

Some folks on that first Easter, however, when they heard/learned Jesus was alive may have thought it was all a prank, some kind of sad joke being pulled on them. It took some time for the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead to sink in for many people, including Jesus’ own disciples. Most people would eventually come to understand Jesus was who He said He was; God’s Son, the promised Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords, who came to die for our sin, and be raised on the third day.

The Apostle Paul made a declaration to the church in Corinth, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:54b-55, 57, "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death is your sting?" Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus proved the naysayers, doubters, and non-believers to be wrong – might we say they were foolish.

We can see how this foolishness ties in with the Easter story from Paul’s explanation to the people of Corinth, "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God." "…but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-25).

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He told His disciples on numerous occasions He would be crucified, die, and be resurrected on the third day. The disciples lived with Jesus for three years, they were in ministry together with Him. They witnessed the miracles and the healings He performed, and they heard His preaching and teachings. Yet when Jesus needed them the most, in His darkest hours, they betrayed Him, denied Him, abandoned Him, doubted Him. Were they foolish not to believe what their leader told them? They trusted Him enough to give up their careers, livelihoods, and leave family and friends to follow Him. Why was is so difficult for them to accept what Jesus told them about His future suffering, death, and resurrection over death? Why is it still such a difficult concept for many today to understand God’s Truth when there is so much evidence and proof to back up the claims? Could it be there are still many doubters, skeptics who will not accept these things unless they see and experience them first hand?

A few of the events that took place that first Easter, we can see some actions and reactions that could lend themselves to a degree of foolish attitudes of not believing, or doubting that Jesus was alive. One example; very early in the morning, around dawn, several women (depending on which Gospel writer you read who those women were) went to the tomb to properly prepare Jesus’ body with herbs and spices. Since His body was hurriedly placed into the tomb because Sabbath was quickly approaching and no work was to be done on the Sabbath.

In Mark’s recording, we are told "a young man dressed in a white robe" (Mark 16:5) told the women who arrived at the tomb told to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen. It states, "Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." (v.8). So was this fear, or possibly some foolishness as well since they did not tell anyone, keeping what they had been told to themselves? The book of Luke, says the women believed what they saw and heard, and they shared with the disciples all of those things, "but the disciples did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them to be nonsense" (Luke 24:11). Foolishness on the part of the disciples?

And in John’s account, in the evening of that first Easter, Jesus went to the place where the disciples where hiding for fear of what the authorities might do to them. He appeared to them, talked with them, showed them His hands and side, and breathed the Holy Spirit into them. All of this proving He was alive and not a ghost or a figment of their imagination.

For some unknown reason Thomas was not there at that time, but even with the other disciples being overjoyed by Jesus’ visit and explaining to Thomas all that happened, he refused to believe their stories. In fact, he said, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it." (John 20:25b). I don’t know what was running through Thomas’ mind at that point, but his attitude seems a little foolish to me. According to Scripture, Jesus returned again one week later to the same place and spoke to Thomas. This time Thomas redeemed himself proclaiming Jesus as his Lord and God. (John 20:28).

My point is not to point out any ‘character flaws’ in any of those first century people as they experienced that miraculous event. Remember their emotions were very raw from what they had gone through and witnessed, especially that last week of Jesus’ life. What I would like us all to ponder is; are we any different today, all these years later with our doubts, fears, skepticism, and yes, our foolish thinking and actions at times? We have so many resources at our disposal, especially the Bible itself with its recordings of those eye witnesses to that event and to many, many others.

My hope and prayer is that someday, "every knee should bow, …and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10a–11). And also, that every person on earth will confidently say, "Christ the Lord is risen, He is risen indeed…no foolin’!

Walkersville United Methodist Church is located at 22 Main Street, Walkersville. Our Sunday worship service is at 10 a.m., with Sunday School offered during that time. The worship service can also be viewed on our Facebook page, and YouTube. For more information about our church visit our website, walkersvilleumc.org.