From Strong Faith To Stained Glass - Pt. 7 | Rev. Terry K. Anderson

The one truth, the one truth which separates Christianity apart

from every other system of belief in the world is that Jesus Christ who was crucified on a Roman

cross died and rose again from the dead three days later. All other religious leaders died and are

still dead. Buddha's bones are bleaching on a lonely hillside. Muhammad's voice is hushed. Confucius

vision is silent. Only Christ is risen again from the dead and this morning the tomb is still empty.

To strip Christianity of the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of Jesus means that our faith is

no more than Eastern mysticism. Moreover, Jesus, if Jesus is not alive today, everything he did was

in vain. His death was a waste of a life and everything he taught was simply the wild ravings

of a madman. But brothers and sisters, Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 says, and if Christ be not

1 Corinthians 15 · chapter mention

risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain. If in this life only we have hope in

Christ, Paul says we are of all men most miserable. The resurrected Jesus makes the tomb a place of

grace and not grief, declaring that he has fulfilled the old covenant and established the saving

power and presence of the Lord through his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the right

hand of God with power. Mary came to the tomb a good while before daylight and she finds the

stone road away and the tomb empty. Alexander McLaren, that old Scottish preacher said it was

fitting that he who was to scatter the darkness of the grave should rise while darkness still

covered the earth. But before we come to Mary, before we get to window number three that was

purchased by the women and there's no accident that the women purchased this window, let us take a

closer look inside the empty tomb and look backwards at what Mary looked forward to. For

if not we run the risk of misinterpreting as dark what is really pregnant with light. In the tomb

there is no, there is no trace of hurry. There is no mention or idea of struggling or rambling to get

out. Jesus did not need to get out of the tomb in haste, but when you look inside there's a calmness,

there's a deliberateness for in the majesty of his lordship over death he just rises as if from

slumber and walks out of the grave and leaves order in a land of confusion. Look at the linen

clothes. The linen clothes inside the tomb have been bathed in embalming spices like myrrh and

aloes that have hardened the linen cloth and the linen cloth is now hardened on the body of Jesus

in the form of his body. But Jesus is not in the tomb but the linen cloths are still in the form

of his body. He has slipped out like a butterfly from its cocoon leaving the linen cloth in the

form of his body. But that's not the real evidence. The real evidence is there's a linen napkin

that was put over the face of Jesus not with the linen cloth where his body was,

but the linen napkin is left by the door. Somebody ought to help me preach here. I practiced this

at the funeral this past week and so I'm pretty good at it right now. That linen napkin is left

at the door apart from the linen clothes in the shape of his body because in that day when people

ate a meal after having been invited to somebody's house if they enjoyed the meal when they finished

and wiped their hands and their mouth they left the napkin on the plate saying to the host that

I enjoyed the meal. But if they did not enjoy the meal if they did not enjoy the stay they left

the napkin at the door dropped it at the door saying to the host I'll never be back here again.

When Jesus got up from the grave he left the napkin by the door saying to hell and the grave

I'm never coming back here again. He lives, he lives. Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me.

I wish I had a witness right here. He talks with me a long life's narrow way. He lives.

He lives salvation to him. Part you ask me how I know he lives. I'm not talking about what somebody

told me. I'm not talking about what I heard on the radio. He lives in my heart. Why seek he the living

among the dead. He is not here. He is risen just as he said. One of the chief aims of the devil

is to get us to talk about resurrection only on Easter Sunday. But every morning when we wake up

the Psalmist said this is the day that the Lord has made. We ought to rejoice and be glad in it.

He's talking about the resurrection. Every time we get up in the morning it's a resurrection morning.

Monday morning is a good morning. Friday morning is a good morning. Sunday morning is a good morning

because the Lord not only did he get up but he let you get up. And one day when your life is over

you're going to get up again. Because the scripture says the dead in Christ

shall be raised first. And we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together

to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord in the air.

The Gospel of John says, and she saw two angels in white seated one at the head

and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lie. Augusta,

Augusta, who was the bishop of Carthage in North Africa, Augusta of Hippo. Augusta suggests that

the reason these angels are positioned at the head and the feet of Jesus

signified that the Gospel was to be preached from head to toe.

From the beginning to the end. Thomas Aquinas suggests that the angels represent

the two testaments old and new and that they're being there also represented the two natures

of Christ, his divinity and his humanity. But hermeneutically the location of the angels at

each end of the place where Jesus had been lying intends to signify the angels at the two ends of

the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant is made overlaid and

encrusted with pure gold and two golden cherubim on each end facing each other.

I wish I had somebody to help me preach it. There are numerous verbal and conceptual links

that support this biblical interpretation. When you look at the Ark of the Covenant in the Old

Testament and the burial of Jesus in the New Testament, there is a congruency that will help

us to see what God is trying to teach us. There is a spatial relationship between the location

of the Ark and the body of Jesus. The Ark was in the innermost chamber of the tabernacle

and separated from the holy of holies and the most holy by a veil. Jesus body was placed in

the innermost chamber of the tomb separated by a veil linen cloth that covered his face.

The Ark of the Covenant was to be bathed with spices to anoint and consecrate it.

The body of Jesus was anointed with spices and oils to anoint and consecrate it. Both of them

were forbidden to be even looked upon or come near to. When the Ark was in the place where it was in

the temple, no one could come near it but the high priest on the day of atonement. When Jesus is in

the cross, Mary goes to the tomb but she doesn't look in. Peter and John get the word from Mary,

run into the tomb. Peter goes in, John stays a distance back but they don't look to see Jesus

body. Brothers and sisters hear me. Jesus in this symbolism is depicted as both the atoning

sacrifice and the one who sits in frowned between the cherubim. Get this, when God wanted to show

up to talk to his people, he appeared in the Shekinah cloud that rested between the cherubim.

But when Jesus got up from the grave, the glory of God in the Shekinah cloud is now risen indeed.

And so now we don't need a high priest because we already have one. Jesus, the Son of the living

God is now our living high priest. I think it's significant that the women of our church bought

this window because it says something about this woman, Mary. Mary Magdalene, Mary Magdalene,

not Mary, the mother of Jesus, not Mary who sat at Jesus feet at the home of Martha,

but Mary Magdalene possessed with demons. This woman that Jesus had healed of demonic

possession has become a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ. Everywhere Jesus goes, Mary Magdalene

is not far behind because when the Lord touches your life, when the Lord delivers you from your

distress, when the Lord touches you in your despair, wherever God is, you ain't far behind.

People who are following Jesus from a distance, that's because they don't know nothing about his touch.

They're not really sure how good he is. They're not really convinced that he can do what he

says he can do, but people who just shout at the mention of his name, people who just get

happy when it gets close to Sunday morning, people who put their clothes out on Friday,

getting ready for Sunday morning, getting your hair done and getting your nails ready and getting

your tie straightened with your suit because you know I was glad when they said unto me,

let's go to the house of the Lord. If you're not excited to be here this morning, I suggest you

get up and go somewhere else, but God's been too good to me for me to come in the Lord's presence

and act like I don't know who it was that kept me. I don't know who it was that brought me. I'm

riding in God's car. I'm sleeping in God's house. I'm wearing God's clothes. What I have, God gave me.

I don't want you to do it now. I don't want you to do it now because they're looking at you.

Don't do it now, but next Sunday when you come, remember, write yourself a note. Give yourself

a note on your phone or write it down if you think you're going to forget. Next Sunday,

don't do it now because I don't want to fight to break out. But just write in your notes somewhere

to whomever is sitting next to you next Sunday. Just write them a little portion of note. Just put

it right there on your seat. Don't have to say nothing. Just put it right next to you and say

to them, if you're going to sit here, it's going to be noisy. I'm going to wave my hand.

I don't want to knock your head off. I ain't trying to start nothing. I just want you to know

it's going to be some crying. It's going to be some racket. It's going to be some hollering.

It's going to be some cutting up because God's been good to me and I'm asking God to do something

for me that I can't do for myself and I got a feeling everything's going to be all right.

And by the time I get here next Sunday, the ashes won't be able to hold

because this joy I have.

The world didn't give it.

It didn't come from what I have, what I drive, where I work, who I know,

because God's been good to me by myself. I need somebody here who's been in the house by yourself

just thinking God that you've got a house to be in by yourself. You've got peace and quiet.

You've got joy and you've got a happiness and ain't nobody in there but you.

I need somebody who's got to happy on your job. You just sitting down at your computer

and you start thinking about the doors God has opened, the tears God has dried,

the prayers God has answered and you got to close your door because you don't want to get fine.

You got to shut your door because now's time for you to start giving God some praise.

Thank you for what you've done for me. Thank you for the ways you've made for me. Mary.

Mary is the first one at the tomb early in the morning. It's still dark.

It's dark. Not only physically, but it's dark in Mary's soul.

Because when she gets to the tomb, the place of grace is for Mary a place of grief.

Because she shows up weeping.

In verse number 14, in verse number 14, Mary, Mary comes to the tomb and when she gets there,

she is confused. The angels have already asked her a question

and Jesus asked the same question with a caveat. The angels ask, why are you weeping?

The inference is weeping is inconsistent with what just happened.

Grief is out of place with what just took place.

But Mary in her confusion has not yet realized what just happened.

Because it's dark physically and it's dark emotionally.

It's dark spiritually. It's dark psychologically.

And she gets to the tomb and she's weeping and the angels ask the question and then Mary turns

around and right behind her is Jesus. But she's so confused that she can't recognize it.

And brothers and sisters, don't be too hard on Mary. Because life can get so hard.

Stress can become such a burden that Jesus can show up right behind you and you can't recognize it.

Well, maybe you haven't been that sick. Maybe you haven't been that stressed.

But for those of us who know what I'm talking about this morning,

you know the Lord is good, but sometimes life is hell. You know the Lord is a waymaker,

but sometimes look like a way not going to ever be made. You know God is a healer,

but it looks like healing is far in the distance. You know it, but the physical evidence does not

line up with the spiritual reality. The physical evidence is inconsistent in Mary's mind with

the spiritual reality. And Jesus is standing right behind her and in her confusion, she does not know

who Jesus is. But then in verse number 15, there's a confrontation. And anybody who would follow Jesus,

Jesus will confront you with Jesus. You don't have to take my word for that.

And when they brought Jesus in front of Pilate, he had been from judgment hall to judgment hall.

And Mrs. Pilate said, wash your hands or this matter. Pilate got a basin and washed his hands

and said, I'll have nothing to do with this just man. And then Pilate tried one more time

to free Jesus. He said, which one do you want? Barabbas or Jesus? And the crowd said, give us

Barabbas. And here is the question. Pilate asked, what shall I do with this one who is called Jesus?

And the question this morning is what are you going to do with Jesus?

I don't care who you are. I don't care how pretty you are. What you're going to do with Jesus?

I don't care what neighborhood you live in. You got to deal with Jesus. I don't care what

college you went to. What are you going to do with Jesus? Because you're going to have to answer that

question in the judgment. No, no, no, Jesus don't want no little nice followers in the background

just giving him a nice little golf clap. No, no, if you're going to follow Jesus,

you remember when he was coming into the city and the Pharisees said, tell these folk to

quit all that noise. And they were throwing down palm branches and taking their coats off

and throwing them in the street shouting Hosanna. And Jesus said, if these hold that peace

and peace immediately the rocks will cry out. Rocks are silent witnesses that Jesus is the

Son of God. But I don't need a silent witness is crying out for me. I'm a living witness

that he's able. I'm a living witness that he's good. I'm a living witness that he's a keeper.

I'm a living witness that he's a savior. I need some more living witnesses in here this morning.

I'm trying to leave that and get to the second little thing I'm talking about here. But

the reason we don't have a crucifix in our church

or on our building or on our literature because a crucifix, a crucifix, a cruciform

has on it a dead Jesus.

Jesus. The symbol of our faith is a cross and empty cross that points toward an empty tomb.

So we don't serve a dead Jesus. We serve a living savior. And if the savior is alive,

those whom he has saved ought to show some sign. And if you're sitting by somebody who

can't show any signs, it may be that they still serve a dead Jesus.

In breast 15, Jesus said to her woman,

why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?

And she, supposing he was a gardener, which is a good supposition because

he's a gardener in his own garden.

Because he's the first fruits of them that's left.

That's a whole another sermon. I don't want to get into that right now.

But she's supposed that he's a gardener. She says, sir, if you've carried him away,

tell me where he is and I will go and take him away. And then in verse 16, she moves from confusion

and confrontation to a call. Jesus simply says, Mary.

And when she heard that voice,

it came to her. Sheep know their shepherd's voice.

And another voice they will not follow. Can't nobody call my name like Jesus?

Nobody can speak peace to me just by calling my name like Jesus.

Nobody can awaken my spirit. Nobody can quicken me like Jesus. I need somebody here who's heard

the Lord speak to you. Now, listen, I'm not being superstitious. I'm not being foolish. I'm not

trying to evoke a response from you. If you really walk with the Lord, he'll tell you some things

other folk came here. He'll show you some things other folk can't see. And people think you crazy

because you're doing something that doesn't make sense. But when God speaks to you, you got to act

when the Lord speaks to you. You got to move when the Lord speaks to you. And God will speak to you

if you listen for his voice. I'm not guessing about my salvation. I know I've been born again.

I know my name is in the Lamb's book of life. I've kept you too long. Let me get finally to

verse 17 and I'm going to leave you alone. Mary, when she recognized it was Jesus.

Because the last time she saw him, he was dead.

Her last memory of him was being taken down from the cross. And they hurriedly anointed

his body with some spices, wrapped him in a linen cloth and brought him to the tomb of Joseph of

Arimathea. And Mary thinks that he's still there. But when he calls her name and she recognizes

that it is Jesus, the last time she saw him, he was dead. But this time he's alive. And I'm sure

Mary in her excitement is about to grab him and hold on to him. But Jesus tells her, don't touch me.

He's not being rude. He is not being inconsiderate. What Mary needs to understand, what Jesus is

trying to communicate to Mary, what needs to stop is not a particular act of touching Jesus,

but a misplaced reliance on his physical presence. Jesus was saying to her, you're going to have

to give up what you're trying to keep because you're trying to hold on to me physically.

But for you to physically hold on to me, halts the process of what I came here to do.

I came here to be born. I came here to heal the sick. I came here to work miracles.

I came here to walk on water. I came here to give sight to the blind. I came to make the dumb

speak. I came to make the deaf hear. But that's not all I came to do. I came to die on a cross

for your sins and the sins of the whole world. But that's not all I came to do.

I came to go in the grave for three days just like that window at the top is Mary talking to

Jesus at an empty tomb. The bottom window is Jonah being spit up by that fish on dry ground.

And Jesus said, just like Jonah was in the belly of a fish, so must the Son of man be in the belly

of the earth. And just like that fish spit up Jonah, that grave had to give up Jesus.

Jesus came out of the grave, but that's not all he came to do. He told Mary, don't touch me

because I'm not yet ascended to my father. Let me see if I can make that make sense.

He came to be born. He came to die. He came to be buried in a grave. He came to be resurrected

from the dead. But that does not complete his assignment. He has to go back to the Father

to sit at the right hand of God with power because Jesus is saying to Mary, if I don't go,

the Holy Ghost can't come. And if the Holy Ghost can't come, you'll never be able to have me with

you everywhere you go. Because if I'm in Jerusalem, I can't be in Capernaum. If I'm in Nazareth,

I can't be in Nain. But if the Holy Ghost comes, who is another comforter, another of the same kind,

he will be with you everywhere. He can be at your house. He can be in Dallas and Detroit at the

same time. He can be in Houston and Havana, Cuba at the same time. He can be in Massachusetts at

the same time that he's in New York City. Whatever you need right now, the Lord can do it for you

right now. And doing it for you will not stop him from doing it for somebody else. That's why he

had to leave so he could send the Holy Spirit. I need somebody here this morning who knows who

the Holy Spirit is. He's not in it. He is a person. He has personality. He has will. He has emotion.

And somebody ought to be able to feel him right now. Sometimes you'll wake you up in the middle

of the night to let you know that whatever you're going through, the Holy Spirit is with you.

When you have to face it on your job, the Holy Ghost is there. When you have to face it in your

marriage, the Holy Ghost is there. When you have to face it with your children, if you have to face

it in the hospital, the Holy Ghost is right there. Somebody ought to feel him right now. I feel his

presence right now moving on the altars of my heart. I want to stop preaching right now,

but the Holy Spirit is in charge now. I want to leave it alone right here, but I got so much to

be thankful for. I got so much to be grateful for. I got so many testimonies to talk about.

I've got so many blessings to shout over. I just can't leave it alone right now. I need one or two

more witnesses who know the Holy Spirit is moving in your soul. He's blessed you once.

That's what the choir just got through saying. He's blessed me twice. He's been blessing me

all my life when I look back over my shoulder to see where I've come from. It was nobody

but Jesus. Nobody but Jesus. If he brought you and you're not ashamed to testify. If he kept you

and you don't mind being a witness. If the Holy Ghost has a hold on you and you don't mind telling

somebody. I went to a meeting one night and my heart wasn't right. Something got a hold of me.

The Holy Ghost will make you walk right. The Holy Ghost will make you talk right.

Why don't you look at somebody? Tell them you don't know like I know.

You can't tell it like I can tell it. What the Lord? What the Lord? What the Lord?

I know he's alright. He's a keeper. He's a deliverer. He's a provider. He's a way maker.

He's a rock in a weary land. A shelter in a time of storm. He's a friend when you're friendless.

Bread when you're hungry. Water when you're thirsty. Y'all know him don't you? He's Adam's redeemer.

Abel's vindicator. Abraham's sacrifice. He's Noah's ark. Moses bush on fire.

Joshua was battle axe. Y'all know him don't you? He's Gideon's fleece. God's only son. He died.

Didn't he die. But Sunday morning he got up from the grave with all power.

All power in his hand. He's alive. He's alive. He's alive. He's alive. I know he's alright.

Alright.

Seek the living among the dead.

Why are you still running after dead stuff?

Dead aspirations. Dead hopes. Why are you surrounding yourself with dead people?

Folks who ain't going nowhere. Folks who ain't doing nothing with their life. Here God has a

claim and a destiny and a future on your life and you hanging around with dead people?

He is not here. He's risen. Come see the place where the Lord was laid.