The Good News is Alive in the World!

Matthew 28:1-10

Throughout the six weeks of Lent, our congregation has been on the lookout for Good News in a world full of bad news. It hasn’t been an easy journey to find it, unless you look in the right source. We found plenty of good news in scripture to counter so much bad news in the world.

First, a definition as a reminder of what the Bible calls good news.

The term "good news" carries significant weight in the Bible, embodying hope, salvation, and divine love. What is the Good news? Bible Dictionary  

The phrase "good news" translates to "gospel" in Greek, derived from the word  euangelion euangelion,  which signifies a “joyful proclamation.”  In the New Testament, this term specifically refers to the message of Jesus Christ—the announcement of His life, death, and resurrection, which brings salvation to humanity. 

In The Jewish Annotated New Testament, Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler provide historical context for the term “good news.” They write: “The Greek term euangelion euangelion was part of Rome’s political vocabulary: 'good news' was typically something the Emperor did for the population, such as promote the Pax Romana, the 'peace of Rome,' or declare a tax holiday.” This term, therefore, was used differently by Jesus’ followers.

What Good News have we discovered over the Lenten journey?

• We learned through the story of Jesus turning water into wine that God is involved and cares about the daily details in our lives.
• We learned about Jesus boiling life down to three things- Love for God, love for neighbor, and love for self.
• We learned through the story of the feeding of thousands in the desert that one day, we will enjoy a heavenly banquet with a Risen Christ and those we love, that God provides for us in our wilderness moments, and that when we come together in community, impossible things can happen.
• We learned through the story of Jesus welcoming vulnerable children into his presence that he cares for the vulnerable in this world, including migrants, and calls us to do the same.
• In the story about the woman who escaped being stoned to death, we learned that all people are precious and beloved in God’s sight, and that transformation is possible.
• And last Sunday, in the story of Palm Sunday, and the Messiah’s entry into Jerusalem, we learned that the Kingdom of God was established on that day, that there are glimpses of the kingdom every time we show God’s justice, love and mercy, and that the world we see now will one day be as God intended- on earth as it is in heaven.

That is a LOT of Good News! But wait, there’s MORE! Let’s take a closer look at the story of Jesus’ resurrection to find another piece of euangelion!

First, let’s look at the structure of the story of Jesus’ life in the New Testament.

• Angels are the bookends on both sides of Jesus’ story- an angel tells Mary not to be afraid, lets her know of her exalted place in the scheme of things, warms Joseph in a dream, and tells the shepherds to go and see the Messiah. At the end of the story, an angel takes care of the heavy stone, rolls it away, and tells the women disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee.
• The town of Galilee also serves as a bookend. On both sides of Jesus’ life story. Galilee is where Jesus recruited his first disciples. The beginning of Jesus' ministry in Galilee signifies the commencement of His public work and the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. This phase of Jesus' life is characterized by His teachings, miracles, and the calling of His first disciples. At the end of this morning’s story, Jesus tells the women disciples to gather the others and go to Galilee, where he gathered his first disciples, where the sea is salty, the fish are fresh, and the memories of how his ministry all began can wipe away the visions of suffering and death.
• The phrase, “Do not be afraid,” also serves as a bookend on both sides of the story. The angels tell Mary not to be afraid. The host of angels tells the shepherds not to be afraid. At the end of Jesus’ story, the angel tells the female disciples not to be afraid, and Jesus tells the gathered disciples also, “Do not be afraid,” a phrase often repeated in both Hebrew scripture and the New Testament.

There is a lot to fear for the disciples at this moment. Based on the other versions of Christ’s resurrection story, the male disciples are hiding for their lives in the Upper Room with the doors locked. What was so scary? Their leader had been killed, and Roman authorities may have had them next on their list. The soldiers who mocked him and taunted him to call down the great prophet Elijah are still there. The people who scorned Jesus, who called him to come down from the cross and save himself, are still there. In addition, the disciples may have been scared because now they knew that Jesus really is Emmanuel- God with us, the Messiah, whom they have followed, served, fed, and whom they have come to know as Rabbi and friend. In addition, Governor Pilate, with his Roman garrisons of power, still reigns. There is a LOT to be afraid of!

That holds true today as well. Our nation is tangled up in war with Iran, with a potential ground invasion of American troops on the way. Other nations are being drawn into this war, and there are fears it could escalate even further. Gazans continue to suffer, but their story is no longer on the front page. Ukraine continues to struggle for its existence as it seeks to fight back against a Russian invasion. Here in America, we worry and argue over the state of our democracy. We see American citizens shot and killed by government agents. We see our rights being eroded, and strangers and sojourners being arrested without due process. The cost of living keeps rising, making it harder for us to feed our families and make ends meet. There is a LOT to be afraid of!

Yet, the angels and Jesus tell us not to be afraid. Where then can we place our hope? Where can we find Good news in the midst of it all?

Today we celebrate the good news that, despite so much to fear, the promise of resurrection is alive in the world. The grave couldn’t hold Jesus. Death couldn’t keep him. The empire couldn’t confine him. Instead, a Risen Messiah is here and everywhere. He is risen and on the move in the world.

And that is good, good news. DO not fear.

I find that promise of resurrection as our congregation prays for three people under the care of Hospice, with one having gone to be with the Risen Christ yesterday morning, Julie Lawson. I felt that promise of hope last Tuesday as I spent time with Bill Sager and prayed at Celia’s House before he went to be with Christ yesterday. Do not fear. The promise of resurrection is alive in the world!

It is alive in every Lilly plant that blooms, in every Daffodil that springs forth, in every caterpillar that metamorphosizes into a butterfly, in every resurrection plant that blooms after years of not being watered. (show), Nothing can confine the Risen Messiah and resurrection power. A story of that power recently unfolded in the small town of Concrete, Washington, as highlighted in the Presbyterian Outlook magazine.

When police officer Tom Wenzel first interacted with Kevin and Danielle Riley, Kevin was pinned to the ground in the parking lot of a grocery store in Skagit Valley. He was then handcuffed and put into the back of Wenzl’s squad car.

Two weeks later, Wenzl arrested Danielle. Both were now in jail. Fortunately, for the two of them, they served their time, got clean and sober, converted to Christianity, and got their lives back together. Kevin began working for the city of Mt. Vernon as part of a work crew. That is when Tom Wenzl reentered his life. By this time, Wenzl had retired from police work and took over that work crew. Kevin approached Wenzl and shared his faith journey and sobriety. Hearing of this positive change, Wenzl placed Riley in charge of the work crew.

Two weeks later, Wenzl offered to give Kevin a credit-based early release from the work crew. Riley accepted. Not long after that, both he and his wife felt called to ministry, and within a year they became co-lay pastors at Mt. Baker Presbyterian Church in Concrete. The Riley’s and Wenzl stayed in touch. But Wenzl kept his distance from the church. Wenzl commented, “Kevin kept saying, God is good and good things are happening. I would say, yeah, yeah, but I believe in karma, you know.”

A couple of years later, Wenzl invited Kevin out to breakfast, told him he was getting married, and said he wanted to let Christ into his life and get baptized.

Wenzl said,“All of a sudden, everything just fell into place for me, from Kevin originally planting the seed of faith to my wife cultivating it and making it real. Guess what? God is real! Who would have thunk it?”

Riley said it was a beautiful day on the river the day he baptized Wenzl. Thinking back about his relationship with Kevin and Danielle- two people who’d been strung out on drugs and getting into trouble- Wenzl said, “From me arresting them to them baptizing me to now them being my best friends. It is absolutely amazing to come full circle like that.”  Danielle Riley said, “This is just one more piece of evidence of God’s power in our story. Nobody is beyond resurrection.”

 Do not be afraid. Christ is risen! The power of resurrection is all around us! That is good news, probably the best news there is! This good news is more alive than anything that tries to kill and destroy. This good news tells us death does not have the last word. This good news is greater than any tyrant in power. This good news shakes the earth with power and might, making a tomb bloom with new life. Do not be afraid! Have hope. Alleluia! Amen.