Episode 59: Easter A
Opening Music: Christ the Lord is Risen Today
For Sunday, April 20, 2014
Episode 59
Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, where two local pastors discuss the lectionary reading for the week. Lives again our glorious King, Where o death, is now thy sting? Once he died our souls to save. Where’s thy victory, boasting grave?
This is episode 59 for Sunday April 20, Easter A.
Matthew 28:1-10 - Resurrection part 1
John 20:1-18 - Resurrection part deux
Introductions
Check-in
- Easter!!
- Holy Week TNS
- Boston 1 yr, Rwanda Genocide 20 yr, Columbine High School Shooting 15 yr.
- NBW TNS - Free Book giveaway. Share on Facebook or Twitter to be entered into drawing to win an autographed copy of the book Pastrix.
Primary Scripture - Matthew 28:1-10 - Resurrection part 1
- Initial Thoughts
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- What makes this story different?
- What is unique about Matthew?
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- They come to see the tomb
- Earthquake-(Jerusalem was “earthquaked” on Palm Sunday, Earthquake at his death, the guards “quake”)
- Angel
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- cf: Daniel 10:5-6 and Rev 1:14
- Rolls away the stone
- The Angel lied! Jesus appears on the way back to Jerusalem
- cf: Daniel 10:5-6 and Rev 1:14
- They come to see the tomb
- What makes this story different?
- Bible Study
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- Role reversal: Jesus who was dead is alive, Empire which was alive is now dead (the guards)
- Worship is where is should be- focused on God, not Caesar
- “Do not be afraid”
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- Angel’s words and Jesus words to the Marys
- What are we afraid of?
- Do we want Jesus to come back?
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- Do we truly want a crucified savior that asks us to give everything for the sake of the gospel...everything including our lives?
- Do we truly want a crucified savior that asks us to give everything for the sake of the gospel...everything including our lives?
- Do not be afraid/Fear Not (Martin B. Copenhaver, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 2: Lent through Eastertide)
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- “When the angel says, "Do not be afraid," or when Jesus says, "Fear not," it is not assurance that nothing can go wrong, because often things do go wrong. It is not assurance that everything turns out for the best, because, if we are honest about it, it seldom does. Rather, it is assurance that, whatever may happen to us, whatever a day may hold, God has the power to strengthen us and uphold us; that whatever we must face, we do not face it alone; that nothing we encounter is stronger than God's love; that ultimately God gets the last word; that in the end—and sometimes even before the end—God's love is triumphant.”
- “When the angel says, "Do not be afraid," or when Jesus says, "Fear not," it is not assurance that nothing can go wrong, because often things do go wrong. It is not assurance that everything turns out for the best, because, if we are honest about it, it seldom does. Rather, it is assurance that, whatever may happen to us, whatever a day may hold, God has the power to strengthen us and uphold us; that whatever we must face, we do not face it alone; that nothing we encounter is stronger than God's love; that ultimately God gets the last word; that in the end—and sometimes even before the end—God's love is triumphant.”
- Response is joy and fear.
- Jesus’ first resurrected words are “Greetings. Do not be afraid…”
- Angel’s words and Jesus words to the Marys
- Role reversal: Jesus who was dead is alive, Empire which was alive is now dead (the guards)
- Preaching Thoughts:
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- If following Jesus doesn’t scare you- you aren’t doing it right.
- If following Jesus doesn’t scare you- you aren’t doing it right.
Song - “If I” by Christian Piatt
click the above link for lyrics and more of Christian’s great music!
Secondary scripture - John 20:1-18 - Resurrection part deux
- Initial thoughts
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- Repeated text - do you go back to last year, or do you try to read it fresh?
- What makes this story different?
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- Both Mt and Jn have angel talk to women first, but in John the tension is extended. Mystery drawn out.
- Intimate exchange between Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
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- Only place in John where Mary is referred to as “Mary Magdalene” are here and at the cross.
- In fact, only place where “Mary Magdalene” occurs in all four gospels are at the cross and at the tomb.
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- Only exception: Luke 8:2: 1 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
- Only exception: Luke 8:2: 1 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
- Only place in John where Mary is referred to as “Mary Magdalene” are here and at the cross.
- “Woman why are you weeping?”
- Both Mt and Jn have angel talk to women first, but in John the tension is extended. Mystery drawn out.
- Repeated text - do you go back to last year, or do you try to read it fresh?
- Bible Study
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- Empty tomb is not good news, it is disturbing.
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- Practical issues are the first ones that Mary thinks of. She has work to do, to try and go back to normalcy.
- A dead a body is moved, in a “normal” world, the only explanation is that someone else moved it.
- Two disciples come, see it is empty, and believe not in the resurrection yet, but believe Mary’s testimony that the body is missing.
- Practical issues are the first ones that Mary thinks of. She has work to do, to try and go back to normalcy.
- Resurrection does not occur until Mary’s name is spoken.
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- Everything that was once “normal” is broken.
- There is a new normal. New life. New reality
- Crucifixion, which was devised to not only kill, but to erase a person - level so much shame upon the name of the one crucified as to completely obliterate it - has been rendered impotent.
- Everything that was once “normal” is broken.
- Empty tomb is not good news, it is disturbing.
- Preaching Thoughts and Questions:
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- “The resurrection of Jesus is more than a miracle; it is an eschatological event that makes possible a radical style of new life. Closed world are broken open, and old perceptions of what is plausible and possible are shattered. The future becomes a promise of sharing in the resurrection” (Charles Cousar, Texts For Preaching: Year A, p. 255)
- Can you remember the first time your name was spoken? What does it mean to have someone call you by name? Graduation - how great is it to actually hear the name read. Wedding - naming the couple is at the beginning, and always a part of the vows I Robb, take you, Sarah… What does it feel like to be called by name into resurrection.
- Frederick Buechner: “They are not trying to describe it as convincingly as they can. They are trying to describe it as truthfully as they can. It was the most extraordinary thing they believed had ever happened, and yet they tell it so quietly that you have to lean close to be sure what they are telling.”
- “The resurrection of Jesus is more than a miracle; it is an eschatological event that makes possible a radical style of new life. Closed world are broken open, and old perceptions of what is plausible and possible are shattered. The future becomes a promise of sharing in the resurrection” (Charles Cousar, Texts For Preaching: Year A, p. 255)
click the above link for lyrics and more of Christian’s great music!
CLOSING
Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Pulpit Fiction Podcast!
Shout outs:
Chris Davis @jesuslovesdinos listening to @PastorPirate rap about backing that donkey up: priceless. @PulpitFpodcast
Listener email about Palm Sunday:
Hi guys,
Thanks so much for your podcast. I'm one year into a call as a solo pastor (my first as a solo, and my third call overall) and I have to preach every week. You guys really help me get my ideas flowing and you help me remain creative, even as the task of weekly preaching gets burdensome (but a joyful kind of burdensome).
You asked for thoughts about Palm Sunday. At my last call, at a church in suburban Chicago, Palm Sunday somehow became the one Sunday where we could experiment. The congregation expected it to be totally different every year. When it was my turn to organize the service, I really wanted to highlight the irony of the day—the same crowds that welcome Jesus also turn on him. Since most of our members didn't come the the Good Friday service, I used the PS service to highlight the passion as well. I basically broke the service up into two distinct parts, one celebrating Jesus' entry, and one pushing Jesus to the cross, with lighting, music and other multimedia elements to really set the tone for each part. I think the neatest thing is that we utilized the liturgical call-and-response elements to place the congregation in the role of the crowds—they cheered for Jesus' entry at one point and clamored for his crucifixion at another point. Overall I wanted people to leave feeling like the crowd. It was really cool and I got a lot of positive feedback. I hope to do it again sometime.
Thanks again for your work.
Pastor Erik
Our opening music was
Song - “If I” by Christian Piatt
click the above link for lyrics and more of Christian’s great music!
Our featured musician for Easter is Christian Piatt, we played his song “If I” from his album Effects Free LP.
You can find out more about Christian Piatt’s music at christianpiatt.com
Our theme music is Misirlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones and our closing music is “Oh No” by Paul & Storm.
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