There were three men in central Texas who had a problem. They owned a lake fed by an artesian well; that is, a well of water that rises to the surface under natural pressure from deep within the earth, producing a clear, steady stream of very cold water. The problem was that this was supposed to be a swimming lake, but it was just too cold for any but the very hardy. They put their heads together to try to solve this problem. Finally they made their plans. They sank a six-inch steel pipe in concrete and placed it over the wellhead, driving it deep into the ground. They threaded the top of the pipe, and on that placed a cap to finish the job. They made it secure! They finished the job, dusted off their hands, and then said, “There, that takes care of that!” But as they stood there, the irresistible force deep within the earth simply lifted it all — pipe, concrete and cap — right out of the ground. The cold, clear water again gushed forth. It could not be held back; it could not be thwarted.

On this weekend, the holiest days of the Christian year, we are in some ways like those three men watching an irresistible force which could not be stopped by the feeble manipulations of human engineering. In the past week we have recalled the passion of our Lord, how He was mocked and crucified, how the chief priests and Pharisees, afraid of Jesus’ body disappearing, posted guards and sealed the tomb. They hung Jesus on the cross, they buried Him, they sealed and guarded the tomb, and one can almost imagine that they then stepped back, dusted off their hands and said, “Well, that takes care of that.” Then it happened. Easter!

Thanks be to God for the Good News! The Good News we celebrate with unabashed joy is that nothing can stop the power of God. With an inevitability that swept away Pharisees, sealed stones, and guards, Jesus rose! They couldn’t stop it. Nothing could keep God’s power and victory from taking place. That is the Good News of the Gospel. But, do you know the real glory of this Day? Do you know why more than twice as many people will worship at CCPC this week than on a regular Sunday? Because somewhere in each of our hearts is the hope, the hunger, the deep longing for that kind of power in our lives as well. Somewhere in each of our souls, whether we are committed Christians or not, exists a yearning and a desire to rise. And this ancient Easter Story touches that deep craving in each of us. Just think of it. The Marys, in despair, in agony, and in pain, come to the tomb early that Sunday morning continuing their vigil of grief. They are confused. They are suffering. But then a marvelous and mysterious thing happens. Somehow they experience the risen Lord. That irresistible force, the power of God, moved into their lives like a mighty rush of wind. Pain was replaced by joy, tears by laughter, doubt by faith, meaninglessness by profound and eternal significance. Isn’t that the kind of power, the kind of transformation we want — we need — in so many places in our world, in our church, in our lives? Isn’t that the resurrection we still crave?

Early in the morning, at the break of day, the stone was rolled away. The meaninglessness, the hopelessness, the pain and suffering that existed only a few minutes before in the hearts of the women at the tomb, were blown away by the awesome, surprising, and powerful love of God. And friends, such things still happen. God does have the power to overcome every force that might hurt or destroy. God can bring meaning out of difficult and confusing and deflating things that happen to us. God can bring joy and light out of even the darkest moments. No matter who you are. No matter what you have experienced. No matter what you have been told, you need Easter in your life as surely as I do, as surely as those first women at the tomb did.

Let the Good News of Easter enter your heart with Resurrection power and love. Let the Good News of the Resurrection change your perspective and outlook. Let the Good News of our Risen Christ bring you meaning and hope! AMEN!