--John Sarabia

I wonder what the disciples, Peter and John were thinking when Mary Magdalen came running to see them to let them know that Jesus was not in the tomb. As they were running back to inspect the tomb for themselves, Peter perhaps was excited but also a little apprehensive over denying the Lord. He had boasted that he would never leave Jesus. On the other hand, John, the beloved disciple perhaps was thinking back to his memories of leaning up against Jesus that last night and then later remembering how Jesus had placed his mother in his care at the foot of the cross. Upon arriving at the tomb, they saw the massive rock which had sealed the tomb rolled over to one side. They looked inside only to find the burial cloths that Jesus had been wrapped in. What else did they see? We don’t know but what we do know is that they knew Jesus was not there… that Jesus had risen from the dead.

So many memories of walking and talking with the Lord came rushing back to Peter and John. It all began to make sense… Jesus had said as much, “Destroy this temple and it will be raised in three days.” Then there were the appearances of Jesus to a number of witnesses. One of the first encounters is recorded in the gospel of Luke between Jesus and two of his followers walking back to Emmaus, northeast of Jerusalem. Jesus questioned them as to what all their commotion was about. The disciples seemed puzzled that the man in their midst had not heard about Jesus or his crucifixion. Jesus began to open the scriptures with them and helped them to understand what the sacred texts meant. The men were so taken by him that they asked him to stay for supper. This is where everything changed. Jesus, took bread, said a prayer over it and broke it. Then he vanished. It was at that instant that his follower’s eyes were opened and they realized that it was Jesus who had been with them all along. They remarked to themselves, “were our hearts not burning as he was explaining the scriptures?” But it was in the breaking of the bread that Jesus was made present to them. Could it be that these witnesses had heard of Jesus’ encounter with the twelve at the Last Supper when He gave us the gift of Eucharist and that Jesus was truly present under the appearance of bread and wine?

After his resurrection, Jesus would also encounter his apostles and specifically Thomas in that same upper room where they shared that last Passover meal. Initially, Jesus had already appeared to the disciples but not to Thomas. When the disciples told Thomas of their encounter with Jesus, he would not believe it, “not till I put my fingers in the wounds of his hands and in his side, will I believe.”  When Jesus appeared to the group again this time with Thomas attending the gathering, Jesus went up to Thomas and invited him to place his fingers in his wounds. Upon doing so, Thomas fell to his knees saying, “My Lord and my God.”  To which Jesus said, “you believe because you have seen, but blessed are they who have not seen and still believe.”

What do Jesus’ words mean to us today? After all, the words of the bible tell stories of events that happened centuries ago. The Apostle John might be able to give us some help in this area. In his gospel he says that there were many more stories that could have been written but the ones captured in the scriptures were placed there so we might believe. Believe in who? Believe in what? Why, Jesus of course, and his resurrection. Why is this important? Because if we believe that Jesus died and was raised from the dead, then we have to accept who Jesus was, that he was the son of God who came to reopen the gates of heaven and to save us for eternal life.

Is that important enough to you? After all, you are here in this facility for various periods of time. How can this Jesus relate to me and my situation? First of all, Jesus was arrested and prosecuted by a judge and sentenced to pay for a crime. In his case though, we was innocent of all charges but for our sakes, he took the rap. Paul tells us that we might give up our lives for someone we care about but Jesus gave up his life for us sinners who had broken our relationship with God. Why did he do this? Because he loves us. All of us have had at least one family member, be it mother or father, cousin, sister or brother who has stood behind us even when we did wrong. Why? Because they love us. It’s that unconditional love they have for us that imitates Jesus’ love for us.

But where Jesus’ story really takes root is in his resurrection. Jesus had told his followers that we needed to die to ourselves and follow him. “unless a grain of seed falls to the ground and dies, it will not bear much fruit.” What does that mean to die to ourselves? That means to seek in our hearts what is truly important to us and to God and let the rest of it go. Sometimes this takes some real soul searching. For others, they know exactly what they need to give up or stop doing.  But back to his resurrection, when Jesus was on the cross, he took the weight of all man’s sin on to himself and then saying the words, “it is finished,” he gave up his Spirit.

Jesus was then laid in a tomb. He was placed in this secluded, somewhat dark place with the weight of all men’s sin placed on him. Then, they rolled a huge rock over the entrance to keep anyone from entering or exiting. Doesn’t that sound a little like what you’re experiencing?  You’ve been placed in this secluded place for making poor choices in your life for which now, you must pay the price with a certain amount of your time, a certain amount of your life. Jesus had family and friends present at his crucifixion. They were mourning his passing and laying in the tomb. You have family that love you and are mourning and praying for you that Jesus keeps you safe until you come back to them. In the tomb, Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit defeated death and the power of sin to rise again. What about you?

What poor choice did you make or continue to make that keeps you imprisoned in your tomb? Is it possible that with Jesus’ help and the Holy Spirit that you too might be victorious over your challenges? That you too can rise from this tomb and upon your release be reunited with your family and share a new life with them and Jesus?

Just know that you are not alone. First of all, Jesus is as close as the Holy Scriptures. I would read the gospel of John and then the other gospels. Follow that with some of Paul’s writings like his letters to the Corinthians, Ephesians or Romans. These readings of the New Testament make the story of Jesus come alive and you will notice that some of the situations that the people are facing are not much different from the situations we face today.

Also, Jesus told us that he would never leave us or forsake us. Brothers, prayer is powerful. It puts us in God’s presence any place, any time, day or night. It’s the gator-aid that satisfies your thirst for God. So today, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us not forget the great sacrifice he made out of his love for us and that if we need him, he is as close as the bowing of our head and an opening of our heart.

God bless you brothers.

--John Sarabia, homiletic practicum preached to the inmates at Lychner State Jail.