Mark 16:1-8
April 8, 2012
Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco.
There are two types of people in this world—full people and empty people.
If I were to poll you and ask you the question: “Which would you rather be: full or empty?” most of us would probably say, “Full.” Right? Think about it. “Full” is good. As you must know by now, I always see the glass half-full!
We like a Cadbury chocolate egg that’s full of pink gooey syrup inside. A full sanctuary on Easter Sunday is especially good from a pastor’s point of view. We like children full of manners and respect. A home full of nice furniture and appliances is good. A marriage that’s full of laughter and love is good. A full bank account is good. A pantry full of food is good. With gas prices so high, a full tank of gas is very good. If you are going to have a special Easter dinner today, a full stomach is good.
The point is that a person who is “full” is one who is able to look at his or her life and say, “Wow! Every need is met, every fear is silenced, and every obstacle is overcome.” Most of us would say, “That’s what I want. That’s what I’m aiming for. That’s what I’ve been working my whole life for.”
Don’t we all want to be full? I think so.
But let’s be honest here. If we believe that we’re complete, that our lives are as they should be, then this day, this message, this reality of the resurrected Christ isn’t for us.
Here’s the point—Easter isn’t for full people. It isn’t for the “have-it-all-together-life-is-good” people. No. Easter is for empty people.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is for those who’ve figured out that in this life, “full” is a fleeting feeling. Here’s an example—do you know that the spending habits of American families reveal that the vast amount of our income is spent on items that need constant refilling?
We spend almost all of our treasure on food that will be eaten—“Didn’t I just go grocery shopping?” We spend lots of money on gas for our cars—regular gas is over $4.00! And the clothes that we will wear will wear out and the entertainment that we spend large sums of money for only lasts for a moment.
You know that no matter how many pounds of Easter ham you eat today or deviled eggs you down, that come Monday morning you’ll be hungry again. The cutest of Easter dresses on your daughter or granddaughter will be out-grown by next year, or stained and dirty before you get to grandma’s this evening. Even the good times you had on that Spring Break to Disneyland or some exotic resort will fade from your memories in time.
But we are here today because we have felt this emptiness in our lives. This emptiness may have come from losing someone close. Maybe it’s fading health or failing family life. This kind of emptiness cannot be fully satisfied by the food we eat or getting the fancy clothes we wear.
Let me ask you something…how many of you have…
A prayer that’s unanswered,
A fear that’s haunting,
A depression that’s lingering,
A conflict that’s un-resolvable,
A faith life that’s stagnant,
A marriage that’s struggling,
Kids who are crazy,
Parents who are crazy,
In-laws who are crazier,
Or a future that’s uncertain.
I could ask these questions, and it’s quite possible that eventually every hand in this sanctuary would be raised. I think that we know that fullness is fleeting and what it feels to be empty.
The good news is that all who fall into that category of being empty, Easter is for you. Easter is not for full people. Easter is for empty people. Easter is for people like us.
Empty People in the Story
Listen to Mark’s Easter story again, “And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:6-8, ESV).
Did you catch the words like “alarmed,” “fled,” “trembling,” “astonishment,” “amazed,” and “afraid?” The origin of Easter is in the emptiness of the heart that overwhelms the disciples who have seen their Savior die, and the anxiety of mind that comes from expecting to see his body and instead hearing of a risen one. When we are afraid and traumatized like the women who went to the tomb, there’s this empty gut feeling inside of us.
I have had this empty feeling in my life before. After serving in Valley Forge for 20 years, I started to feel uncertain about my call to ministry. While I still did my job, I felt empty and unfulfilled. There was less and less joy in what I was doing. But when I heard about this church was seeking a senior pastor, I was afraid and petrified about the possibilities. I haven’t had any experience as a senior pastor so why would you want me to serve as your pastor? But if I saw this emptiness as a bad thing, I would have never considered coming to San Francisco. I would have simply put up with the staleness of my ministry and have a full bank account, a full tank of cheaper gas, and a fully invested pension.
The temptation is to look at such emptiness and see it as a bad thing. The truth is that our emptiness is a great thing. By having a realistic view of this fleetingly full world, we begin to understand the blessing of the empty tomb in our lives.
The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 helps us to understand the blessing of the empty tomb on our fleetingly full lives. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:17-22).
Paul’s point is this: If Jesus is still dead, then all we have is another great teacher who promised the world but died before he could deliver—like everybody else. If his bones are still stuck in some tomb, then it means there is still no clear path to the Creator, no certainty about our life after death, and no trustworthy teaching about why we exist in this world. If he is still dead, all we have is our emptiness.
But Christ is not dead. Christ is risen. The tomb is empty.
If we have some skeptics here today, it’s time for you to stop doubting the resurrection. Sure, you have seen those TV shows about the resurrection with the premise or claim that it didn’t really happen. The resurrection of Christ is not a myth or a rumor. It’s a fact. The disciples recorded it and later willingly died for it. History says that more than 500 people were willing to attest to it. The Roman authorities never disproved or even attempted to argue with it.
And in a male-centric world, why would the gospel writers, like Mark, dare make up a story about women being the first to find Jesus? They would be inviting scandal and scorn; unless, of course, it actually happened and eyewitnesses made them unable to say otherwise.
Empty Tomb and Truth
Therefore, since the tomb is empty, it means that everything Jesus ever preached or promised is true—which is good news because Jesus has some amazing things to offer those of us who know the emptiness of life.
The empty tomb means that Jesus’ death on the cross was, in fact, a work of forgiveness. It means that all of the mistakes we’ve made that leave us wondering whether or not God loves us have been forgiven and put aside. But since the tomb is empty, there’s much more.
Christ’s resurrection is a glimpse of our own future resurrection. There will be a day when Jesus returns and gives us the same experience he had on that first Easter. He will bring us back to life! These are the promises that Christ places in the hands of those who are willing to admit they are empty and that only Christ and his promises can truly fill them.
So what are you? Empty or full? This is essential because if we truly believe that our life is full, then we have no room for and no need for the great things Jesus can give. But if we’re able to admit that we’re broken, needy, and often empty, then the fulfilled promises of Easter are ready and waiting to fill us up.
If you are a skeptic here this Easter morning because your spouse or family dragged you here, I want you to hear this. If you are here and still refuse to believe that the resurrection is true, that’s fine. But consider this. At the very least you should want it to be true.
Why? Because if Jesus is risen from the dead, it means death is not the end! This is huge! It means that God’s kingdom is coming that will bring an end to all war. It means poverty will someday cease, and everyone will have a seat at the table. It means that there won’t be more Trayson Martins who are killed just because he’s black.
It means sickness will be destroyed and there will be no more need for cancer centers or children’s hospitals. The resurrection means that every husband who’s buried a wife, or every woman who’s lost a baby, will one day have his or her grief overshadowed by God’s glory at Christ’s return.
It means that one day our tsunami-filled planet will be replaced with a calm creation. It means that the peaceable kingdom will be a reality. It means that soon there will be a day when all those who can’t walk, or hear, and those whose minds are slow or bodies are broken will rise from their chairs, step out of their beds, leave all assistance behind and be whole. Surely as a skeptic, you would want this to happen.
Because Christ is risen, we believe all of that is guaranteed for us tomorrow can be tasted today. You don’t have to believe it’s true, but no matter how full you think you are, deep down you should want it to be true.
Notice that the Gospel of Mark has three conclusions. The first one is the one we read that ends with verse 8. Then there’s shorter ending followed by a longer ending of Mark. Could we imagine that the gospel was left half finished, incomplete, half empty for the purpose for you to complete it?
Last Sunday, we baptized and welcomed 6 new members to our church. They felt that their lives were empty until they can be filled with the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Living a life of discipleship will lead these new friends to help complete the gospel story by proclaiming good news to others.
If we are afraid of the empty tomb, we might be more aware of the emptiness in our hearts that the only way to fill this fear is to believe that Christ is risen.
There are two types of people in this world—empty and full. Which one are you? Empty isn’t a bad thing. An empty tomb means Jesus is alive. Emptiness in your life simply means that you’re the one Jesus rose for, and that you’re ready to receive all that he has to give.
Sure, a full refrigerator, a full tank of gas and a full bank account are good things. But when it comes to Easter, empty is great. Being empty is everything.
Let us pray.
Dear Gracious Lord, help us to be in touch with the emptiness in our lives that can’t be filled or satisfied with anything this world could provide but only the truth in our Lord Jesus Christ can. On this Day of Resurrection, we pray that our greatest fear is death itself is now finally conquered. Reassure us that when our life on earth is completed, we are still empty until our lives are fully filled and redeemed when we are at home with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Lead us today, O God to believe and be saved. In Christ, we pray. Amen.