Matthew 27-28
Mark 16
Luke 24
John 19-21
Introduction to the Reading:
If you were to pick a portion of one of the New Testament books other than the Gospels to read on Easter Sunday, what scripture lesson would you pick? I know I might choose something from Paul's great "resurrection chapter" (1 Corinthians 15) or maybe Romans chapter 8 where he explains that we are more than conquerors in Christ.
Interestingly enough the traditional reading for Easter in the Christian church comes from 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. There Paul writes, "Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeast of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. " (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
So what in the world do those verses have to do with Easter? Personally I've come to realize how these verses are perfect for Easter. Maybe it's because I understand the context in which they are written - or maybe it's because of my friend’s new interest in making bread.
To begin with, let me start by explaining some bread making basics. Typically, as most of you know, when you make bread you need yeast. In the recipe that my friend most often uses, it calls for 4 teaspoons of yeast (He eats quite a lot so he makes large batches!) Here's a picture of the amount of yeast you are supposed to put in:
Now let me tell you a little secret. It's actually no secret at all since people have known it for literally millennia, but somehow we as a society have almost forgotten it. Do you know how much dry yeast you need to add to a batch of dough? NONE! The secret, if you make bread every week like my friend does, is simply to save some of the dough from your last batch (see below), mix in some warm water, and put it into the new batch. The amazing thing about yeast is that it multiplies all on its own. As it feeds on the sugars in the grains it spreads throughout the whole batch. Thus, as Paul said, "A little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough!"
Great to know, but what is the connection with Easter and what is the "feast" that Paul wants us to observe. Well before we read our chapter today let's venture back to chapter 4. Yes I said chapter 4. Do you remember that far back? At the time you probably skimmed over the phrase that unlocks what Paul is talking about. You probably remember how the Lord sent plagues on the land when the Israelites were in Egypt. The final plague was the death of all the firstborn. The only way to prevent this tragedy was to slaughter a sheep or goat without defect and put the blood over their door frame. Then the Lord would pass over their house and not kill the first born male in the family. They were also supposed to eat the meat from the lamb, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Why bread without yeast? Although not included in chapter 4, the Lord gives specific commands that they cannot have yeast in their house for 7 days straight.
According to Wikipedia, "Traditionally, Jews do a formal search for remaining leaven (Hebrew chametz, as in bedikat chametz) after nightfall on the evening before Passover. A blessing is read, and one or more members of the household proceed from room to room to check that no crumbs remain in any corner. In very traditional families, the search may be conducted by the head of the household; in more modern-style families, the children may be the ones who do the search, under the supervision of their parents...On the morning of the 14th of Nisan, any leavened products that remain in the householder's possession, along with the 10 morsels of bread from the previous night's search, are burned (s'rayfat chametz)."
To sum up where we are at: yeast multiplies on it's own within bread. In order to make a new batch you only need to take some of the old batch, which has yeast and mix it in with the new batch. When Jews celebrate Passover they remove all yeast from their house for a week. At this point you may still be trying to figure out the connection with Easter and at this point, I'm going to leave you hanging. Let's read about the resurrection, and as you read, try to connect the dots between bread making, the Passover celebration, and the resurrection.
When You're Done Reading:
It never gets old, does it? I found it fun reading a number of the resurrection accounts packed into one chapter. I can just picture the disciples running back and forth, talking back and forth, and debating back and forth about exactly what had happened. Let me ask you this question: what did the resurrection mean to the disciples? Spend a minute or two and try to list five things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Want to hear my list? Alright, what I noticed first is that the
disciples were filled with hope. They weren't "down in the dumps" any
more. Although they hadn't put it all together yet the mood was definitely
positive.
Secondly, it
proved that Jesus was who he said he was: the Messiah. I've been asking the
last few weeks who Jesus was, and the resurrection assures us that Jesus is
truly God. Who else could raise themselves from the dead!
My third and
fourth points are very closely related to the above: the truth that Jesus rose
like he said he would means that everything else Jesus told the disciples they
could also trust was true. Therefore also all the promises that he made to them
they could rely upon as well.
Finally their
purpose in life completely changes. We see glimpses of it already in
our chapter, but in the remainder of the story it is going to become extremely
evident. No longer were they just disciples or followers, they would now be
witnesses. Did you notice how the disciples are relating their experiences in
this chapter so that others would know the story?
You see, the
resurrection quite literally changed everything for
the disciples. A number of years ago, Sports Illustrated listed the
greatest comebacks in history. I was pleasantly surprised when I got to number
1, "Jesus Christ, 33 A.D. Defies critics and stuns the Romans with his
resurrection." It literally was a come back - coming back from the dead.
It might be called the biggest game changer in history. Where Satan and death
seemed to be in the lead and in fact seemed to conquer by bringing down God
himself on the cross, they were ultimately crushed by Jesus' resurrection. I
will say it again: the resurrection changed everything. It changes the disciples
lives. It changed HIStory and it changes our lives.
Which brings me back to yeast, Passover, and Easter. Once again: how do the three connect? Well the lamb that was sacrificed to save the firstborn children in Israel clearly pictures Christ, the lamb of God, whose death on the cross saves us from eternal death.
The yeast was a picture as well: a picture of how our lives are to be changed by Christ's death and resurrection. Whereas we had once been filled with sin and evil, these things are to be wiped out of us. "You are a new batch!" says Paul. We've been completely cleaned. Like Jews today still look through the cracks in their cabinets with flashlights just to make sure there isn't any yeast, we are encouraged to look at our lives and get rid of any sin. We are to be completely new - living lives dedicated to witnessing the resurrection.
The resurrection changes everything. Someone much wiser than I realized that and chose to read the verses I quoted earlier on Easter Sunday. They realized that we need to be reminded that the effects of the resurrection impact our every day life. Yes the truth that Jesus rose impacts eternity. Yes, it has profound impacts on the future of the universe. But it also impacts me, today. Over the next few weeks we will see many more examples of how the disciples' lives were changed. Today I'd like you to make one more list. How has the resurrection changed your life ... today:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hymn:
(Leave it to Martin Luther to write such a great hymn for Easter. He obviously is bringing out the scripture lessons for Easter Sunday, including 1 Corinthians 5, and connecting the Old Testament pictures of Jesus with their New Testament fulfillment.)
Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands,
For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand He stands,
And brings us life from Heaven.
Wherefore let us joyful be,
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of Alleluia! Alleluia!
It was a strange and dreadful strife
When life and death contended;
The victory remained with life;
The reign of death was ended.
Stripped of power, no more it reigns,
An empty form alone remains
Death’s sting is lost forever! Alleluia!
Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accursed tree—
So strong His love!—to save us.
See, His blood doth mark our door;
Faith points to it, Death passes over,
And Satan cannot harm us. Alleluia!
So let us keep the festival
Where to the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The Sun that warms and lights us.
By His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended! Alleluia!
Then let us feast this Easter day
On the true Bread of Heaven;
The Word of grace hath purged away
The old and wicked leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed;
He is our Meat and Drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other! Alleluia!
