"What Does Springtime's
Easter Season Mean To Us?"
Sermon on Matthew 9:14-17
April 25, 1999
Saint Mark's, Watertown, WI
Pastor Karl Walther
Scripture urges us: Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Amen.
God's Word which reminds us today to celebrate is Matthew chapter nine, verses fourteen through seventeen:
John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
This is God's Spirit-inspired Word of Jesus Christ.
Introduction: Springtime & Easter Season Are a Great Time of Year!
Dear fellow Christians-- for whom the Easter Season means celebration:
Isn't springtime a great time of year?
I've always loved the springtime.... Most of you know I'm not a real big fan of winter-- and since springtime is the end of wintertime, I consider spring to be a great time of year. Then there are the longer days, with brighter sunlight and fewer clouds. There are the warmer temperatures: no need for a big, bulky coat when you head off to work or to school. Add to that the renewed chirping of the birds, the pretty scent of the newborn flowers, and even the taste of barbecued food and picnics-- it's a great time of year!
And isn't the Easter Season a great time of year?
We walk into church and, because of the sunlight and longer days, things are brighter. We walk to the church and, because of the warmer temperatures, we probably don't even need a jacket. Some of the springtime flowers have even made their way to our altar. Springtime's Easter Season-- it's a great time of year!
Theme: What Does Springtime's Easter Season Mean To Us?
But do you know what? There's
even a better reason that Springtime's Easter Season is a great
time of year! And that's what we're going to find out today when
we ask ourselves: * WHAT DOES SPRINGTIME'S EASTER SEASON MEAN TO
US who are Christians? At least according to God's Word to us
today, the answer is twofold: first of all, (1) CHRIST'S ABSENCE
WAS REASON TO MOURN..., and so secondly,
(2) CHRIST'S PRESENCE IS REASON TO CELEBRATE!
Part One: Christ's Absence Was Reason John's Disciples Mourned
God's Gospel Word to us today does not actually come from the time that Jesus had risen from the dead. It took place earlier, during his ministry-- at the time when Jesus was gathering his disciples, up north in the region of Galilee. But in God's Word to us today Jesus does tell his people what his resurrection is going to mean to them.
And so we begin: John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
John, of course, was Jesus' relative, friend, and forerunner. He began baptizing-- washing people's sins away in view of the blood of Christ to come. He gathered followers, whom he often directed to Jesus.
So, these particular disciples made what was likely a one-day or two-day trip up the Jordan River to visit Jesus on the shore of the Galilean Lake. And they asked: "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
Fasting, of course, was a matter of going without food. Almost always it was also a matter of confessing sins, expressing grief, and especially prayer. In the Old Testament, God commanded his people to fast at least one day a year: in the autumn, on the great day of atonement. That was when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place of the temple and made sacrifice for the sins of the people.
Before the time of Christ, we have a lot of examples of fasting-- from Samuel and David, through Ezra and Nehemiah, and including a lot of references in the prophetic books. After the time of Christ, we have exceedingly few examples of fasting. But at the time of Christ, we know it was the practice of the most pious people -- the Pharisees -- to fast twice a week: on Tuesdays and on Fridays.
Why? Why so much fasting, and confession of sin, and expression of grief? -- Well, Christ had not yet been raised....
Application One: Christ's Absence Was Reason For Us To Mourn
And friends, imagine your sadness if Christ had not been raised! -- No amount of fasting would have been enough. You couldn't have confessed your sins sufficiently. Nothing would have been grand enough to contain your grief. ...Why not? -- It's because you have some major problems that you cannot take care of: apart from the risen Christ.
• You are a miserable sinner. All too often you don't love God with all your heart; all too often you don't love others as yourself. Neither do I. And there's no remedy for that for us: apart from the risen Christ.
• Because of your sins, you are going to die. You will grow old, you will suffer pain, and your soul will leave your body. The same will happen to me. And there's no remedy for that for us: apart from the risen Christ.
• And because of your sins, and through your death, you were heading to hell. So was I. God is a holy, perfect, righteous God. And a function of his being a holy, perfect, righteous God is that he hates unholiness, imperfection, and unrighteousness. He must punish it eternally. And there's no remedy for that for us: apart from the risen Christ.
Part Two: Christ's Presence Was Reason Jesus' Disciples Celebrated
You see why fasting and confessing and grieving and praying was a natural thing for Old Testament believers, for John's disciples, and even for the Pharisees-- at least before they got to know Jesus. And so, John's disciples asked: "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus gives a twofold answer. First of all: "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
Do you see what Jesus is saying? Jesus is saying, "Hey, it's party time! I, the bridegroom, have come into the world. I have come to marry my bride, the church, all those who trust in me. In order to marry her, I must die for her-- which will cause her to mourn for a time. But right now, I'm with her-- so it's time to celebrate. And after I rise, I will be with her-- and that will be time to celebrate: here and eternally!"
So, Christ's disciples were not fasting or grieving or mourning, because Jesus was with them. And Jesus goes on to explain why this fasting and grieving and mourning will pass away for good. Listen to the way he contrasts New Testament forms with Old Testament teaching, and Old Testament forms with New Testament teaching:
"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for (when the patch itself shrinks) the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Or another illustration: Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, (the wine will bubble, as new wine does) the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved (because both end up stretching together)."
So even in our day, in general, Christ's disciples don't fast or grieve or mourn, because Christ is with them: here and eternally.
Application Two: Christ's Presence Is Reason For Us To Celebrate
And so, friends, consider your gladness: now that Christ has been raised.... No more fasting! No more grieving! No more mourning! Why not? -- It's because Christ's resurrection has taken care of all your most serious problems.
° Yes, you are a miserable sinner. So am I. But Christ's resurrection left our sins buried in his tomb. Remember what the Bible says: We were buried with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. The Easter Season means that, as far as the Lord is concerned, we are free from sin.
° And yes, someday you are going to die. So am I. But Christ's resurrection means that we will live again. Remember what the Bible says: Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. The Easter Season means that, on the final great day of this world, we -- these bodies! -- will rise from the dead.
° And yes, because of your sins, and through your death, you were heading to hell. So was I. But remember what the Bible says: God raised us up with Christ. God seated us in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In the coming ages God will show us the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. The Easter Season means that, after school and work and family responsibilities and the disabilities of old age, we will be with Christ forever.
Conclusion: Springtime & Easter Season & Always-- Celebrate!
That's why Springtime's Easter Season is really so grand and glorious! Christ's presence is reason to celebrate! So, let that show in your lives!
• Smile lots-- to intimate to others the springtime sunshine of Jesus Christ who has risen!
• Love others-- so that the warmth of the springtime air is matched by the warmth that Jesus brings to you!
• Speak and sing cheerily-- so that the songs of the springtime birds remind others of Jesus Christ who has risen!
• Exercise patience, kindness, and goodness toward others-- so that the scent of this season's flowers is only a small whiff of the beautiful fragrance Jesus has brought to you.
You see: Spring has sprung! Let songs be sung-- and news of Christ like bells be rung! Amen.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus-- our risen and living Savior! Amen.