More Than Enough
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MORE THAN ENOUGH
Various Texts
As you can imagine, this was a challenging message to write. Not because I don’t know what to talk about, but because I know what I don’t want to talk about … and I’m not sure if it’s a topic I can ignore altogether.
I don’t want to talk about that which everyone has been talking about non-stop for the past 45 days. Instead, I want to talk about the good news.
This week I was talking to a friend who, like the rest of us, is holed up in his home, keeping his distance from everyone, washing his hands at every turn, just as we all should be doing. He said, “You know, I’ve heard enough about all this virus can do — all the panic and the fear and the heartbreak and the endless speculation about what’s next — I’ve heard enough. In fact, I’ve heard more than enough.”
That phrase resonated with me, because I, too, have heard more than enough about all that is going on. I noticed in the TV listings earlier in the week that one of the major networks had scheduled an hour long special on Covid 19. I didn’t watch it, but I wondered: What could they possibly say in that hour — in between the commercials — that hasn’t already been said a thousand times?
Until something changes and there’s new information to share, I think many people would agree: I’ve heard more than enough about what we already know and what we still don’t know.
What I have not heard enough — and, perhaps at times, what I have not said enough and thought enough — is that this pandemic does not have the final say in what is to come. It does not have the last word in the future of our world, in the future of the church, or in the ultimate outcome of your life. That’s because we serve a risen Savior, and he is in the world today, and his power is more than enough to get us through whatever we may face.
Today we’re celebrating Easter Sunday — and this is not the way any of us thought we would be celebrating Easter, that’s for sure — sitting at home watching a preacher preach into an Iphone. That’s not how we planned it, but even when things don’t go as planned, we can take courage and comfort in knowing that God’s grace — and the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ — is more than enough to get us through whatever we may face.
You are already familiar with the details of the Easter story. Jesus was arrested on Thursday evening after eating a final meal with his closest followers, and he was quickly sentenced to death. As the creed says, he “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.” He was placed in a borrowed tomb. Many of his followers abandoned him, running away in fear for their lives. Everyone thought that everything had changed forever, that the good times were over for good, but, as the creed continues, “On the third day, he rose from the dead…”
On Friday evening, lo in the grave he lay, dead as dead can be. And then, on Sunday he was filled again with the breath of life, and up from the grave he arose, proving that he has power even over death.
And I want you to know that he has power over what we are dealing with today, and he has power over anything the future may throw our way.
I want you to know that the resurrection power of Jesus Christ is more than enough for any challenge you may face.
Today we'll look at the stories of three individuals, and we'll see the impact that the resurrection of Jesus Christ had in their lives. Their stories are important, because I believe we can find ourselves in these characters. As we look at their stories, you’ll gain insight into your own story, and how Jesus Christ can help you live an overcoming life.
First of all, let’s look at…
1. Mary and Her Grief.
The gospel of John tells us that Mary and the disciples went to the tomb early Sunday morning, and found it empty. They couldn’t imagine what had happened. Before his death, Jesus had become such an enemy to those in power, the first assumption was that his body had been taken, maybe with plans to further embarrass and humiliate his followers.
The disciples all left, but Mary stayed behind, where she outside the tomb crying. And then someone spoke to her. "Why are you crying?" he asked. "Who is it you are looking for?"
She thought it was the gardener, but that's not who it was. She said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
When he spoke again, she realized it was Jesus, because this time he called her by name. “Mary.”
16 She turned around and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:16-18)
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”
Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”
Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
As I read this story, I think of Mary outside the tomb, devastated by recent events. Her spirit is broken. Her hopes are shattered. Her world, in many ways, has come to an end. All she could was just remember how things used to be.
Some of the other disciples had already made plans to move on with their lives, to return to a life of fishing. But Mary could only stare into the empty tomb and cry. Her grief was that great.
This reminds me of something that a woman who had been recently widowed said to me. She said that for several months after her husband’s death, she would sleep with his clothes next to her. She would sit in a chair and hold his things — his coffee mug, his books, his photographs. Her grief seemed like it would never end.
We’ve all had reason to grieve in recent weeks, and there may be more grief to come. It may seem that one aspect of your world has come to an end, and things will never be the same.
That may be. But I want you to know that in the midst of your grief, Jesus is there with you. King David wrote…
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
There is a reason we know that these are not just empty words: Jesus Christ conquered death, and he promised that there will be a day when he will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more. [Revelation 21:4]
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
If you’re grieving right now, I encourage you to take a moment to listen. Just as he called Mary’s name, he is calling your name, and he is saying, in effect, “I am here with you. I have defeated death, and my grace is more than enough to get you through what you’re facing today.”
Let’s look at another story. Let’s look at …
2. Peter and His Past.
We all know what he did.
During their last supper together, Jesus told Peter that Peter would deny him before the beginning of the new day, before the rooster crowed. Peter insisted that he wouldn’t, that he would never do such a thing.
Then, just a few hours later, while Jesus was on trial for his life before the High Priest, Peter stood off in the distance, warming his hands near a fire. Someone in the crowd recognized him. She said, “You were with Jesus.”
Peter denied it.
A little while later, someone else made the connection and said it again. And again, Peter denied it was true.
A little more time passed, and yet another man pointed his finger at his Peter and said, “You’re from Galilee. You were with him, too.”
And Peter became angry and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. And Jesus, from across the open courtyard, turned and looked straight at Peter. [Luke 22:60] And Peter remembered what Jesus had said. He went away, and the Bible says that he wept bitterly, overcome with shame.
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
I'm sure Peter thought that it was all over, that nothing would ever be the same. But then on Sunday morning, after Jesus had risen from the dead, an angel of the Lord spoke to his disciples, telling them that Jesus is alive, and that they would see him soon.
He included two words that make all the difference to those of who need to hear them. He said…
“But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee…’” (Mark 16:7)
“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ ”
Tell his disciples and Peter. Who again? Peter. You know, that one who proved himself to be a quitter and a coward. That one who now has enough guilt and shame to last the rest of his life. That one who has every reason to think that Jesus might be finished with him forever. Tell him, too. Tell him that Jesus is alive. Tell him that all is forgiven.
I know there are some within the sound of my voice who have, at some time, felt the same way: What I have done is too much to forgive, and too much to forget. God could never accept me now. I’ll just have to live with this for the rest of my life.
I want you to know that it isn’t true. No matter what your past may be, even if you’ve done things that can never be undone, God’s mercy can be yours. You can be forgiven. This is why God said in the book of Isaiah…
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25)
“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins.
When Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday, he paid the price for our sins. All of them: past, present, and future. Any punishment you deserved has been paid in full. You can be forgiven — not because you deserve it, because certainly none of us do. But because God’s grace is that great. It is more than enough to set you free from the power of the past.
If you struggle with guilt and shame, take a moment to remember those two additional words spoken by the angel on Easter morning: Tell the disciples and Peter. You can add your name right there, because he’s also talking to you.
Now, let’s look at the third story. Let’s look at…
3. Thomas and His Doubts.
The 20th chapter of John says that the disciples had gathered together behind locked doors, in fear that the religious leaders would come and arrest them, as they had Jesus.
And suddenly, in spite of the locked doors, Jesus was suddenly among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” And then the Bible says that after he said that, he showed them his hands and side, to confirm that it was, indeed, him and he had, indeed, risen from the dead.
The Apostle Thomas wasn’t there at the time. Later, when the others told him what they had seen, he remained a little skeptical. He said, “I want to see this for myself. Until I do, I won't believe your story.”
Just a little while later, the disciples were gathered together, again behind locked doors, and Jesus appeared before them. And this time he spoke directly to Thomas. “Place your finger here; see my hands; touch my side.” At that moment Thomas knew that it was true.
There are some who think the point of this story is that Thomas was the weaker of the disciples because he had doubts. I don’t think that’s it. He just wanted to see the same evidence that the other disciples had seen a short time before.
And I want you to see that Jesus didn’t turn his back on Thomas simply because Thomas wanted to see for himself. No, in fact, Jesus made a special appearance just for him. Just as he had done with the other disciples before, he showed Thomas his hands and side, saying, in effect, “It is really is me.”
And then he said, “Stop doubting and believe.” In other words, you asked for evidence, I’ve given you evidence. The rest is up to you.”
If Thomas really was nothing more than a doubter, he could have found a way to explain away the phenomenon before him. “Oh you really didn’t die on the cross, you just swooned. Or...they hired an actor who looks like Jesus. Or...I’m so stressed I must be imagining things…”
If Thomas only wanted a reason to doubt, he had plenty of them. But he didn’t want a reason to doubt, he wanted a reason to believe. And Jesus appeared to him, and showed him what he needed to see.
How did he respond?
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
What can we learn from this story?
There are many who have questions and doubts and uncertainties. Some have questions about the Christian faith. Others have doubts about whether or not God is listening, whether or not he even cares. And some are so filled with uncertainty, they don’t know how they can face the coming days.
I want you to know that, just like Thomas, Jesus is ready to make himself known to you — and not merely as a philosopher or a teacher or a religious leader from long ago. No, he’s ready to reveal himself to you as the Son of God, the anointed Messiah, the risen Savior. He’s ready to be your friend, and to walk by your side every step of the way.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) That's true; they are blessed, because doubts and questions and uncertainties don’t derail them like they do the rest of us. If you don’t struggle with these things, then, yes, you truly are blessed.
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
However, if you, like Thomas, need to find out things for yourself, God is ready to reveal as much as you need to know. If you're looking for a reason to believe, rather than merely an excuse to doubt, he will come to you, even when you're hidden away behind doors locked by fear, doubt, and uncertainty. He will come to you, and he will comfort you with his presence, and he will speak his truth into your heart.
We all face uncertainties about what’s to come, but we can be sure of this: Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, lives today. He is risen from the grave, and the power of his resurrection is more than enough to take us through tomorrow.
CONCLUSION
We’ve looked at these stories about how the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed the outcome of three lives.
What I love about these stories is that each one is so personal, so specific.
As a grief-filled woman cried alone at the tomb, Jesus called her by name: Mary.
As the angel announced the good news of the resurrection, he mentioned one by name: Tell Peter, too.
As Thomas was hindered by a reluctance to believe, Jesus came to him and spoke directly to him: See my hands. Touch my side.
These three individuals are just as individual as you and me. We each have our own story, our own set of problems, fears, hurts, and regrets. Sometimes they may seem unbearable, but I want you to know that Jesus came to bear the burden in your place.
He said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
He said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
He said, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
After the crucifixion, the disciples had every reason to think that their world had come to an end. And then they discovered the risen Christ. He would always be with them, and his presence was more than enough to get them through any challenge they may face.
Whatever you may be facing today, you can be sure that his mercy, his power, and his presence is more than enough for you, too. He is waiting for your invitation.