Can I tell you a story?
A baby is born in a manger in fulfillment of the prophecy of the coming of Emmanuel—God is with us. He is protected and cared for by his mother. He grows to be a man and sets off on his appointed duty.
He initiates his ministry with the cleansing in the river by the Baptist. He recruits supporters to follow him on his journey. Twelve join him. He is called “Rabbi” by these disciples meaning “Teacher.” He teaches them about love, about service, about humility, about peace, about faith.
In his travels, he encounters people in need. To them, he brings grace and comfort. He heals the ill son of a centurion, he gives sight to the blind, he makes the lame walk, he wakes a little girl from death, and he raises a young man from the tomb.
One afternoon, he walks up a hill and is bathed in golden light. From above the clouds a voice booms: This is my Son, listen to him. He walks down the hill and tells his disciples to keep this phenomenon secret because his time has not yet come.
Through his teachings and miracles, he becomes popular, even idolized. People want to see him, they want to touch him. Yet there are those in authority who are threatened by him. They challenge him to explain himself. His answer: I do what God wills.
They denounce his blasphemous arrogance and make plans to eliminate him. Their high priest says to quell a rebellion it is better for this man to die.
The man now knows his time is coming and so he gathers with his followers for one last supper. He exchanges bread and wine as a memorial of his flesh and blood. One of the disciples leaves abruptly to commence his betrayal.
Once betrayed, the man presents himself willingly to his captors even going so far as to heal a soldier whose face is sliced apart in the scuffle. He is taken to the authorities where he is mocked and abused. He is sent to the Governor, the supreme leader of the land. To the rousing approval of the townspeople, he is sentenced to be crucified. He is dragged down a dirt path and hung on a cross. His body is given in penance for the sins of others. Even in his anguish and pain, he asks God to forgive those who persecute him.
Upon his last breath, he is taken down from the cross. His battered and lifeless body is wrapped in a cloth and carried to a burial place, a cave which will be fortified by a large boulder.
With the life of this man ended, the people disperse and depart. A baby born in a manger, a boy raised to a man, a man ministers to others with a singular purpose: serve God. Now that man is dead.
Those that followed the man are left lost and alone and they scatter in fear. After all the man had meant to them, now that he was dead, it’s as if he never was.
One of the man’s followers goes to the cave. She finds the boulder rolled away and the burial cloth loose on the ground. Then she sees someone. A voices says:
“Who do you seek?” (John 20:15)
Unsure of the vision before her, she finally inquires, “Rabbi?” The living man, Jesus Christ, greets her as she kneels before him. He tells Mary the truth about his resurrection from death:
“I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17)
This is the story of Jesus who was resurrected from death and born to new life in God’s heavenly kingdom. His story is told so all of us can share in the gift of eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus is the reason God sent his only Son to the world. This is the mission Jesus was born for, the mission he lived for, and the mission for which he was crucified. This is how God proves He has a place for us in heaven, if only we believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.
As witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, we know the truth. We know every purpose and every reason why Jesus came to be. Now it is up to each of us to live as Jesus taught so that we may follow him into eternal life.
Herald the New Year, walk humbly with our God.
Now we begin.