Seen One……Seen ‘Em All!

Mark 16:1-8

A couple decided to adopt a pair of identical twins of Egyptian origin.

One was named Amal and  the other, Juan.

The two boys were very happy being brought up in England, but when they had grown up they returned to their native country to make their way in the world.

Years passed and one day the couple were delighted to receive a photograph of Juan.

“Isn’t it lovely” said the wife to her husband.

A photograph of Juan, after all these years – wouldn’t it be great if we had one of Amal as well

“There’s no need for that my dear” said the husband “Don’t forget the boys are identical twins – so when you’ve seen Juan you’ve see Amal!”

I look for the moment when my Christian faith really begins to take shape.

And it was not on the day when a special child was born in a stable at Bethlehem.

Nor was it on the day a man turned water into wine and set in motion a whole string of wonderful miraculous happenings.

Nor was it on the day when that man stood on a mountainside and gave out the teaching that should be forming the moral basis for our lives.

Nor was it even on the day when they crucified that man for crimes he did not commit

No, it is on this day, this very morning , the day he is raised from the dead – this is the day when our faith takes shape.

This is the day that breathes meaning into that birth, those teachings, those miracles and that dreadful death.

Without this day – he is nothing and we are nothing.

This day is a fountain pouring forth with truths.

That this man was and is the Son of God.

That his overcoming of death offers us the possibility of life forever with Him.

That those we have known and loved are part of that life already.

That His risen life is with us now through the Holy Spirit.

That this Spirit gives us the strength we need to love in the way he loves.

And that even though days are tough, in the end we have no fear, because we have come now to know that this is a light no darkness can overcome

So let us not go about our worship together as if it were one just one more Church Service, one more Sunday gathering> Let the seen one – seen em all mentality be banished from among us.

Except maybe in one respect.

In the way this resurrection story actually touches our lives.

Jesus is risen from the dead not for his benefit but ours.

Because of what he has done his story becomes our story.

His resurrection is about our resurrection.

His victory is our victory

His light is our light

That’s why we begin Easter Day in darkness and the first light we strike his light.

Then that same light spreads through the church as we take it to ourselves.

 Not to make the church look pretty – but to say His resurrection is ours too.

We go into the world bearing that light.

You’ve seen one in Christ, now you’ve seen them all in us.

This is the joy of the Baptism of Abbie, Meg and Max this morning.

In a very special way, the Easter light we’ve lit is offered to them straight away.

There is no finer time to be baptised than this morning.

Fresh with new life, Jesus welcomes them as three more witnesses that His resurrection is true. Out they go into the world as three more shining examples.

And now this is not the second joke of this morning’s sermon

The world should not need to see Jesus face to face in order to believe.

The church should be sufficient evidence.

No need to see the one when you can see them all.

Now, its; quite a responsibility to see our life together in that way.

So we’re going to keep a moment of quietness in the church now – we’re not going to

 worry if the children come piling back with their Easter Eggs – but we’re going to light each other’s candles and as you receive your light pause to think in what ways and in what places and with which people you to make your  light as Christ’s light.

Seen one – in Christ – seen em all – in you.

RH 12.4.09