Why Aren't We Singing?

5 min read

Dr. Ron Sumners

March 30, 1997

John 20: 1-9

He Came singing love.

He lived singing love.

He died singing love.

He rose in silence.

If the singing continues, we must do the singing.

Picture the mood of the disciples on Easter Saturday. They had loved Jesus. They had left everything to follow him. In Him they had experienced God's presence and God's love as never before. He had called forth something grand and deep in them. They had begun to come alive with a new sensitivity to God's creation, a new sense of purpose in life. They had seen him heal the sick. They had begun to sense the presence of this power of healing in themselves. And then came the Palm Sunday and the glory march into Jerusalem, where they expected it all to climax with Jesus' coronation. Instead, He had been crucified. He had been executed in a most brutal, painful way. The walls came tumbling down, and now, unbelievable insult added to injury: Jesus' enemies had robbed the tomb and stolen his dead body. They wouldn't even let him rest in death.

We should be careful not to misunderstand this matter of the empty tomb on Easter morning. When the disciples of Jesus first discovered the empty tomb, it was not good news. It was bad news because they thought that Jesus' tomb had been desecrated. Their Lord's dead body was gone. It was still dark when this discovery was made, and we can only imagine how desperately they longed for the dawn to break.

And then it came. Gloriously, the morning came. Bright and beautiful it came, filled with the Resurrection Power of God, filled with the loving presence of God. And Mary Magdalene was the first person to experience the wonder of that day. It was believed in ancient times that after a person died, his spirit hovered near the body for three days before it departed. Consequently, Mary had gone to the tomb to be near him and to prepare the body for burial with dignity and respect. Most probably, she had been unable to sleep. What to do then, but to get up and go to be with him even before daylight. And He appeared to her, but she did not recognize Him. Why? Perhaps she was blinded by her tears. Perhaps it was because she had come looking for a dead body. Perhaps it was Jesus' Resurrection Body that confused her. Then He spoke her name: "Mary." There is magic in your name when you hear it spoken by someone you love. And when Mary heard her name spoken by Jesus, the memory of all they had been through together flooded through her being. She remembered how he had given her a new sensitivity to life all around her and a new sense of her own worthwhileness. And then she knew! She recognized her Lord.

One by one the disciples began to experience the presence of Jesus' Resurrection Body. And one of the things we celebrate today is this historical event; that Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus is Alive! Now we have come to say, "Halleluiah! Thank God! Jesus has risen!"

But that is only the beginning. Before the day was over, the disciples who had shared in the experience of having Jesus back alive with them, began to see it as more than an event. It was also a symbol. God was saying something through the event. The event was a message to them from God - a revelation! And the message was that the great God Almighty, who created us out of His great love, is always acting with Resurrection Power, to bring healing out of sickness, joy out of sorrow, life out of death. The Resurrection Power of God, always and everywhere, is telling us that our suffering is not without meaning, that with death comes a new beginning, that we will rise with Jesus and sing a new "Halleluiah" refrain.

And so, we celebrate not just an event that happened back there in time, we celebrate the most important symbol God has given us of what our life is all about. We come together to celebrate that, and there should come a point at which you feel that you cannot sit a moment longer, a point at which you want to get up and praise God. Oh, my dear friends, why aren't we singing?

He came singing love.

He lived singing love.

He died singing love.

If the song is to continue, we must do the singing. The world premiere of one of composer Deems Taylor's most beautiful works had just been played. The concert hall's capacity reacted as though spellbound for a moment. Then wild applause. Over and over again they called for the composer. When Deems Taylor finally walked to the center of the stage and bowed gracefully, the audience settled back expecting a certain speech. Instead, Mr. Taylor just stood there, slowly turning his head, from center aisle to side aisles, and then looking up into the balcony. He wanted everyone in the audience to get a good look at him. After he had done this, with the trace of a tear in his voice he said, "Now you can go home and tell your friends that for once in your life you have seen a truly happy man."

That is a beautiful thing that Deems Taylor did for that audience. And I hope that you are seeing the same thing at this moment. Because as I try to share the Good News with you of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, you are looking at a happy person.

That is what you are called to do for others; to be that truly happy person that the Resurrection Power of God makes possible; to be that truly beautiful person speaking the word of Love, as it is needed; carrying food to the hungry, aid and comfort to the sick, new hope to the despondent. To encourage young and old alike to nurture and develop all of the God-given creativity they feel deep within their souls. To listen when someone needs a friend who will listen. To hug when someone heeds the comforting arm of a friend around his or her neck. Those of us who can truly, joyfully celebrate the Resurrection Power of God on Easter Day are called to do these things. We must go out now and sing for the Lord, sing to the world a new song of resurrection Hope in the power of love!

Be glad this day! Rejoice! There are times in the life of the Christian community when our main purpose for the moment is to celebrate. Carry with you a sense of celebration!

HOW LONG WILL WE COME BEFORE THE LORD WITH TIRED SPIRITS AND DRONING VOICES? HOW LONG WILL WE TRY TO PRAISE HIM WITH OUR NOISELESS SONGS?

HOW LONG WILL WE WORSHIP HIM

WITH BORED FACES AND DULL SENSES

AND OFFERING HIM TIN

WHEN WE COULD BE OFFERING HIM GOLD? DO YOU BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS OR NOT? OH LORD, YOU LOVE US -

WHY AREN'T WE DANCING

TO YOUR GOOD NEWS MUSIC?

WHY AREN'T THE FEET STOMPING

AND THE DOVES FLYING AND THE BANDS MARCHING

AND THE FINGERS SNAPPING AND THE TONGUES PRAISING

AND THE HANDS CLAPPING, TRUMPETS BLARING