Dharius Daniels - I'm Not There Anymore

I want to read a passage of scripture from a book of the Bible called John, specifically the Gospel of John, chapter twenty. It tells the good news about Jesus’s life from the perspective of a person named John. In chapter 20, he shares a bit about the Easter story. I want to read part of it and use it as a springboard into our lesson today. Is everyone feeling good? You’re responding to the preacher today, alright! John 20, verse one says, «Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.» So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, «They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.» So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there, but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’s head; the cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally, everybody say, «Finally!» The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed; he saw and believed; he saw and believed. I want to talk from this subject during our time together. My prayer is that it is your testimony: «I’m not there anymore.»

Family, today is a day where people are gathered in cathedrals and churches all over the country in celebration and commemoration of the most historic event in human history: the resurrection of our sovereign Savior, named Jesus. Celebration and appreciation are appropriate. The Bible uses a word to describe the act of expressing appreciation: it’s called praise. We are encouraged to praise, instructed to praise, not because God needs to receive it, but because we need to offer it. Tim Timberlake puts it this way: «Wherever there is no praise, there is the presence of pride.» Appreciation keeps us from settling into entitlement; it keeps us mindful, conscious, and aware of the awesomeness of God and the ways in which he has expressed his goodness in our lives. Praise is good manners; when someone blesses you, adds value to you, aids you, and assists you, it’s appropriate to turn around and tell them thank you. I’ve noticed a bit of noise in here this morning, but what we’re doing is telling them thank you. I know there may be some outbursts and expressions of appreciation in your row, but all we’re doing is telling them thank you. Yes, it’s worth making noise for things we can’t even talk about. There’s a testimony in our praise we can’t articulate; there are some things he brought us out of that are secretly filed away, thrown into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be remembered again. But every now and then, when we think about what he’s done, how gracious he’s been, we express that through praise. The resurrection is an appropriate opportunity for appreciation. Why? Because of the uniqueness of this event. It’s unique; it’s unprecedented.

Think about this: the bones of dinosaurs have been found, the mummified remains of Pharaohs have been discovered, documents like the Dead Sea Scrolls have been located, and people have even found Hitler’s hidden bunker. But the remains of Jesus have yet to be found—and there is a reason for that: he’s not there anymore. So we unashamedly express appreciation, not simply for what happened, but for what it means. I believe what makes the gospel good news isn’t just what happened to Jesus but what it means for me. The resurrection is a powerful picture of possibility for all of us. It is a dynamic demonstration of God’s ability to bring dead things back to life; it is a powerful and riveting revelation that God is the God of resurrection. The only individuals excited about that are those who have some dead things that they need God to bring back to life. I want to remind you that he is the God of resurrection. David said he redeems my life from destruction. I don’t care what’s broken, how long it’s been broken, or who broke it. God can take the broken pieces of our lives and put them back together again. You don’t even need me to preach this; you can preach this yourself, because there are some people in this place whose lives bear evidence that God is the God of resurrection. You thought you were finished; they thought you were finished. You thought it was over; they thought it was over. But look at me—I’m a living testimony. I should have been dead and gone, but Lord, you let me live on! Yes, it is a demonstration of the removal of limitations. We don’t have to be limited by limitations, and yes, it’s appropriate for there to be celebration. But just like every pastor and every person has a calling, every church has an assignment, and our assignment is in our name—it’s the reason we exist. It’s the reason God plucked me from Kill Michael, Mississippi, sent me through Jackson, Mississippi, made a detour at Princeton Seminary, and brought me right here. God joined me with a spiritual family whose heart beats for change—not just church. I need more than church; I can do something else on Sundays besides go to church. I need change. So for us, Easter isn’t just about celebration.