2022-04-17 – Year C – Easter Sunday – The Rev. Canon Christopher M. Klukas
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:14-17,22-24; Col 3:1-4; Luke 24:1-12

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four children were sent to a large manor house in the country to escape the bombing of London in World War II.
On a rainy day, they decide to play hide and seek. Lucy the youngest hides in a wardrobe and suddenly finds herself in another world called Narnia.
When she returns, she tells her siblings all about it. They open the wardrobe, all they see are some fur coats and the back wall of the wardrobe. Lucy won’t let it go.
In Chapter 5 the oldest children consult with the professor. He uses logic.
Liar – it was not in Lucy’s nature to lie. She was normally very truthful.
Mad – “one has only to look at her and talk to her to see that she is not mad.”
Telling the Truth – “for the moment then and unless any further evidence turns up, we must assume that she is telling the truth.”

Mere Christianity

Lewis responds to the idea that Jesus was a great moral teacher, perhaps the greatest, but that is all.
Liar – Jesus claimed to be God. “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30-33). Great moral teachers don’t lie! They wouldn’t be great moral teachers if they did.
Lunatic – “…on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg…”
Lord – “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The resurrection is a historical fact, and it verifies that Jesus was who he said he was. Many have claimed to be God, Jesus is the only one who rose from the dead!

Acts 10:43 – Forgiveness of sin.
Sin is everything we do that is contrary to God’s will. Every nasty thought, every selfish action, every angry word.
Sin separates us from God and it breaks our human relationships.
Most of us know, deep down, that we are not the “good people” we want to be.
On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment and shame for our sin and he forgives us.
We no longer have to be ashamed. Through Jesus, our sin no longer separates us from God.

Luke 24:10-12 – “idle tale” or truth
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. “for the moment then and unless any further evidence turns up, we must assume that she is telling the truth.”
- If, like Peter, we embrace the truth, the truth will prove itself over time.
- “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
“He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hades and took hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh!”
Instead of death, we have Eternal life.
- Death is not just physical, it is also spiritual. There are lots of people walking around who are spiritual dead.
  - Cut flowers look alive but they will wither.
- Eternal life begins right now. Dallas Willard calls it instead an “eternal kind of life,” referring to its quality.
- Eternal life is a life lived with Jesus. He is alive! We can have a relationship with him. He is the source of our eternal kind of life.

The benefits of the resurrection aren’t given automatically. They are available to all, but you have to accept the gift.
- Acts 10:43 – Believe / put your faith in.
- I’m sorry, thank you, please.
“Almighty Father, I confess that I have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions (especially __________). I am truly sorry and humbly repent. Thank you for forgiving my sins through the death of your Son, Jesus. I turn to you and give you my life. Fill and strengthen me with your Holy Spirit to love you, to follow Jesus as my Lord in the fellowship of his Church, and to become more like him each day. Amen.”
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!!