Were you as surprised as I was to see that Mark concludes his marvelous Gospel with these words, "and they said nothing to anyone--for they were afraid?" We know from personal experience that fear is not always a negative response, but to end a Gospel in this way almost seems out of place. However, it is not God''s response to the Resurrection that Mark is being honest about; it is the human response. The Resurrection was God''s response to human folly, but the human response to God was that of fear.

As we read of the initial response of the women and the disciples to that first Easter Sunday, we are struck with the thought that the whole episode is somewhat incredible. To begin with, notice how totally unexpected the event of the Resurrection was to those who experienced it. We know by the question the women asked, "Who will roll away the stone from the tomb for us?" that they were not exactly expecting a miracle to have taken place. Even when they see that Jesus is not there, they must be instructed by the angel to leave the tomb with the Good News. They were like Flip Wilson who said, "I am not a Jehovah''s Witness. I am a Jehovah''s bystander. I am not sure I want to get involved." It was necessary for the messenger to commission them to be a witness, not a bystander to what God had done in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Why were the women and 12 disciples full of fear and silence? Let me share some possibilities today. In dealing with these possibilities let us pray that we too can be transformed from timid, silent bystanders to faithful witnesses of Christ.

FIRST, THEY WERE AFRAID IT WAS STILL A GOOD FRIDAY WORLD.

There is a story about two old codgers who went moose hunting in the forests surrounding Moose Lake in northern Maine. As the pilot of the small seaplane let them off on the shore of the lake, he reminded them, "Now like I said, I''ll be back in three days to get you. But remember, this is a small plane, there''s room for two of you and one moose."

At the appointed time, the pilot returned, taxied to the shore and found the two men standing proudly beside not one but two moose, huge ones at that. "Look," he said, "I told you, the two of you and ONE moose." The hunters looked at each other in surprise and replied, "Funny, the fellow last year didn't complain."

Fear of competition winning out over other fears, the pilot relented. Grumbling, he helped them pile both moose into the little plane and the two hunters lay on top of them. The plane took forever to get off the lake, barely cleared the trees on the far shore, and then about a quarter of a mile further on clipped a tall pine and crashed. Pieces of wing and moose antlers flew in all directions. Finally, one of the good ol'' boys came to, spied his companion a short way off, and asked, "Where are we?" His companion replied, "Oh, about a hundred yards further than last year." (1)

We all know that if you look hard enough, you will find evidence of a Good Friday world still operating quite strongly in our world today. The forces of evil displayed during Holy Week can be the defining orientation and focus of your life if you allow it.

However, you will not be the first person to become disappointed at Easter. When Mary Magdalene first arrived at the scene, she was still so hurt from the tragedy of seeing her Lord crucified on an old rugged Cross. To make matters worse, she was afraid that they had stolen the body and further humiliated him.

However, the Good News is that in the midst of her biggest disappointment, an Angel of the Lord appeared to her and declared to Mary that Christ is not dead. He is ALIVE! Not only is he alive and well, but he is on his way to Galilee where his friends will see him.

That brings up another reason the disciples were silent and afraid. If Jesus was alive and well in Galilee, he also expected them to travel there.

In other words, they could no longer live a safe, but defeated and despairing life in Jerusalem. Resurrection meant that they no longer had to be a victim of Good Friday''s evil, but it also meant they would have to get involved. They would have to sign on for more. They would no longer be bystanders, but witnesses. It would require courage and commitment. As you and I know, most people do not like to get involved when costly commitment is necessary. It''s easier to be a victim. It''s easier to go along "with the Roman authorities."

In one of Rudyard Kipling''s, Just So, animal stories, Riki-Tiki-Tavi, a mongoose, bravely kills many poisonous snakes who menace a family living in India under British rule. He becomes a much-loved pet who gives a feeling of safety to the people relying on his protection. They know that he will fight to the last to defend them. In fact, one of his battles with a huge cobra almost costs him his life as he clings to the snake''s head with his teeth deeply embedded in flesh, and is thrashed from side to side by the powerful serpent.

In the basement where this conflict takes place another little animal lives, a muskrat, who is consumed by fear. Each evening he tentatively emerges from his hole, and then runs anxiously around the edge of the room, ready at any moment for a quick retreat. He does not like himself; he wants to be brave, and dreams of one day making it into the very middle of the room. But he never gets there. Scurrying around and around the basement, he lives a frightened, defeated existence that never leads him anywhere.

At times it is easier for us to admire the courage and commitment of our Lord Jesus at a distance. We admire him but we fear making him the foundation for our life and witness. This is amazing because we have pages of Biblical testimony declaring that our Lord has never ended any adventure "on the wrong side of the Red Sea, or on the wrong side of the Cross." As Tony Campolo likes to say, "I''ve been reading the Bible. And I''ve peeked to see how it ends. Jesus wins!"

Sure, there will be some setbacks along the way. It happens. Why it happens will not be answered until, as Paul wrote, "we shall see face to face." But there is a way to live until then. Look to God! Keep the faith! Run the race! Reach for the finish line!

Allow God''s spirit to transform you from a frightened, scared bystander to a winsome witness for our Lord and his Kingdom.

You see, it is not true that this world and its people are doomed to die and be lost. This is true: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination. This is true: "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word and that war and destruction have come to stay forever. This is true: "For unto us a child is born and unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulders and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world. This is true: "To me is given all authority in heaven and earth, and lo, I am with you even to the end of the age."

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are prophets of the church before we can do anything. This is true: "In the last days, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream."

It is not true that our dreams of justice, human dignity, and peace are pie-in-the-sky. This is true: "The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth."

You and God are a majority of One, any time you choose to do his bidding. (2)

However, you cannot accomplish all these acts of service for the Kingdom of God as a bystander. You must get involved and become a witness empowered by the Good News of the Resurrection.

Another reason they were silent and afraid was that if Jesus Christ was raised from the dead this would turn their despairing world topsy-turvy. It is a scary thing to see the truth. It demands a response.

Dr. Robert Schuller, of the Crystal Cathedral, tells of a response he felt compelled to make. In 1968, he felt called by God to make a witness in the Soviet Union. He says in his book, Life''s Not Fair, But God is Good that "God''s word was directly needed by the people." He was stopped in customs for trying to smuggle Bibles. That might have ended his trip but miraculously he was allowed to enter the country. When he was in Leningrad, he was both shocked and intrigued when he learned of the Museum of Atheism. "I felt that I had to see the museum in order to understand the [Soviet] State''s fear of a religious belief system," he later wrote.

The Museum of Atheism was housed in a confiscated Catholic Church. "This house of God had been transformed into a house of unbelief," Dr. Schuller wrote. A couple of displays caught his attention. "Heroes of the State" included people like Lenin, Castro, and Marx. The guide enthusiastically told them about each of these men and how they had helped the country. In another, was a display "Enemies of the State." They were people he knew:  Billy Graham, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Pope and Robert Schuller. When he saw his own picture on display, he was frightened. In the middle of the night, there was a knock on the door of his hotel room." "Follow me," the stranger said. "Don''t ask any questions." Suddenly, they drove through the dark city out into the country. Dr. Schuller was afraid. He did not know where he was being taken. Out in the country there was a plane waiting for him. The plane flew for hours. From the plane, he was led to a train which took him safely out of the Soviet Union. He was forced to give up this opportunity to witness to the Russian people. It looked like the power of evil had won!

However, some twenty-five years later, Dr. Robert Schuller found himself flying to the Soviet Union to investigate the possibility of preaching a sermon on the one and only state controlled television network. "I had returned to the country where I was once branded an enemy of the state," Schuller reflects, "and now was exploring the possibility of preaching to these same people."

Yes, the truth of God''s word always triumphs over the kingdom of falsehood and fear. Helmut Thielicke testifies to this truth when he writes, "The day we begin to believe in the Resurrection is the day the universe changes."

This belief transforms us from bystanders to witnesses.

In the year, 1403, one of the wealthiest men in Paris died. He left his entire estate to his teenage daughter, Agnes. She was a beautiful and virtuous young woman, and many men wanted to marry her. But Agnes decided to give up her fortune and become a recluse. To isolate herself from society, she asked to be sealed in a cell within the wall of a church. The entrance was plastered shut except for one small hole through which food could be passed. She was confined in that small area at 18 years of age and remained there until she died at age 98.

We may admire this woman''s determination to be free from the world''s influence, but we cannot help but feel that hers was a tragically wasted life.

To serve the Lord effectively, we must not isolate ourselves from the world but rather be a witness to the world.

Recently, Billy Graham responded to someone who shouted out "God is dead! God is dead!" Dr. Graham with tenderness replied, "That''s strange, because I just talked to Him in prayer a few minutes ago." Yes, the day you believe in the resurrection is the day you change the universe.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross his tiny following included eleven frightened disciples, and one woman full of seven unclean spirits. In the world''s eyes this all must have seemed crazy. Maybe it was. At least we know Jesus was "crazy" about his followers. Sure, Mary and the eleven disciples were poor witnesses--but Jesus saw them not as they were but as they could be--and changed them from bystanders to some of the most famous names in human history. They, in turn, took His story and spread it everywhere they went. They were no longer victims but victors. They were no longer paralyzed by fear--but propelled forward by faith. They were no longer bystanders but witnesses to the greatest news the world has ever heard.

The day you believe in the resurrection is the day you change the world. I urge you not to look in all the wrong places this year. Look at the Lord Jesus Christ!

If your response to the Resurrection has been and is one of silence or fear, I plead with you to stay with the story and allow the truth of this Glorious Day to lead you from "fear" to "faith" in Jesus Christ. Remember, the day you believe in the Resurrection, you change the world and yourself. Now that can be a frightening thing, but it also could be the start of the most fulfilling adventure of your life. Just ask Mary Magdalene and the rest of the disciples.

The RESURRECTION AWAITS YOUR RESPONSE.

Amen and Amen.