Easter
April 1, 2018
Scripture Reading: Mark 16:1-8
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mark is well known for its brevity and that is no better illustrated than in this original closing segment of the book. While I can draw much from the other gospels and their stories of the resurrection, I rather think Mark’s rendition sets the best stage. The resurrection is a beginning not the ending of the story and us like Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome play our part in the remaining story. The ending is still being written.
Now I have no idea how long these women held out telling no one what they had discovered. They probably did not tell acquaintances or strangers they met along the way. My guess is they were so rattled when they returned from their visit to the tomb that bits and pieces spilled out quickly. In the company of Jesus’ disciples, their demeanor surely led to questions that had to be answered.
With the trumpets sounding, our organist played Lift High the Cross* as the opening music on Palm Sunday. I love the soaring symbolism in the music which forcefully proclaims we are lifting high an empty cross as we celebrate the empty tomb. I was rather surprised she played in at the beginning of Holy Week, but it nicely wove into the praise of Palm Sunday while painting a picture of what was to follow.
While we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus today, let us remember we are still telling the story of that empty cross and the empty tomb. We are the Body of Christ in the world today called to build a world ruled by God’s love with the abiding grace of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit guiding the way. Let it be so.
Prayer:
God of grace and God of glory,
on your people pour your power;
crown your ancient church’s story,
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour**. Amen.
*Set to the tune of “Crucifer” by Sydney Nicholson
**First verse of God of Grace and God of Glory by Harry Emerson Fosdick. See at https://hymnary.org/text/god_of_grace_and_god_of_glory