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Program Transcript
Resurrection Sunday
Greetings Church!
Susan and I are grateful to be coming to you this Easter Season. As we rehearse the activities and events that make up the Passion Week we are overwhelmed with emotion and curiosity.
Today in preparation for our remembrance of these transformational events, we get to travel back in our minds to the original Resurrection Sunday. This story is recorded in John’s Gospel 20:1-18. The story speaks for itself, so without commentary allow me to read the passage and let these words wash over you as Susan reads the passage.
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look[a] into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14 When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20:1-18
Thank you, Susan.
You’re welcome.
What do we learn from this Sunday morning almost 2,000 years ago?
We are witnesses to the faith and courage of Mary Magdelene. Her understanding of the reality of what has happened unfolds in stages. And even when Jesus appears to her and engages her, she doesn’t recognize him. C.S. Lewis interjects the idea that you can’t see anything properly while your eyes are blurred with tears.
It is notable that Jesus first appears to Mary (keep in mind that John, Peter and the others are back in the cover and safety of the private home). Jesus demonstrated his regard and value for Mary, and as an extension to women in general.
We get a snapshot of the personalities of John and Peter. We discover that John is a faster runner than Peter. Their almost simultaneous arrival at the tomb shows two contrasting approaches. John has a “stop – observe – reflect” approach. Whereas Peter has a “go forward – hands-on – experiential” approach. Either way, they both were overwhelmed by the evidence of the missing body of Jesus.
I wonder if the earlier teaching of Jesus when he said, “If you destroy this temple, I will raise it up in three days” was resonating in their memories? Were the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fit together? We know their understanding became real as the resurrected Jesus came to where they were in the house.
For the disciples, this original Resurrection Sunday had a backdrop of fear and mystery. Fear that this ministry ride with Jesus was over. What are they to do now?
Fear that the fervor from the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers doing their bidding may be coming to round them up and raise them on a cross of death.
Mystery in that they had resisted the preparatory teachings of Jesus that he would be raised up and killed, but that wasn’t the end.
In fact, that through his death and resurrection there was going to be a glorious new beginning.
What fears and mysteries do you and I face? We are not unlike Mary, Peter, and John. Our engagement with Jesus happens in stages of understanding, growth and reliance as well.
The celebration and recounting of Resurrection Sunday should quell our fears and provide answers to the question, “Who is Jesus?” He is the only begotten Son sent by the Father. The one who overcame sin and death for all humanity. This day declares his bodily resurrection, that he is firstborn of all creation, and glorified by the Father. Hallelujah!
Our fears and doubts get swallowed up in Jesus. Our tears of anxiety and distraught become tears of joy. Jesus truly is the pioneer of our salvation and today we declare He is Risen, and we respond, “He is Risen Indeed!”
May the joy of Christ’s resurrection fill your hearts and homes this Easter. As you celebrate with loved ones, may you be reminded of the hope we have in Him—the hope that transforms fear into faith, sorrow into joy, and death into life. May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you now and always. Amen.
