My friends, the peace of the risen Lord be with you. Tonight/this morning we celebrate an incredible moment in history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Along with Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, we grasp the reality that the tomb of Jesus is empty. The incredible evidence before us reveals that not only is Jesus human; he is also divine.
What literally took place during the night cannot be explained. Like the other evangelists, Mark does not tell us what actually happened before the women arrived at the tomb. Those who cannot believe what occurred offer any number of explanations: the body was stolen from the tomb, or he was drugged from the wine that had been given him, appearing to be dead when they took him down from the cross and placed him in the tomb. But the story Mark tells us has stood the test of time. The Lord has been raised! Those who saw the risen Christ never altered their testimony even when threatened with death.
Why should such a story matter to us? The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth gives us reason to believe that life is more than the span of time from the womb to the tomb. Until Jesus came on the scene, the Jews envisioned the Messiah as one who would liberate them from the oppression of the Romans, but Jesus kept telling his followers that his kingdom was not of this world.
Rising from the dead, Jesus left evidence that our time here would be a stepping stone to a new life beyond the threshold of death. What he said in those few years while roaming the shores of Galilee and the hills of Judea were not empty promises or false hopes. He indeed came back from the dead to free us from the oppression of sin and suffering. His resurrection validated his claim and now his followers were beginning to get the message.
What Mark tells us in this gospel passage is more than just the punch line to a dramatic tale. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, evidenced by his empty tomb, is the heart of our Christian faith. When you think about it, none of the gospels explain the resurrection; rather, the resurrection explains the gospels. Unable to ascertain how this happened, all the evangelists can do is tell us the reaction of those who saw the empty tomb and the good news that they would see the risen Lord.
Picture the women at sunrise, grieving and apprehensive, as they made their way to the tomb to complete the burial of Jesus with spices they had purchased the night before. Who would roll back the large stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? For them that seemed like such an impossible task.
Their dilemma brings to mind a timely question. How many unmovable stones do we have in our lives? What has troubled you in recent weeks? Perhaps you have been struggling with making ends meet, now that you are either underemployed or unemployed due to the ongoing economic recession. You wonder where the money is going to come from to pay the next mortgage bill or power bill or medical bill. Or you are struggling with a life-threatening illness. For whatever reason, you feel apprehensive about your future. You have pushed and pushed against the stones in your life and nothing seems to be budging.
Maybe you doubt your self-worth because of what you have done or failed to do in the past or the mistakes you have made. Your baby was aborted or given up for adoption for any number of reasons and that leaves you still feeling wounded. You were abused, physically, verbally, or sexually, perhaps even by someone you once trusted. You have exchanged hurt words with a spouse, a child, a neighbor, or co-worker. Words or actions you now regret and wish you could take back, but pushing the stone of forgiveness seems to be so futile.
The one who emerged from the tomb on the first Easter morning died on the cross, bearing our sins and trials. He emerged, understanding the worries, anxieties and fears, not only of the apostles and the women who came to his empty tomb, but also yours and mine 2000 years later.
My friends, Jesus is no stranger to our human condition. Shortly before his arrest in the Garden of Olives, he agonized at length in prayer. Could he do what was being asked of him? Despite how he felt, as Mark tells us elsewhere in his gospel, Jesus also said to his Father, “Not what I will but what you will.” When the time came for his arrest, Jesus surrendered instead of fleeing. He knew that in the hands of his Father, he need not worry, and neither should we.
While we are very much alive physically, some of us may still feel entombed emotionally or spiritually. Faith in the risen Lord enables us to emerge from our tombs of worry, doubt, and fear. St. Clement of Alexandria put it this way, “Christ has turned all our sunsets into dawns.”
Yes, something extraordinary happened that Sunday morning in Jerusalem so long ago. Jesus escaped the grip of death, leaving behind an empty tomb to stay with us, even those of us who remain filled with doubt and skepticism.
In my quiet time after communion, I usually recall the prayer of Zechariah. Its closing line sums up for me the promise of Easter. “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us…to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death…and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
My friends, a blessed Easter to you! Not just on this day, but throughout this season of fifty days, may you always be filled with the peace of our risen Lord.