April 20, 2014 (10:30am)
Easter Sunday
Matthew 28:1-10
(prayer)
Jesus was arrested after
dark on a Thursday evening - technically, since the marking of days within the
Hebrew culture begins with sunset, it was actually early on the sixth day of
the week (Friday) when Judas led the soldiers to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Later that same day (i.e. before the next
sunset), Jesus was tried, found guilty and executed. That’s very swift justice: the death sentence
carried out less than 24 hours after the arrest. Jesus died on the sixth day of the week in
the middle of the afternoon (about the 9th hour of daylight).
dark on a Thursday evening - technically, since the marking of days within the
Hebrew culture begins with sunset, it was actually early on the sixth day of
the week (Friday) when Judas led the soldiers to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Later that same day (i.e. before the next
sunset), Jesus was tried, found guilty and executed. That’s very swift justice: the death sentence
carried out less than 24 hours after the arrest. Jesus died on the sixth day of the week in
the middle of the afternoon (about the 9th hour of daylight).
We read in some of the
gospel accounts that there was a desperation to bury Jesus’ body before the
sunset on the sixth day.
gospel accounts that there was a desperation to bury Jesus’ body before the
sunset on the sixth day.
The seventh day of the week
is the Sabbath day - it is a day of rest.
This was a particularly special ‘Saturday’ - the Sabbath immediately
following the festival of Passover, which Jesus and his followers had travelled
to Jerusalem to celebrate.
is the Sabbath day - it is a day of rest.
This was a particularly special ‘Saturday’ - the Sabbath immediately
following the festival of Passover, which Jesus and his followers had travelled
to Jerusalem to celebrate.
//
We all need a ‘break’ after
a busy couple of days. Especially, if we
have been experiencing stress, a day with little or nothing to do can be a
blessing.
a busy couple of days. Especially, if we
have been experiencing stress, a day with little or nothing to do can be a
blessing.
But being forced into a
break when you’re not ready can be agonizing, even frustrating. I remember watching the biathlon events in
the winter Olympics a couple of months ago:
when the athlete missed a shot at the target range, they were forced to
take a penalty lap before they could carry on with the next lap around the
circuit. It’s kind of like, being sent
to the penalty box and being forced to wait.
break when you’re not ready can be agonizing, even frustrating. I remember watching the biathlon events in
the winter Olympics a couple of months ago:
when the athlete missed a shot at the target range, they were forced to
take a penalty lap before they could carry on with the next lap around the
circuit. It’s kind of like, being sent
to the penalty box and being forced to wait.
//
I imagine that this is what
it was like for Mary and John and James and Chloe and the others that day after
Jesus died. The Sabbath tradition forced
them to hold off any work they wanted to do to honour Jesus. At least some of the gospel narratives say
that the task of fully anointing Jesus body for burial was not complete when
they had to stop at sunset on the sixth day.
it was like for Mary and John and James and Chloe and the others that day after
Jesus died. The Sabbath tradition forced
them to hold off any work they wanted to do to honour Jesus. At least some of the gospel narratives say
that the task of fully anointing Jesus body for burial was not complete when
they had to stop at sunset on the sixth day.
//
So, after
the Sabbath - at first light, on the next day (the first day of
the new week), women from among Jesus’ closest followers went to the tomb to
finish that sad but important ritual.
the Sabbath - at first light, on the next day (the first day of
the new week), women from among Jesus’ closest followers went to the tomb to
finish that sad but important ritual.
After the Sabbath, they did
not find what they expected.
not find what they expected.
//
At the early service this
morning, we read the gospel of John’s account of discovering the empty
tomb. It is a similar, but different in
a few details from what we heard in Matthew in this service.
morning, we read the gospel of John’s account of discovering the empty
tomb. It is a similar, but different in
a few details from what we heard in Matthew in this service.
First of all in Matthew,
there were two women who went to the tomb that post Sabbath morning: Mary
Magdalene and “the other Mary”. Mark
mentions three women: Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James (is
that who Matthew calls the ‘other Mary).
Luke mentions a whole crowd: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of
James and the other women. John tells us only about Mary Magdalene going
to the tomb.
there were two women who went to the tomb that post Sabbath morning: Mary
Magdalene and “the other Mary”. Mark
mentions three women: Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James (is
that who Matthew calls the ‘other Mary).
Luke mentions a whole crowd: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of
James and the other women. John tells us only about Mary Magdalene going
to the tomb.
All four versions then tell
us that the heavy stone that sealed the entrance to the tomb had been rolled
away. In Mark, the women wonder as they
journey to the tomb, how they will move it.
Matthew says that a great earthquake rolled the stone away and seems to
imply that women saw this.
us that the heavy stone that sealed the entrance to the tomb had been rolled
away. In Mark, the women wonder as they
journey to the tomb, how they will move it.
Matthew says that a great earthquake rolled the stone away and seems to
imply that women saw this.
Then in John, Mary
Magdalene runs and gets Peter and ‘the other disciple (John?) who confirm not
only that the stone was rolled away, but that the body was gone and the grave
clothes were curiously neatly set aside.
Then the men go away and leave Mary alone. It is then that an unexpected visitor
appears, just to Mary: Jesus himself.
Magdalene runs and gets Peter and ‘the other disciple (John?) who confirm not
only that the stone was rolled away, but that the body was gone and the grave
clothes were curiously neatly set aside.
Then the men go away and leave Mary alone. It is then that an unexpected visitor
appears, just to Mary: Jesus himself.
In the other three gospels,
the women don’t run for help, but they do see someone unexpected at the tomb -
an angel (Matthew says) whose
appearance was like lightning; a young man
dressed in a white robe (according to Mark); Luke says there were two men in dazzling apparel.
the women don’t run for help, but they do see someone unexpected at the tomb -
an angel (Matthew says) whose
appearance was like lightning; a young man
dressed in a white robe (according to Mark); Luke says there were two men in dazzling apparel.
The word angel is particularly appropriate
because it means ‘messenger’. This
visitor(s) in white has a message for
these women - Jesus is not here! He is raised! Luke is the version that quotes the wonderful
rhetorical question: Why do you seek the
living among the dead?
because it means ‘messenger’. This
visitor(s) in white has a message for
these women - Jesus is not here! He is raised! Luke is the version that quotes the wonderful
rhetorical question: Why do you seek the
living among the dead?
That’s the end of the
message in Luke. The women go back to
the others and no one believes them: it is just an ‘idle tale’.
message in Luke. The women go back to
the others and no one believes them: it is just an ‘idle tale’.
Matthew and Mark’s
angel-messenger tells the women to tell the Peter and the other disciples will
see the Risen Christ for themselves after they have returned home to
Galilee. That’s where it ends in Mark
(even saying that the women didn’t tell anyone what they saw), but (as we heard
this morning) Matthew says that Jesus, himself appeared to the two Marys and
repeated the angel’s promise that the others will see him in Galilee. The women’s reaction to all this is described
as fearful, astonished, joyful and amazed.
angel-messenger tells the women to tell the Peter and the other disciples will
see the Risen Christ for themselves after they have returned home to
Galilee. That’s where it ends in Mark
(even saying that the women didn’t tell anyone what they saw), but (as we heard
this morning) Matthew says that Jesus, himself appeared to the two Marys and
repeated the angel’s promise that the others will see him in Galilee. The women’s reaction to all this is described
as fearful, astonished, joyful and amazed.
Following this After the Sabbath experience at the
empty tomb, each gospel shares stories of resurrection:
empty tomb, each gospel shares stories of resurrection:
·
In
Matthew, the disciples see Jesus on a mountain in Galilee. Amazingly even then, the text says that ‘some
doubted’.
In
Matthew, the disciples see Jesus on a mountain in Galilee. Amazingly even then, the text says that ‘some
doubted’.
·
Luke
tells of two disciples who unknowingly met the Risen Christ walking along the
road between Jerusalem and Emmaus. A
much shorter version of this appearance is also told in Mark.
Luke
tells of two disciples who unknowingly met the Risen Christ walking along the
road between Jerusalem and Emmaus. A
much shorter version of this appearance is also told in Mark.
·
In
John, as I said Jesus appears to Mary by the tomb. It goes on to say that Jesus appeared to his
disciples in Jerusalem, showing them his physical crucifixion wounds. Famously, John tells us that Thomas wasn’t
there (we’ll read about that next week).
Mark also mentions that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and Luke
talks about Jesus showing his wounds to the disciples.
In
John, as I said Jesus appears to Mary by the tomb. It goes on to say that Jesus appeared to his
disciples in Jerusalem, showing them his physical crucifixion wounds. Famously, John tells us that Thomas wasn’t
there (we’ll read about that next week).
Mark also mentions that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and Luke
talks about Jesus showing his wounds to the disciples.
·
Mark
has story of Jesus appearing to the disciples as they were eating.
Mark
has story of Jesus appearing to the disciples as they were eating.
·
John
tells a story of Jesus meeting the disciples by a Galilean lakeshore and having
a fish breakfast with them.
John
tells a story of Jesus meeting the disciples by a Galilean lakeshore and having
a fish breakfast with them.
·
All
four gospels have the Risen Christ (in some way or another) telling his
disciples to share the goodnews of what they have learned with Jesus.
All
four gospels have the Risen Christ (in some way or another) telling his
disciples to share the goodnews of what they have learned with Jesus.
Clearly, the message is
that death is not the final word -
but it’s more than that: resurrection is not even the
final word.
that death is not the final word -
but it’s more than that: resurrection is not even the
final word.
In Matthew, the disciples are told to go ‘make disciples
of all people; teach them to observe all [Jesus] commanded [them].’
of all people; teach them to observe all [Jesus] commanded [them].’
In Mark, Jesus’ followers are said to have gone ‘forth
and preached everywhere.’
and preached everywhere.’
Luke says that they were continually in the Temple,
blessing God.
blessing God.
John’s gospel uses Peter as an example of what the
disciples are to do next: out of love
for Jesus, they are to care for the ones Jesus cares for. Do you
love me, Simon? Feed my sheep!
disciples are to do next: out of love
for Jesus, they are to care for the ones Jesus cares for. Do you
love me, Simon? Feed my sheep!
//
Don’t get distracted by the variety of ways the
resurrection of Jesus is described in the Biblical gospels. Don’t feel you have to resolve down to an
absolute historically accurate account:
how many women were at the tomb; was Mary the first to see the Risen
Christ or not; did Jesus see the disciples in Jerusalem or did they have to
wait until they went back to Galilee; were they allowed to touch Jesus, like
Thomas or was that forbidden as it was for Mary?
resurrection of Jesus is described in the Biblical gospels. Don’t feel you have to resolve down to an
absolute historically accurate account:
how many women were at the tomb; was Mary the first to see the Risen
Christ or not; did Jesus see the disciples in Jerusalem or did they have to
wait until they went back to Galilee; were they allowed to touch Jesus, like
Thomas or was that forbidden as it was for Mary?
None of these remembered events found themselves written
down in a gospel that would eventually become part of our New Testament until
some forty, forty-five or sixty-plus years after the events they describe. We owe the authors a bit of poetic license.
down in a gospel that would eventually become part of our New Testament until
some forty, forty-five or sixty-plus years after the events they describe. We owe the authors a bit of poetic license.
What I do want us to notice (in amongst the varied ways
the message is shared) that the message is remarkably similar: the work of Jesus is not over. Jesus; followers would continue on in his
name to share the good news of their experiences. And even, when the life spans of all of those
who had face-to-face experiences with Jesus (in the flesh and physically
resurrected) is over, the work will not be - it is everlasting.
the message is shared) that the message is remarkably similar: the work of Jesus is not over. Jesus; followers would continue on in his
name to share the good news of their experiences. And even, when the life spans of all of those
who had face-to-face experiences with Jesus (in the flesh and physically
resurrected) is over, the work will not be - it is everlasting.
//
//
Sabbath is more than just
rest from work - it is a pause that allows for a fresh start. We don’t always just pick up on Sunday
morning where we left off on Friday night.
rest from work - it is a pause that allows for a fresh start. We don’t always just pick up on Sunday
morning where we left off on Friday night.
The life path of Jesus’
disciples looked very different After the
Sabbath than it had before.
disciples looked very different After the
Sabbath than it had before.
// [end]
Over the decades and
centuries that followed, the followers of Jesus and the church they formed
would spend a lot of time discerning and debating what it all meant: the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus. Even today, there are deep
theological divides on these kinds of questions among different groups of
committed Christians.
centuries that followed, the followers of Jesus and the church they formed
would spend a lot of time discerning and debating what it all meant: the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus. Even today, there are deep
theological divides on these kinds of questions among different groups of
committed Christians.
But it general, I want to say
that I believe that it is not enough
to know the Easter story: to know ‘of
resurrection’; it is what we do with the knowledge of resurrection that matters
- it matters what we do After the
Sabbath.
that I believe that it is not enough
to know the Easter story: to know ‘of
resurrection’; it is what we do with the knowledge of resurrection that matters
- it matters what we do After the
Sabbath.
Let us pray:
ad
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***Junior Choir***
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