REMOVING THE SHROUD

April 5, 2015

Easter Sunday - 8:30am

Isaiah 25:6-9

John 20:1-18

There is a fair bit of variance between the different gospels.  A few parts of the story of Jesus have been preserved in all four gospels - some things were retold by two or three gospel writers (mostly because they copied from a common source).  Although, in several cases, they disagree on some details.  And there are many parts of our basic story that are unique to only one New Testament writing. 

That does not have to demolish our faith - worried that God is giving us mixed messaged for some reason.  Let us always remember that - although we find holy truth and the touch of God in these ancient writings - they come to us from human hands… with all of the diversity and poetic license that different authors employ.  Even when they share a common source, we can see each writer’s style, theology and worldview in the precise words they choose.

One of the areas in the gospels where there is a lot of overlap is in the stories of Jesus’ passion - the Holy Week stories do vary from gospel to gospel, but there is basic narrative that we see over and over.

Having said that, it is obvious that throughout the gospel of John, that the author intentionally is trying to not just parrot the language and style of the other three (earlier) gospels.  Scholars generally agree that the fourth gospel in our bibles was in fact the fourth one (last one) to be written down - maybe by as much as several decades. 

So we can expect John to be unique in most respects when its narrative is compared to Matthew, Mark and Luke.

But even among the first three gospels the Easter narratives are a bit different.  Not so much, the discovery of the empty tomb [show overlap in Gospel Parallels] - they all talk about a group of women going to the tomb early on the Sunday morning.
How many women were there, what were their names, why were they going to the tomb, did they see the stone rolled away or just discover it that way?  Those details vary, but they all report that the women found the tomb empty and that they saw a brightly-clad angelic visitor (or two in Luke and John) who told them that Jesus had been risen from the dead and (in all except John) to go tell the other disciples that they will see Jesus when they return to home to Galilee.

It is AFTER the women leave the empty tomb is where the real variety in the gospels begins.

Each gospel seems to have its own stories of people encountering the risen Jesus (resurrection appearances). [show no overlap in Gospel Parallels]

ÿ  On a mountain in Galilee being told to baptize the nations;

ÿ  Two disciples on the road to a town called Emmaus;

ÿ  With his disciples in Jerusalem;

ÿ  Mark’s gospel actually originally ended without telling about any resurrection appearances.  We know this because archeological discoveries have found versions of Mark that end at chapter 16, verse 8.  Others have been found with an additional eleven verses that seem to be a short summary of resurrection stories that we can read in the other three gospels.

At the 10:30am service (later this morning), we will focus of the version of Easter morning from Mark’s gospel that ends without seeing Jesus raised but only being told that He Is Risen.

But that will be then - this is now.

There is a particular aspect of the appearances of Jesus that we see in common among the different stories.  And that is that the followers of Jesus are not able to recognize that it is Jesus they are talking to.

That was a central part of the most commonly told Easter story - Mary Magdalene crying alone in the garden near the tomb… from John.

Mary is crying - likely out a combination of her grief and the indignity of someone taking his body. 

When the risen Jesus comes to here, she thinks it is a gardener.  Why wouldn’t
she.  There is zero hope for and immediate resurrection within her.  She doesn’t recognize his voice.  Through her tear-soaked eyes she doesn’t see a familiar face.

In my personnal favorite of Easter appearance stories (from Luke, chapter 24), two disciples (one named Cleopas) are walking to Emmaus on the Sunday evening and end up talking to a fellow traveler - like Mary, they don’t recognize his voice or face, although it may have been dusky and the light not great for part of the journey.  The two followers of Jesus invite their companion to stay with them for the night rather than carrying on in the dark - still not aware that it is Jesus, risen from the dead.

Even Matthew’s gospel (which tells about Jesus meeting his disciples on a mountain in Galilee) had to admit that - even there, in the very presence of the Risen Christ - “some doubted”.

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The prophet Isaiah, preaching during the rise of King David’s reign, spoke of the continued promise of God’s blessings for the people.  I read earlier of this vision of a grand banquet for all people, where the worries and fears of the past would be lifted away from the land.
The prophet’s metaphor brings to mind the nation being blanketed by a heavy burden - so much so that they are down-trodden, grieving.  The promise is that this shroud that is cast over the people will be lifted up (destroyed even) and that life, joy and celebration will replace it.

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Easter’s promise is not just that Jesus triumphs over death, but that we experience the benefits of that. 

We are able to see and know that God’s love endures beyond the disappointments and struggles of life - that even in the shadow of death and grief, there is life and hope.

For Mary, the shroud lifted when she heard her name being lovingly and caringly spoken.

For Cleopas and is partner, the shroud was lifted in the community created by the breaking and sharing bread. 

Different stories, but… really, the same story.

We are told that the Risen Christ is known when we are reminded that we are not alone.

It was not a stranger in the garden that Mary spoke to - it was not a potential grave robber or gardener - it was the voice that she knew as welcoming and accepting and healing.

It was not a wise traveler on the road, but a familiar companion (latin: com=with, panis=bread) - one with whom we share the basic joys and needs of life.

The promise of Easter is that Jesus is our welcome and our companion.

In the words of Isaiah: let us be glad and rejoice in [this] salvation!