Easter Sunday – Resurrection of Our Lord
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Mark 16:1-8
Mark 16:1-8
1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a youth, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But the youth 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. 7But 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.” 8So 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.
. . .
Go and Tell
Grace to you, beloved of God, and peace from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
When I was about 16, the soccer club I cheered for had been without a national title for many years. I know. The Cubs waited one hundred. But six years is a very long time when you are that age. Halfway through that season, we were not doing great again. So, it seemed like it would be yet another one, or many perhaps, for us to win anything.
In the last quarter of the season, Zico, the best player in the history of our club and the country, for that matter, returned to the pitch after a series of reconstructive knee surgeries. He had been playing in Europe for the last couple of years, then returned after his prime had passed. Not even five matches later, he suffered the devastating injury after a violent and cheap tackle.
Well, Zico still had some of the old Zico on him. Surrounded by a group of promising young players, they were playing at home, one win away from qualifying for the playoffs. The whole town went to the game, including me, a couple of very good friends, and my brother. Zico scored four times. We won 4-0, it was just exhilarating. There was hope.
We move to beat the best team in the country in the semi-finals. Zico gave the assistance for the winning goal at home. We were there again, and it was an absolute pandemonium of joy. We were going to the finals. The first leg was a tie, and the second one would be at home again for the national title.
I did not go. I was too amazed, too in awe. I had no memory of the last time we won. I was too little. Now, it was different. I was all into it. I got afraid. What if they lose. It will be too disappointing.
I know that, too. It does not compare at all with what the first witnesses of the resurrection faced when they discovered the tomb of their teacher to be empty. First, it was probably like, he did it! The son of a gun did it! He was broken into pieces. We saw it. We were there when he breathed his last. Now, after three days, he has been raised! Heck yes! High fives all around! We have waited our whole lives for this, and the joy and power of the empty tomb are just awesome!
Then they got sent. Go and tell, they were told.
Say what?
You heard me. Go and tell others like he said. Go!
Wait! The tomb … is empty.
Yep, go; he will meet you there, as he said. Go and tell others about this good news. Tell them that Jesus Christ was hanged from a tree and died for the forgiveness of our sins, and after three days, God raised him from the dead, as the scriptures say. Go, you are witnesses. Proclaim this good news to the whole world, beginning here in Judea.
They won, by the way. Zico had to leave at half-time. His knee had given up. However, the group of young players came together, and one of the most criticized players, deemed soft and unfit to wear the team jersey by some, despite having enormous potential, scored the winning goal. It was pure delirium at the stadium. The people living in buildings close to the stadium reported they could feel their floors shaking. I was jumping up and down with my brother, who, on that day, got into the habit of exchanging expletives with the guy in the next building. It was still awesome, but not the same. I regretted not being there for fear of disappointment. I robbed myself of something absolutely amazing.
Back to the first witnesses of the resurrection, eventually, they told someone. They were terrified, but they ended up telling many. At least, that is what the Book of Acts says. The many then told others, and so on and so forth. Then someone wrote it down, and the gift was passed on and on until it arrived for us here today. It all started with a few terrified, unfit, rejected living stones who had just lost their teacher, the chief rejected cornerstone.
You may ask, how can we know for sure Jesus was raised from the dead? Is it still worth telling this story?
A wise Professor of Christology once asked this very same question to a class of Lutheran seminarians. After nobody dared to answer, he said something must have happened. Something very powerful must have happened for them to keep telling, over and over, despite not only disappointment and fear but also betrayal, slandering, stoning, death, loss, and devastating sorrow.
Some very powerful presence must have indeed met them where they were for them to keep going, day by day, celebrating the marvelous thing the Lord had made for them. Praising God, they kept gathering with joyful and generous hearts. Wounds healed, and sins forgiven by grace through faith. They were made righteous. They kept going and telling, and the Spirit kept adding to their numbers. So go and tell, beloved of God, go and tell, and do not be afraid. The joyous gift is too great to pass, and the risen Christ never disappoints. He is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Bridging Faith 