It was early on the first Easter morning... when Miriam of Magdala (Mary Magdalene) made her way to his tomb. She walked with a heavy heart, as she recalled the moments they shared, his teachings, and the marvelous miracles that he worked. He was a loving and good man- a man of God (she was sure of that)- a man who didn't deserve to die, not in the way that he did. She just couldn't get the crucifixion out of her mind. Like thousands of others, her friend and rabbi was beaten within an inch of his life, stripped, and hung up to die, as others hurled insults and taunts at him. The pain, the shame, the humiliation- that a good man endured- she scare could take it in... but there was one decent thing that happened. Ordinarily, it was unlawful for anyone to bury the body of a person who was crucified. It was almost always forbidden because leaving the body to rot or become fodder for birds and animals... was part of the punishment. But, in an act of grace and no little courage, a man named Joseph obtained permission to bury Jesus' body in his personal tomb.
This act made it possible to give him a more dignified burial, and Mary had seen where they laid him. Thus, she got up early on Easter morning... and made her way to his tomb, just as we make our way to a loved one's grave site- and for much the same reason- to do the right thing and show her respect. She wanted to see him one more time, to cry over him, and to make sure that his body was prepared properly. This was enough for her, and she didn't expect to encounter an empty tomb... except perhaps a fleeting fear that someone had tampered with or stolen his body (which wasn't unheard of in her time). Oh Mary, sad and broken Mary. You go, girl. Go and do what you have to do. And she did, or at least she tried... but (as you know) the tomb was empty! It was empty, and she was certain that they had moved his body. So she ran back to the others and cried, "They've taken his body and we don't know where they put him." It was a startling report, but it came from an emotional woman and it took two men to verify things in those days. So, Peter and John ran to see for themselves, and sure enough, the tomb was empty, except for Jesus' burial clothes, which were neatly folded... with the cloth that covered his face lying in its own place.
It was an intriguing thing to see and it didn't fit with body-snatching, but Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved went back to their hiding place... while Mary stood outside Jesus' empty tomb and cried. Easter morning. The sun was higher now, and Mary was still crying. The others had left... and Jesus' body was missing. She shoveled around his grave and looked around... and a man whom she didn't recognize said, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, Mary replied, Sir, just tell me where you have laid him, so that I can do what I came to do. Where have you laid him? That's all she wanted to know because she was there to grieve and take care of a dead body. Then the man said, "Mary. Miriam," and her heart raced because she recognized his voice. "Rabbouni, teacher," she cried, and she reached out to hug him, but he said, "Noli me tangere, don't cling to me because I haven't gone up to my Father... and besides, you have work to do.
Run to the others, Mary, and tell them that I'm going up to my Father and their Father, to my God and their God. Tell them that I live, Mary. Tell them I danced on my grave. Tell them... that it is Easter! Tell them that I am as alive as anyone is ever alive, and that through me, they will be alive as well. Tell them that Easter is not a season, nor a day, nor a bunny, nor a bonnet, nor just a time for family and good behavior... but new and unexpected life. Life where there was no life. Life where there was no hope of life. Life from the grave, Life where you least expect it. Tell them that I live and that, because I live, they will live. Go, girl, go... and she did. Verse 18 says it succinctly: "Miriam of Magdala- Mary Magdalene- left the burial site and announced to the disciples- "I've seen the Lord!!!" Amen and hallelujah, She saw the Lord... and life became worth the living. Amen.
Friends, I've been blessed to preach God's word for 25 years now, and I've read the Bible through many times. I've seen and heard many different takes on the Bible's stories, and I know there are many different ways of worshiping. I know that some churches baptize infants and some don't, that some Christians speak in tongues and others won't. Many critics have pointed out what they consider inconsistencies between the four gospels, even in the account we've discussed this morning. John says that Mary Magdalene went alone to the tomb on Easter morning- another gospel says Mary and Mary- yet another says Mary, Mary, and Joanna... but I don't care. However- and here I draw on something that Frederick Buechner said- if I thought that Easter was nothing more than a feel-good story, like a wrestler jumping to his feet just before he was counted out, or a way of touching the child in each of us, like the Santa Claus, or just a way of saying that there is a rose beneath the snow, I'd pack it in. If Christ did not appear to Miriam and to the others, if he didn't show Thomas his wounds, if they didn't see him ascend to heaven, then the whole story is bogus and our faith is in vain. If Jesus is not risen, we will be forever dead... but if he is... and He IS... the unexpected life that he promised is ours. Glory, glory.
Like Mary, we aren't allowed to cling to him. He does not belong to us... but we can run and tell the others, "He lives. He lives. I know that my Savior lives." Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment