Resurrection

Stone Rolled Away

The Lord is risen! I ask you at what time did you realize that the Lord had risen? Notice that Mary, one of his closest friends, feels that the body has been stolen. Does this sound like a human being in their natural state rationalizing the impossible? Mary arrives at the tomb and immediately she discovers that the tomb is open. Notice also that not everyone is willing to go to the tomb. What holds you back?

Mary arrives at the entrance but cannot bring herself to go in. How does she know that the body is gone?

Like Mary we assume we have enough information to conclude our ideas. Mary decides, without checking first, that the body is gone. John appears to be the quickest to the tomb after Mary explains what has happened; but Peter is the one who runs in. We are all different in how we approach the tomb.

Peter=bold?

John=fast?

Mary=unsure?

When I was a teenager I used to think, if I were there I would not have let them crucify my Lord. It is easy to claim something after the fact isn’t it? Mary was very concerned with her Lord as she had decided to go to the tomb. She had not thought about how she would get into the tomb, or overcome the guards placed there to keep thieves away from the tomb. The men had not decided to go to the tomb, at least not until the women came back with their bold claims.

(NRSV)

“you might want to consider speaking to the Lord. Are you still standing outside the tomb weeping? Or have you already returned home? Are you broken and dejected or are you empowered and encouraged ?

Angels appeared to Mary and asked her why she was weeping. You see weeping over Jesus at this time only showed a lack of faith and understanding. Easter service is all about excitement for the risen Lord. Jesus asks Mary, (NRSV)

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Notice that Mary is so sure in her assumptions that the body has been taken away that she does not recognize the man before her. But what is most important is that eventually she realizes, (NRSV)

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

Have you found the teacher?