The Spirit of Easter

John 20:1–18 CEB

1 Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.” 3 Peter and the other disciple left to go to the tomb. 4 They were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb. 5 Bending down to take a look, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Following him, Simon Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 He also saw the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. It wasn’t with the other clothes but was folded up in its own place. 8 Then the other disciple, the one who arrived at the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 They didn’t yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. 11 Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. 13 The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 14 As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.

The Spirit of Easter

You may know the story of a man who stood one day looking into a store window. Standing next to him and also looking in was a little boy. It was Easter time, and in keeping with the season the shopkeeper had arranged a setting of the crucifixion.

After a while the boy turned to the man. “Those are Roman soldiers,” he explained.

The man said nothing but kept studying the window.

“And there’s Jesus,” the boy continued.

Still no response.

“They killed him,” the boy said.

By this time the man, having satisfied his curiosity, started to walk away. Then he heard a patter of young feet behind him and felt a tug on his sleeve. It was the boy.

“Mister,” he said, “I forgot to tell you the most important part. He’s alive again!” (1)

The most important part - He is alive. Jesus is Alive!

The resurrection is the defining moment of the Christian faith. Our entire faith revolves around it-so much so that even our gathering together in worship on Sunday mornings is because of the resurrection.

Our worship on Sunday is supposed to serve as a reminder each and every week of the power of resurrection. It's the reason that, even during Lent, we take a break from fasting on Sundays to feast and celebrate.

Resurrection day is so important that we spend weeks preparing for it through the season of Lent. The liturgical colors change to white. We fill our sanctuaries with flowers. We often buy new clothes. We give small gifts. We celebrate with food and shouts of acclamation that, "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" It is a great day of celebration. Jesus is alive! Sin and death have been defeated.

But it would be a mistake to view this resurrection day as a one-time act that we observe and celebrate. Because the power of the resurrection wasn't just that Jesus was raised from the dead but also that the power of resurrection was unleashed upon the world. We can live in the power of the resurrection each and every day, we can share the power of the resurrection in a world plagued by sin and death, and we long for the someday resurrection of the dead.

We rejoice that Jesus was raised, but we also rejoice that we too are continually being brought to life. This is why baptisms are often celebrated on Easter-because, when we are baptized, we are united to the death and resurrection of Jesus. As the people of God, we are a resurrection people.

The Garden

John 20:11–15 CEB

11 Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. 13 The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 14 As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”

Mary Magdalene is so filled with grief that when she encounters Jesus, she thinks he is a gardener. John is illustrating a theological truth here: the sin that entered the world in the garden is conquered in this new garden, through resurrection. Jesus is a gardener of sorts, causing new life to grow where there was once death.

While there is theological truth and depth to the garden imagery here, Mary isn't in the right state of mind to be making those deep theological connections. She just knows that her friend died, and she misses him. And more than that, she's grieving her mistaken hopes about who the Messiah was and what he would do for her and her people.

When we experience such deep grief as Mary is in this moment, it can be difficult to focus on any bigger picture. There have been studies done on the effects of grief on the brain, and it turns out that our brains can shut themselves down to only the most basic functioning levels, making abstract and critical thinking difficult if not impossible. This science could account for Mary's confusion and inability to recognize Jesus.

Pastor Kelly Fryer lost her father when she was eleven-years-old. She writes that late one night, a police officer and a chaplain visited her family’s home. The officer told Kelly’s mother about the accident that took her father’s life. He accompanied Kelly’s mother to the hospital to claim her husband’s body. Meanwhile, the chaplain was left behind to comfort Kelly.

Kelly was just a little kid suddenly hit with this heartbreaking news and she needed someone to help her deal with the grief and loss. And that chaplain stood in the middle of the room and didn’t say a word. He didn’t know what to say or do, so he didn’t do anything. Kelly can look back now, as a pastor herself who has counseled countless people in similar circumstances and feel some compassion for the chaplain. But she still remembers the pain of that night and his inability to deal with it. With her emotions still somewhat raw, she says simply, “Silence was not an option.” (2)

Mary’s friend and Messiah is dead. Her only comfort is in being able to honor his physical body-and now she cannot even do that. Of course she doesn't recognize Jesus! She isn't looking for him as resurrected.

Mission and Gospel

John 20:17–18 CEB

17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.

When Jesus speaks Mary's name, there is a powerful moment of recognition. Jesus sees her, knows her, and calls out to her. She is not just another person grieving-she is his disciple, whom he loves.

After she recognizes and names Jesus in return, she is told to go. She is now given the task of evangelism as Jesus tells her to tell the others. Jesus is once again doing something new. Important tasks like this were never given to women because they were viewed as lacking credibility. But Jesus empowers Mary to share the gospel, and she leaves their encounter changed. She is now Mary who has seen the risen Christ, and Mary the evanglist.

A change in relationship is being made here. Jesus tells her:

Common English Bible Chapter 20

Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God

The disciples have gone from being disciples to be Jesus’ brothers and sisters. They have become sons and daughters of the Father because of Jesus resurrection. Through Jesus Resurrection, we have become sons and daughters of the Father.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 27: John Go to My Brethren

Mary, who is the first to see the Lord, is to be the messenger of His Resurrection and Ascension. Rather than allowing her to cling to Him, the risen Lord sends her on a mission to tell the others what she has seen and heard. Like Mary, we are sent forth to announce that the body is not in the tomb, for He is with the Father in resurrected glory.

This encounter with the resurrected Jesus teaches Mary that resurrection is something to be shared, not hoarded. We are called to be a resurrection community, called out of sin and death, just like Mary and the disciples. We live in the hopeful expectation that, just as Christ was raised, we too will one day be raised.

With that hope, we go into the dead places of the world and breathe resurrection into them, joining the Holy Spirit in the good work of sowing seeds of resurrection.

New Life from Death

Living the resurrected life means walking the hard road to the cross, which means laying down our greed, selfishness, pride, and all sin. It also might mean laying down our very lives for those around us. It means doing hard things and going to unexpected and hard places.

We go into the worst places of the world, trusting in the hope of resurrection. Resurrection people do not fear the worst places but seek to bring hope, and the light and life of resurrection, into them. Resurrection people know that, in the power of the Spirit, we can do hard things.

“Pastor Stephen Brown says he was devastated after his younger brother, Ron, died suddenly of a heart attack. Ron was only in his forties, a popular district attorney, a terrific father. Stephen never even got the chance to say goodbye.

Several weeks after Ron’s death, Stephen decided to visit his brother’s grave. It was a cold, rainy afternoon in late winter. Ron’s grave was not yet marked, and Stephen couldn’t find it. As he trekked through the mud, his grief overwhelmed him. Standing in the rain, Stephen began sobbing. “God, this has been the worst month of my life, and now I can’t even find my brother’s grave.”

Suddenly Stephen sensed a presence near him, as though Christ had drawn alongside to help. These same words that the angel spoke came to mind like a burst of light: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?’

“Those words comforted me,” Stephen later wrote, “and I haven’t been back to the cemetery since. I don’t need to go back. The One who loved Ron and knew him came to me in my grief. He promised never to leave, and that has made all the difference in the world.” (4)

There is resurrection hope for everyone in all circumstances: for places and people embroiled in racism, sexism, or any other form of hate; for places and people consumed by poverty; for places and people battling disaster, violence, and disease.

“the first resurrection came to a devastated group of people who had no hope of finding anything positive in this latest tragedy. Resurrection came, not with trumpets blaring amidst the Easter lilies, but quietly, in the early morning mist, while it was still too dark to see. Through tears and weariness, through fear and confusion, through the disorientation of grief, through arms reaching out to feel their way in the darkness, resurrection came. It came, not because somebody finally found a way to liven up the Sunday morning worship service, not because all the right candidates got elected to office, not because the Congress did away with income tax. It came because our God is a God who breathes new life even into dry, dead bones and dry, dead spirits. It came because with God, all things are possible. It came because God really is love.” (3)

Resurrection people are called to go even when it is hard and difficult. We are not abandoned but are gifted by the Holy Spirit. We declare through our lives, words, and actions that even the most forgotten, most forsaken places can be redeemed by God in resurrection hope.

Baptism

Baptism is the initiating act into the community of resurrection.

The water symbolizes both a cleansing and a being brought out of death and into new resurrection life.

When we baptize others, we welcome them into this community, inviting them to join us as resurrection people. But we also remember our own identity as resurrection people.

Conclusion

We sometimes talk about the spirit of Christmas being one that lives on throughout the year, but it would be more appropriate to talk about the spirit of Easter living on throughout the year.

Resurrection is not just something that happened one time and that we commemorate each year-rather, it is a way to live. We are people of resurrection. We live in ways that breathe new life into the world around us. We look for where the Holy Spirit is at work, and ask God to show us how we can join that work. We share stories of when and where God has breathed new life for us. We look ahead to the resurrection of the dead not passively but in hopeful expectation.

We declare that Christ is risen here this morning, in this space, in this place, and then we go into the world to work for, speak of, and declare resurrection in and to the world around us.

(1) W. Glyn Evans, ed., Christ Is Victor (Valley Forge:  Judson Press).

(2) “What’s the Best Bait When You Fish for People?” Pastor Susan Langhauser, Advent Lutheran Church, http://www.adventlutheranchurch.com/sermontexts/sermon060122.shtml.

(3) Death Stinks https://www.sermons.com/sermon/death-stinks/1337851 Johjy Dean

(4) Robert Morgan, “Words by an Unmarked Grave,” From This Verse (Thomas Nelson Inc., 1998). Cited at http://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-24-commentary.