Mark16:1-8
The Easter story began a week ago with Palm Sunday. Yes, technically it began four months ago at Christmas, but the particular part of the life of Christ we celebrate today starts with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. He rides in on a donkey because the donkey is the transport of kings in ancient Israel. (We will not explore that rabbit trail today.) Some of you may remember that Jesus rides a borrowed donkey.
In the week since then, many in that cheering crowd have fallen away. His disciples were overwhelmed by the events, including that one of their own was the betrayer. By the time Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross, the only people who remain are the women who had supported his ministry with their own resources and a couple of wealthy men who were able to secure Jesus’ body.
With all of that in mind, I think of Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James), and Salome going to the tomb to care for Jesus’ broken and bruised body. The two men who had been able to bury Jesus had poured a significant amount of nard, a fragrant ointment or oil, over his body before it went into the tomb. This was done in the effort to forestall the body beginning to smell before they could come back after the sabbath and care for Jesus’ body gently by cleaning, anointing, and wrapping it with care.
The women may have brought cinnamon, lavender, and more nard, as well as frankincense and myrrh. Picture them with a few bags between them- dried flowers poking out of this one, small clay pots clinking in that one. As they walk, they are worried about the stone and whether they will be able to move it together. If a Roman guard is still at the tomb, would the guard move it for them or possibly prevent them from going in.
In this time of grief, they are focused on what they expect to be in their way. The stone is not merely an obstacle; it is in the way of these women being able to do what they believe Jesus needs. Everything they are bringing, their every intention is because, in their understanding, the Lord has need of it. The body of the Lord has need of it.
When they arrive at the tomb, though, the stone is already moved. Furthermore, the body of the Lord is not there. In Mark’s account, the two Marys and Salome are met by a white-robed young man who tells them that Jesus has been raised. Lest there be any confusion, the young man tells the women he knows they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. There has not been a tomb mix up; the women are in the right place.
The young man goes on, “But 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.”
Mark’s gospel ends abruptly with the women fleeing from the tomb in terror and amazement. Mark writes that they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid. While this seems confusing to us, at the time Mark was written, it is likely that there were still living witnesses to the risen Christ. While maybe not these three women, probably Rufus and Alexander, sons of Simon of Cyrene, as well as some of Jesus’ close followers.
The first people to hear or read Mark’s account would know that the women had found courage and shared the good news. And not only these women, but many other people saw and experienced the risen Christ. Spelling out the accounting wasn’t as necessary while there were still eyewitnesses to pick up the story.
On this first Easter morning, however, we have the women, fleeing in terror and amazement. They need to find the other disciples and Peter and tell them that Jesus has gone ahead of them. Ahead of them in death, ahead of them in resurrection, ahead of them to Galilee.
When we last saw Peter, he denied knowing Jesus. He is singled out in this resurrection announcement to make it clear that Jesus will not deny Peter. The joy of resurrection is for even the ones who make the worst mistakes.
Which brings me to one of the points I want us to take away on this Easter Sunday. How often are we still carrying around things that the Lord does not need? I don’t mean ointments or traditions or even our questions and doubts.
I mean, how often are we carrying judgment of others, reluctance to change, hesitation to welcome, slowness to be hospitable, griefs and frustrations about minor issues, fear of being wrong in mercy and love? How often are we carrying things because we think the body of Christ needs us to hold on to these things, but all they do is keep us from getting to where the Lord has gone ahead of us. We do not need to carry these things. The Lord does not have need of them.
What would have happened to all the things the women carried, the spices and flowers and balms? They would have been used to anoint other bodies in death, but with an entirely different sentiment. Each body would have been prepared knowing that death as we perceive it was not the end. Each tomb was closed knowing that Jesus’ words, “It is finished” were followed by the Holy Parent’s words, “But it’s not over”.
The Lord no longer had need of those spices, but the body of Christ- the people in community, the people of hope, the Easter people would and did. The spices would have been used even as those same women, the ones who had initially said nothing, spoke the truth of the resurrection over the bodies for which they tenderly cared. That was what the Lord needed them to do. Their trust in the resurrection, their hope in heaven, their willingness to seem foolish in the eyes of the world in the imitation of Christ- those were what the Lord needed then.
Our trust in the resurrection, our hope in heaven, our willingness to seem foolish in the eyes of the world because of how we imitate Christ- those are what the Lord has need of now. Not for his own sake, but in joyful response to amazing grace for the sake of the people and the creation that God so loved. Loved. Loves.
We must, then, stop carrying what is unnecessary, harmful, dead- so that our hands are open to receive and to give. To let go and let come.
On this day, on this holy resurrection day, hear these words, beloved: The tomb is empty. Christ is risen. He is with you and has gone ahead of you. You are blessed to be a blessing to others, in a world that needs to know of the triumph of a loving and living God. Go forth in joy and amazement. The Lord has need of you.
Amen.
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