WATCHWORD:
1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” Matthew 28:1-10
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. Isaiah 53:11-12
Meditation:
Resurrection Sunday
Easter Sunday. Maybe a more descriptive label would be Resurrection Sunday because that is what it is. In the archives of your mind, your memory of childhood, what do you recall? Easter baskets filled with brightly colored plastic straw, and jellybeans, and chocolate covered Cadbury Easter eggs filled with peanut butter. The fun of coloring the hard-boiled eggs so they can be placed out in the yard for the big Easter egg hunt that will follow that afternoon.
I think about my own experience with my two sisters, in our backyard in search of the prized eggs that had been so carefully colored and hidden for us. I think about my experience as a father with young children and as a member of our church where the Easter egg hunt was a big deal. I think about Easter bonnets, and ‘dressing proper’ for Sunday to honor our Lord. I think about sumptuous dinners always featuring, for some reason, ham, scalloped potatoes, and green beans, so delicious. And then to be allowed to bite off the toe of the giant chocolate Easter Bunny, and to open our Cadbury egg and feast on the peanut butter.
All that seems far removed from what was happening in Jerusalem on this very Sunday, just two days removed from the awful day, Friday, and the sad day of Saturday. On this day, it was another triumphal entry into the hearts and minds of the disciples and the followers of Jesus. He is risen! And as the reality of what had happened filled their hearts, they cried with joyful assurance, he has risen indeed!
Let us not miss an aspect of Easter in the joyfulness of the Resurrection. For many of us, in Holy Week we called to mind our loved ones who have gone ahead of us. Maybe in our pondering, it may occur to us that among all other things Easter is a day infused with hope. We may stand by the graves of our loved ones, with the realization that they experienced Easter, at a personal level. For Jesus, Himself, is the new Easter for them, and for us. And we await that moment when we too shall see his glorious presence, and hear Him welcome us, “Good and faithful servant.”
Happy and blessed Easter to you and yours. Amen.
Sacred History:
Resurrection Sunday, Mary Magdalene and other women find the tomb empty, and receive a message from an Angel that Jesus has risen and would meet the disciples near Capernaum. On this same day, two followers, traveling to Emmaus, encounter the risen Savior, though they do not recognize Him. Four days after the Resurrection, Jesus meets with five disciples near Capernaum, He forgives Peter’s denials, and they dine together. A week after the resurrection Jesus meets with the disciples and followers in Jerusalem. After that meeting, he appears to 500 others in locations unknown and unrecorded. The Resurrection is real.
Easter Prayer:
Dear Lord, may I realize afresh today what Your death and Resurrection mean to me. Forgiveness, freedom, and the ability to walk with You through this fallen world into eternity. May I always find my satisfaction in You and Your willingness to offer Yourself to me, in Jesus’ name, amen.
