In many ways I do not consider myself to be either special or different from any other human, and yet each of us in our own way is indeed very special in the eyes of our Creator. This is Easter Sunday and we have gathered together this morning to celebrate the depth of the commitment and love of both Jesus and God. Jesus was willing to teach all of humanity how to rediscover the true depth of the relationships between God and creation. He came here to help us find our way back into a closer relationship with our Creator. He was willing to offer himself as a model of how we should be willing to extend ourselves for our brothers and sisters in this world. And for many of us, last week was a chance for us to remember that Jesus was also willing to sacrifice himself in order for us to have a closer and deeper relationship with God, and so he was crucified and buried. But death was not to have the last word.
In this morning’s reading from the Gospel of John [20:1-18] we once again have heard the story of the discovery of the empty tomb, the foot race between two disciples to the empty tomb, and then Mary’s personal encounter with two angles and then the resurrected Jesus.
I can only imagine how I would react if I were to go to the grave site of a close friend or a relative, and discover that it was not only open but that it was empty. I’m certain that my first impression would be that either some nasty grave robber had dared to disturb this site; or that for some reason an official required that the body be exhumed for a medical examination. And I can not even imagine how I would respond if missing dead individual in question was to then come up to me and ask, “Why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”[1]
By the way, the fact that Mary did not at first recognize Jesus is not surprising to me. I have in the past walked right by people that I’ve been trying to find. It’s easy when they are not where you expected to find them, or dressed in the manner that you last saw them.
But when Jesus called to Mary by name … her eyes were opened, and she could see the real Jesus standing before her. What joy must have filled her heart; Jesus was alive! She must have wanted to embrace him because he had to tell her not to hold him … he had to go his Father … our Father … he had to go to God. But he asked Mary to tell his disciples, “I have seen the Lord”![2]
The message of the resurrection of Jesus was first brought to his disciples by word of mouth. Mary was the first to see the resurrected Jesus, and then she shared with the disciples. The disciples believed her and shared the message of the resurrection of Jesus with others. This passing of the witness of the resurrection of Jesus continues even unto this day.
Most of us here today have in one way or another experienced the personal and powerful presence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit within our lives. But for most of us, our first knowledge of the resurrection event was through the word of mouth; someone told us about the resurrection. Our’s is not a personal and private faith; rather we are called to give witness to the presence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We are called to give testimony to the vilidity of the teachings of Jesus. We are called to share with all whom we meet that our lives have been affected by the teachings and the presence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. But it is our choice … God has always given us the choice to respond with love and compation … or to turn our backs upon the teachings of Jesus.
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