top of page
Search
  • Writer's picturetlcsparta

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Easter 2020

Mark 16.1-8


When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 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." 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.


Imagine listening to this end of the gospel of Mark if we didn’t know the whole story about this Jesus.

“So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”


You know, we hear the end of the gospel of Mark,

and if we didn’t know of what happened before this;

of how Jesus was the Son of God,

of how he traveled and taught and healed

and raised the dead and and cast out demons

and spoke of the kingdom of God;

and of how it has come near;

And that he had said, not just once, but many times,

that this was exactly the way things would happen;

We might feel that we are hearing a story

with no happy ending.

If we didn’t know about this Jesus,

we might assume that this is just another story

about just another teacher and radical meeting a bad end. And we might take the women’s reaction

as one of anguish and fear instead of amazement.

If we didn’t know that this Jesus has risen from the dead, and that He has defeated death and sin and darkness; once-and-for-ALL, we might despair,

instead of having faith and hope.

Despair is a terrible thing. It takes our breath away.

And worse, despair, as a friend of mine has said,

is a great lie;

in that is assumes it knows the future and ending of things.


And for us, starting the stories of our lives,

being right in the middle of them, or nearing the end, despair would tell us—what’s the use, there’s no hope;

no hope for a better day tomorrow,

no hope for an end to all we are going through right now, this virus is going to keep on going,

we are never going to make it through all of this.

That is despair.


Yesterday, a number of my colleagues were talking about what this Easter means, why it matters that Jesus is risen and alive. And here are some powerful words that were shared:

Resurrection is hope through that despair.

The one time you thought

the end is already laid before you,

all expectations of despair are left broken to a new future.

Easter reveals the fragility of despair.


Despair appears certain.

It looks strong, as certain as death.

But Easter proves it a lie.


Yes, we are in the midst of a terrible time.

People are sick and hurting and scared.

But Jesus was raised from the dead. The tomb is empty, because death could not hold Jesus down.

And we are told that Jesus is out there, ahead of us,

and we will see him.


Elizabeth Johnson says this: Mark’s story has given us every reason to believe that what Jesus promises will take place, because his word has already been fulfilled in many important ways. He suffered and died and was raised, just as he foretold. Judas betrayed him, the other disciples scattered, and Peter denied him three times, just as Jesus said would happen. There is every reason to believe that the rest of Jesus’ promises will also be fulfilled:

Jesus will meet his disciples in Galilee, and the good news will be proclaimed.


Myself, I have always liked the way Mark tells the Easter story. I find great hope in knowing that Jesus is loose in the world and that I can expect to see him; yes, face to face one day, but for now, all around me;


In the ways in which we hurt and suffer, Jesus is there.


In the ways we love each other; our families, friends; Jesus is there.


In the way people in the medical field

are caring for all who are sick, Jesus is there.


In the way, so many people are sacrificing so that we can make it through all of us, Jesus is there.


In the way that we stay at home,

not so much that we don’t get sick,

but that those around us, our neighbors and friends

and family and strangers, don’t get sick,

Jesus is there.


In all of you as we gather as his body, the body of Christ,

The living, resurrected, Jesus on the loose in the world,

is there!


Dear friends, we hold on,

we keep living and loving and serving,

because we have Jesus right here with us.

Jesus, the living and resurrected Lord of all life is-with-you!


Another dear friend, Melissa Johnson-Bills, puts it this way: (a paraphrase)


Jesus’ resurrection didn’t happen as a grand celebration in the midst of big crowds. He emerged from the tomb mostly alone . . .

Jesus arose, even when we didn’t have front-row seats for the event. Jesus is raised and I will proclaim it inside a nearly-empty sanctuary, and I will channel the women in the gospel, and have every confidence that even one voice shouting “Alleluia” is enough for this news of hope to spread throughout the congregation, the community, and the world.


Jesus doesn’t need us to help him rise.

He just needs us to proclaim the good news.


So, dear Trinity: “Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!



32 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page