On Easter morning, we find Mary at the tomb, weeping. “Why are you crying?” she is asked. I suspect many of us know, know in our bones this pain, this grief. Easter is the story not just of Jesus rising up, but of Mary too. Mary goes to tell good news from the graveyard. Mary is sent so the world may know, hope is never finally dead.
Category Archives: Resurrection
Pride and Sacrifice
That is the other key difference in the stories. When Jesus died, the human authorities thought they had won, but they didn’t have the last word. God had the last word. The resurrection is a witness to the power of God’s love even over the machinations of death. Even when the world is loveless, even when the world would sacrifice some of our siblings, God will conquer. God will have the last word. As people who follow the loving, liberating, life giving God, it is our work to take the knives out of the hands of those who think they are enacting justice. And God takes pride when we keep on marching.
Easter is More than Survival
At Easter, we don’t proclaim that Jesus survived. The distinction is important. Because every time we proclaim Alleluia Christ is Risen!, we defiantly announce a joyful and frightening message. God has undone the sinful powers that estrange us from one another. God has come back to untie us from our death-dealing ways.
Lazarus will Rise
As Christians, we carry our dead with us. As Christians we believe the strangest, most unlikely truth. We believe them bones, them bones are gonna dance around. We believe Lazarus will rise.
Mike Angell 