Today we read Matthew’s version of the resurrection of Christ. Each gospel writer tells it slightly differently, which is really not surprising. Each of the four gospels were written well after the fact, and the stories are based on accounts from those who were there when Jesus lived, or had heard the stories of Jesus from others who were with him. Matthew’s gospel “dates from the last decade of the first century to the early second century.” [1] And it’s based very much on Mark’s gospel, along with other unidentified sources.[2] Aside from the different details in each of the gospellers’ renditions, the basic story is really well known to regular church goers. So much so, that I sometimes think it’s become almost ho-hum, kind of taken for granted. Yeah, we know, Jesus rose from the dead. We celebrate each year; say it every time we say the Creed. So, I wonder, how much impact does the resurrection story really make on us anymore? Honestly, I wonder if an Easter egg hunt or having the family home for Easter dinner might raise more excitement. The Easter story is such an integral part of our thinking, that much of the amazing-ness of the whole idea is lost in our familiarity with it. It’s important to refresh within ourselves just how amazing the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is. The Son of God came to earth to walk among humanity, as a fellow human being to bring us back to our Creator, to show us God’s intent and way for us to live with and for each other. The ways Jesus taught threatened the lifestyles and privileges of the people in power, and so he was put to death by the state as a political enemy. However, the good news of the Easter story -- the goodness and love and power of God overcomes the worst kind of evil. God cannot be done away with, as much as humanity might try! Evil does not win, even though sometimes when we’re in the middle of it, it may well feel like it. Yet, God is supreme. The resurrection of Jesus Christ tells us precisely that. Death does not win, because in death is new life, a different life to be sure, a life in God and with God. So, let’s go back to Matthew’s resurrection story, he tells it with a real dramatic flair --as if the resurrection of the Son of God isn’t dramatic enough on its own! Let’s see if we can get a sense of the experience that the two Marys may have felt. As I re-tell it, try and imagine the story in your mind’s eye, and hear it with new ears, as it were. It’s Sunday morning and Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, likely the mother of James as Mark’s gospel tells us, they are going to see the tomb where their beloved Jesus was laid -- much like we would go to the cemetery to visit a loved one who had just died. The women find the grave and as they’re standing there in all their pain and grief, the earth begins to shake, rocks and boulders are moving. Imagine how incredibly frightening it must be to feel the earth shifting beneath your feet! Earthquakes for ancient people signified the presence of God. Wow, God is here, in this place. The boulders, the gravel and earth have barely settled down, and suddenly out of nowhere, a blinding flash of intense lightening with an ear splitting crack of thunder and O.M.G. -- there’s an angel dressed in brilliant white—right in front of the tomb. Eyes wide, Mary Magdelene stands stock still, the other Mary starts shaking. But those guards Pilate posted—you know the ones that the chief priests and Pharisees insisted be put at the tomb’ s entrance to make sure Jesus body wasn’t stolen? Well, you should have seen the looks on their faces! Those big burly soldiers look absolutely terrified, they actually faint dead away with fear. The angel calmly walks over to that great big stone in front of Jesus’ tomb, and just pushes it aside, as though it was no heavier than a marble! And then he just sits down on the stone, cool as a cucumber, like he was sitting down at the kitchen table waiting for the coffee to brew. He reassures the frightened women; “It’s okay, you don’t need to be afraid. I know you’re here to see the grave, and I understand your grief, but look inside and see, Jesus isn’t here, he really has been raised. Come and see.” Incredulous, the women look at each other; grab each other’s hands for support; they’re afraid, astonished, astounded, amazed with the angel’s news! They’re in emotional overload – they just came to the grave to grieve Jesus’ death, then an earthquake, next an angel of God appears out of lightening telling them Jesus is not dead. Waves of relief and at the same time unbelief break over them, pushing aside their fear and grief—Jesus can’t really be alive, can he? The look in, and yes the tomb was empty, just as the angel said. But where is Jesus then? How can this be? We saw him crucified, we saw him die! The man we loved with all our hearts, and watched as he died on that horrid cross, he’s really alive? The angel starts talking to the women again. ‘Now, quickly, go tell the other disciples that Jesus is raised from the dead. He is on the way to Galilee and you will see him there.’ So much to take in, so much to process. All those emotions tumbling over them. Could this really be? “So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” With fear and great joy. What a great summation of their feelings. They have just experienced the awesome power of God in the earthquake and the angel and in the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus lives! With fear and great joy they run from the tomb to Galliee. Imagine, two fully grown women running down the road! There is a sense of urgency about their mission—people need to know what’s happened, this is unbelievable, amazing news! Jesus has risen from the dead! Incredible! And we have to tell the others! “Suddenly Jesus met them and said “Greetings!” (vs. 9) Greetings. A strange sounding word to our 21st century ears. “Greetings”: it’s simply a direct English translation from the standard Greek word of greeting for the time. The word means more than just ‘Hello’ or ‘Hi there’; it implies a greeting with rejoicing.[3] Jesus is rejoiced, he’s delighted to meet up with them too! And the two Marys fall at Jesus feet in worship. He really is alive! He is right here. And Jesus tells them just what the angel told them: “Don’t be afraid; go tell the others I’ll meet them in Galilee.” Do not be afraid. Jesus understands their fear, and he provides them words of encouragement and care. Don’t be afraid—365 times we hear that phrase in the bible. God’s presence is awesome and sometimes a bit overwhelming, and so can be frightening for us, but we do not need to be afraid in God’s presence. Because God in Christ is delighted to be with us too. God wants nothing more than to be with us, in Christ, with Christ, through Christ. It was along the way to Galilee that Jesus found the women, they were en-route; they hadn’t even had the chance to complete the mission the angel had given them, and Jesus just shows up, out of the blue! Isn’t that just the way, sometimes? When we’re in situations that we’re not sure why God has put us into, or busy single-mindedly pursuing a mission, or so overwhelmed with emotions that we can’t even think straight or unsure if we can even handle the job we’re asked to do, unexpectedly Jesus finds us, and greets us, and says it’s ok, don’t be afraid, I am with you. We can do what God is calling us to do, we are not alone, Jesus is with us. Even death cannot stop our God. Jesus is alive! We are an Easter people, a resurrection people, it is our foundation, our faith, our hope and our trust, that through thick and thin, Jesus is always with us. Death does not win, evil does not win. In Christ is life, new life always and forever. You need not be afraid, death is conquered, evil does not win, because Christ lives, and is with us, in all of our fearful and challenging times. Christ is risen, the Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
[1] The New Oxford Annotated Bible (Oxford University Press: Oxford/New York, 2001) 7 New Testament
[2] Ibid
[3] Richard S. Dietrich in Feasting on the Word, Exegetical Perspective for Matthew 28. 1-10, Year A Vol. 2, p. 351