April 24th - Reflection

Resurrection of Our Lord
Matthew 28:1-10 (NRSV)

Proclaim the resurrection After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Reflection
The fantastic event of the appearance of an angel descending from heaven and rolling the tomb stone away to take a seat upon it was followed by a subtle, but greatest, miracle of all times...the tomb was empty! How did Jesus get out?

I recall studying Luther's sermon on this passage or a similar one. Luther proclaimed that at some point Jesus passed through the stone. Meaning that at a certain moment in time both Jesus and the stone occupied the same physical space. Likewise, later in time Jesus would visit the disciples in a closed room. Did Jesus and the door occupy the same space at this time too?

This thinking opens up another realm of looking at creation and God. It even opens up some possibilities of thinking about other words in the Bible. For instance...the wine and the blood... the bread and the body... I am in you as you are in me... But all of this seems to be just some fantastic explanations to awesome events. God also gives us the faith we need to believe. There is ample reason to believe in the risen Savior even without thinking about those possibilities where God has entered through space and time.

The angel's appearance was fantastic. But Jesus' appearance was subtle. The women ran and they met Jesus. And Jesus says "Greetings!" No big event. No meld of earthly and divine. No choirs singing. Just a human hi!

Jesus always seems to flip things around. Just when you are getting really worked up about it all, he is nonchalant about it all. Hey! Howdy-do! Greetings! This was no big deal. All part of the plan. I told you guys about this after all. Didn't you expect this?

Take off and tell all, because all need to know what has happened. Salvation has come! God is here. God is out of the tomb and alive and well and leading the disciples. New life is present and among us.

Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Prayer
Out of death, sorrow, pain, grief, suffering, evil intentions, painful beatings, hurting words, stinging actions, Lord you rise to new life. No biggie! But huge to me and all my family and friends. Huge, because most if not all of those painful words above, we have inflicted upon you in one way or another. But you shrug it off and love still the same. I love you Lord Jesus. I run to bow at your feet and show my love to you. For you have risen in spite of me. You have risen because of me. You have risen for me and I am always yours. I love you Lord Jesus! --- Amen