“Resurrection, Peterhouse chapel” Stained glass in Peterhouse college chapel, Cambridge. The windows form a chronological sequence of Biblical scenes beginning from the north west. This is the sixth window depicting Jesus’ resurrection. Photo by Steve Day; flickr
Meditation
Easter Sunday celebrates what is unique about Christianity. No other faith or religion had its God live on earth, die and rise again. It is resurrection that distinguishes us. Our God became human, sacrificed himself and endured the worst kind of treatment, was dead and buried.
But Christ’s followers had misunderstood every step of the way. Judas had expected a king on an earthly throne, wielding power. The other disciples followed, trusting that Jesus knew what was best, even though they were bewildered by the events.
The Old Testament lesson in Jeremiah prophesied there would come a time when Israel would be reunited—all the tribes together again, and God would be the Lord of them all. Time for celebration. Like the Psalmist said, “Let us rejoice and be glad.” Especially, since the Psalmist foretold that the ‘stone’ rejected by the builders would become the ‘cornerstone.’
I love old architecture. A cornerstone was the first stone the builders laid as a reference and then they measured all other alignments from that stone. It was the most perfect stone. Cornerstones are sometimes carved and celebrate the owner or designer. Christ was rejected by many of the Jewish leaders—just as builders would reject a stone; and then Jesus became the source and reference point for everything in our faith. Hence we are called ‘Christians’ for our source is Christ.
The New Testament epistle celebrates our being new creations in Christ. But the Gospel lessons in Matthew and John bring the celebration to the encounter and surprise level. After the shock of Jesus’ death on Friday, followed by the Sabbath worship on Saturday, the women rose early Sunday morning to take spices and dress the body of Christ.
Mary Magdalene—a woman, whose life had been transformed from ownership and prostitution to freedom in Christ—along with the other Mary (the one who washed Jesus feet with her hair and expensive perfume) and went to the tomb with spices.
The two versions show different things—Matthew started with an earthquake and showed the encounter with the angel, which so terrified the guards, that they were frozen like they were dead—a deer in the headlight moment—and the angel spoke to them saying the traditional speech of an angel, “Don’t be afraid.” Obviously, seeing a great warrior, shining like the brightness of lightning, maybe even being charged with electricity when he moved stunned the women, too. Of course, they would have been terrified. Maybe frozen or maybe shaking. The angel’s first words. “Don’t be afraid.” And then he explained that Jesus wasn’t there and they were to go tell the others.
The women run to the disciples and relay the information, and the men must see for themselves. John outran Peter but stopped at the entrance to the tomb. Peter charged straight in and saw the strips of cloth to wrap bodies for burial. John followed but they both still didn’t get it, so they retreat to their homes.
Mary remained, bewildered and devastated. She came with a mission. The disciples didn’t understand resurrection. Neither did Mary. But her love was so intense, the sorrow so magnified that she lingered, hoping to make sense.
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