Today’s Scripture

Psalm 118:15-29         Exodus 14:10-31         Mark 16:1-8

 

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

            He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

 

            The women going to the tomb early on that Sunday morning were expecting to anoint Jesus’ body.  At least two of them had watched Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus place Jesus’ body there Friday afternoon, just before sunset.  They were bringing these spices as an act of devotion and love for Jesus.  They expected to see the tomb as they had left it, with a large stone rolled across the entrance.  They were expecting to find someone who would roll that stone so they could anoint Jesus’ body.  They were expecting to find things just as they had left the scene Friday.

 

            The women were not expecting to find the stone rolled away.  The women were not expecting to find Jesus’ body gone.  The women were not expecting to find an angel appearing as a young man dressed in white sitting at the right side.  The women were not expecting to hear the words, “He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him.”  The women did not expect anyone to believe them if they told what they had seen.  The women were afraid just as we would expect anyone else to be who stumbles on something as unexpected as this.

 

            When you go to visit the grave of a loved one, sometimes you take flowers out of love and devotion to that person.  When you go to visit the grave of a loved one, you expect to find things as you had last seen them.  When you go to visit the grave of a loved one, you too would be distressed to find something different than what you expect. 

 

            We read and remember the accounts of the resurrection with joy.  We enjoy recalling how these faithful women were going back to pay their respects to Jesus as they were going.  We enjoy the beautiful vision of this occurring at sunrise with its colorful hues. We enjoy the ambience of the gentle air, the birds beginning to chirp, and the freshness of that time of a spring day.  We enjoy the scene of the angel(s) at the tomb.  We enjoy the confusion and being afraid and the hurrying back that these women displayed.  As we have learned this account from infancy, remember the Sunday School discussions, the church and family traditions that warm our hearts, and the different visions we hold in our memories, Easter is a happy, a joyous, and a very warm day for all of us.  That is because we know what to expect.

 

            That is what faith is, knowing what to expect.  That is what this service is all about this morning, knowing what to expect.  That is what the different adornments in the church are all about, knowing what to expect. 

 

            The Paschal Candle in the center of the church tells us that death is defeated.  Paschal means Passover and to the world it now means Easter when death was passed over by Jesus.  Now he causes it to pass over us.  He has told us that those who believe in him have crossed over from death to life [John 5:24]. 

 

            The beautiful flowers members have so generously given remind us of new life that comes each spring.  That helps remind us of the new life we have in Jesus Christ.  The cross is draped in white reminding us that it is no longer a symbol of a dreadful death, but is the tool Jesus used to bring us from death to life in the forgiveness of sins purchased on that cross.  The white paraments and banners tell us to expect to receive Jesus’ righteousness and purity on the day of judgment.  The gold stole that I wear tells us to expect the richness of God’s graces for all eternity given in Jesus.  The account of the resurrection tells us to expect to see Jesus in all of his heavenly splendor to come at the last day when he sends angels to break our tombs open and take us to be with him eternally in the clouds of heaven.

 

            The unexpected.  The world does not expect this because it does not know him.  Those who have heard this word do expect this.  Those we tell this wonderful truth to will, through hearing the word of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, come to that same faith in this unexpected that you hold too.

 

            The unexpected?  It is no longer.  We know what to expect.  That is because:

 

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

            He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!