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| Holy Women at Christ's Tomb by Annibale Carraci, 1590 |
Pastor Tom Johnson, April 9, 2023
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb with great fear. Just a few days earlier, they saw Jesus publicly and brutally executed by Roman soldiers. It’s a courageous thing they do—to overcome their fear and go to the tomb guarded by Roman soldiers. Their only protection is to go under the cover of darkness. An earthquake adds to their fear along the way. They do not know it yet, but the earthquake is from an angel rolling away the stone from the mouth of the tomb. When they arrive, they likely expected to see the shadowy outline of Roman soldiers. Instead, they find an angel whose appearance is like lightning—bright enough to burn their retinas. Another thing to add to their fear.
The women find the Roman soldiers who were supposed to be guarding the tomb flattened on the ground by the angel and the fear that paralyzed them. The angel greets the women. “Do not be afraid. I know 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.” The angel’s charge is also frightening. “Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead…he is going ahead of you to Galilee.’” Why doesn’t the angel send the message himself? He does a spectacular job of getting people’s attention.
God calls these frightened women to a frightening mission: to tell a group of men who easily dismiss news from women. Luke’s Gospel said that they considered their message to be an idle tale and didn’t believe them (Lk 24:11). Public speaking is frightening enough. Even though the women suspect the men will think their message is a lie and a delusional story, they go as the angel commands. They obey and go quickly. They go with fear. They run with great joy.
Not long ago, I discovered the emotion wheel. It’s a chart that helps identify primary emotions. It has helps people express how they are feeling. I guess I should have known, but it surprised me that it’s normal to feel more than one emotion at a time—even emotions that seem to be contradictory—like fear and joy. There it is in Scripture: As Mary and Mary run to preach the Easter message, they are filled with fear and great joy.
What is it in this moment that fills you with fear? What are your worries, anxieties, and fears? What traumatic memories haunt you? What horrific sight did you see like the crucifixion the women saw just days before? What abuse of power or miscarriage of justice have you witnessed like the women witnessed? What deafening thunder and earthquake shakes the ground out from underneath you? Is there the loss of a loved one weighing heavy upon you as the women who who grieved the loss of Jesus?
Go with the women into the graveyard. Take your sorrows and fears to the tomb of Jesus. Cast all your cares upon him, because he cares for you. We will not find more death there. We will find that the tomb is empty—not to let Jesus out—but to let us in. It is there God will surprise us with his angelic message of hope. The resurrection meets us in our fears today as it did for these two dear women—Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Some of our fears are unrealized. Some of our fears are taken away. The resurrection may even introduce new fears. But all of our fears are met with the same great joy as the women. In the midst of all the sorrow, anxiety, and dread it is God’s will and delight that we experience even greater joy. There will always be things that will compete with our joy.
Here we are this Easter morning with various fears threatening to sour our joy. But did you notice the intensifier? It’s not on fear but on joy—great joy. “Greater is he who is within you than he who is in the world.” Greater the joy in your heart than the fear that infects the world! God knocked a few Roman soldiers down with the mere appearance of an angel. That’s to remind us that God is not only all powerful but also has a sense of humor. So the resurrected Christ dealt a death blow to evil, sin, and even death itself.
The angel promises the women that Jesus will go ahead of them. They run with fear and great joy. They meet the resurrected Christ along the way. So Jesus goes ahead of us, behind us, and beside us. So we meet Jesus along the way. We find the resurrected Christ among his people, in his Word, Baptism, and Holy Communion. Jesus says one word to the women: “Greetings!” which is based on the Greek word rejoice! Joy-filled Jesus playfully and joyfully greets them. Their fear melts into reverential awe and profound joy. They fall at his feet and worship. Jesus sends them and us off with the same charge: Tell others the good news that he is risen!
Lo, Jesus meets you, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets you, scatters fear and gloom;
Let his church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing,
For the Lord now lives; death has lost its sting!
Yours is the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory, You over death have won!
(“Thine is the Glory” LBW 145, v. 2)
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
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