Knox, Port Carling & Zion Torrance Presbyterian Pastoral Charge

Sunday April 12, 2020 ~ Easter Sunday

Message:

Reverend Glynis Faith

John 20:1-17 (NIV)

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and te]ll them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Being separated from loved ones can be a painful experience. Being separated by death, even more so. Yet even in death we hold onto our loved ones with new traditions (placing their framed photo under the Christmas tree or gathering the family to celebrate their birthday at their favorite restaurant each year) or simply visiting their burial site to feel close. Many people find it comforting to visit a loved one’s burial site, perhaps planting flowers and wiping down the headstone.

Mary Magdalene arrived to visit the burial place of Jesus and found the tomb had been opened. When she looked inside she found angels instead of Jesus. Her grief in losing Jesus is still raw. Only a few days ago she witnessed the unthinkable as the man she knew to be the embodiment of pure love was unjustly tried and convicted. She saw the Roman guards force Jesus to carry that wretched wooden cross up to that terrible place of death they called ‘the skull’. It was hard to see her Lord’s precious body so horribly beaten as He struggled under the weight of the heavy cross. It was even harder to listen to the insults of guards and the people that followed a procession to watch Jesus’ execution. It was unbearable to sit helplessly by as Jesus’ life slowly faded away. It was even harder to go home with the realization she would never see Jesus again.

So, like many of us continue to do today, Mary headed for the burial site of a loved one. Perhaps she would bring fresh cut flowers or even plant some, or maybe she would just sit close to the stone that sealed the tomb, telling Jesus how much she missed Him and how sorry she was that He had been treated so badly. It is possible that she simply wanted to sit by the tomb of Jesus and try to make some sense of it all. We can’t know exactly why she went. We can compare the accounts of the other Gospel writers and we can consider all the likely scenarios, but the only thing we know for sure from this Gospel writer is that Mary went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away, and Jesus’ body was gone.

Mary had already lost someone precious to her, and now, it appeared, she would have nowhere to go and feel close to Jesus again. . . . .

I think we can better understand Mary’s fear of separation in light of the separations we face today because of COVID-19. It is painful to watch the news these days; headlines filled with sad news stories. Lives lost to an invisible threat - the coronavirus. Even harder is the separation caused by this invisible threat and our need to protect others. Every day we read the stories of people who cannot physically be in the ICU to hold the hands of dying family members, distanced by the need to save others. When death comes, people are denied the physical gathering and sharing of grief, because gathering could put our family and friends at risk. Funerals are limited to small numbers (if at all) who must keep 2 meters apart. No hugs to comfort!

These stories bring tears to my eyes. The salty droplets have already begun to roll from the corner of my eyes as I write this message. It pains me to see others suffer.

I received an email from a friend recently asking for prayers. His mom had been rushed to hospital unresponsive. She had a bleed in her brain and the resulting swelling was serious. His dad’s natural desire was to be with his wife and hold her hand, but the coronavirus stands between this loving husband and his wife. I cannot imagine how tremendously painful it is for him and his family to be separated from their loved one, or for this woman who has no family present to stroke her hand and reassure her of how deeply she is loved. I trust each of you reading this message will join my prayer of healing for Velma and comfort for her family as they reach out to her through their prayers.

As we read the stories of people’s anguish in being separated from loved ones, we are better equipped to put ourselves in Mary’s sandals. Mary, like many people today, wants to seek comfort in being close to a loved one, yet when she arrives His body is gone – nothing left of Him.

It never occurred to Mary that Jesus has risen from the dead, why would it. Mary had seen the body of Jesus mangled by the beatings. She had watched them drive the stakes through His hands and His feet. She saw the spear pierce His side and witnessed His lifeless body being removed, wrapped and placed into the tomb.

No, Mary had no thoughts of Jesus coming back to her, she just wanted to know where His body had been placed so she could feel close to Jesus. Listen to her words in this story:

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

All Mary wants is to be close to Jesus, so she goes back to the tomb and looks again. She weeps. . . . .

There are far too many tears being shed in our world today. Even on this day of celebration, tears of separation and loss ring out.

But in Mary’s grief and tears Good News appears. Mary does not recognize Him at first, but as soon as she hears Jesus say her name her grief is replaced with joy. Jesus is alive and working in this world. Hallelujah, AMEN.

Hear the Good News my friends: Christ the Lord has risen and nothing – not even death – can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Mary did not recognize Jesus until she heard Him say her name, so I pray that each of you will take time to listen for Jesus today, let Him reveal Himself to you in your fears and concerns. As we all walk through COVID-19 together, let us listen for the voice of Jesus and let us follow His examples of kindness and goodness as we minister to one another.

Friends, continue to pray for one another and encourage one another, sharing the Good News message that Jesus has died, Jesus has risen and Jesus will come again to bring home all who love and follow Him.

Happy Easter,

Reverend Glynis Faith

Prayer:

Loving God, bless Your people with renewed hope and joy. Inspire us to bless others by sharing and living the Good News in our lives. Give us comfort through this time of social isolation, helping us find ways to reach out in love and kindness.

Jesus, thank you for the amazing gift of salvation you have given us through Your personal sacrifice. May we be mindful of the cost of our freedom, learning from You the blessing of giving our ourselves.

Holy Spirit, bring comfort across the world, showing us how to share comfort without human touch.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit we praise You.

In Christ’s Name we pray,

AMEN