EASTER SUNDAY

Jesus Has Risen

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Easter Day has finally arrived, and we can celebrate because we know the ending and what it means for us and the world. The day is filled with expectation and the possibility of new beginnings as we seek to be released from the vestiges of our old self.

But for those living at the time, those who didn’t have the luxury of knowing the end, the start of the day would more likely be filled with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty than joy. As the women arrive at the tomb, they clearly weren’t expecting to find it empty. They were probably still suffering from the trauma of the Crucifixion and were exhausted and grief – stricken. How painful after having been through all that to then find the tomb was empty and fear it had been robbed.

Luke tells us two men in clothes that gleamed like lightening stood beside them and the women were frightened. They must have been terrified and confused at what was happening. These two men were angels who told the women Jesus had Risen. They reminded the women of what Jesus had said in Galilee.

Yes, Jesus had told the disciples he would rise again but as Tom Wright suggests ‘it wasn’t just a lack of faith that had stopped them understanding what Jesus had said in Galilee… It was simply that nobody had ever dreamed that one single living person would be killed stone dead and then raised to a new sort of bodily life the other side of the grave, while the rest of the world carried on as before’.

Luke’s account contains two elements that give it credibility, which still holds true today. Firstly, if he (and the other Gospel authors) were just spinning a good yarn they wouldn’t have chosen the most life changing and miraculous event of all time to have been witnessed and validated by women, as at the time they weren’t considered to be credible witnesses. Luke in fact says as much (24:11) The apostles thought the women were talking nonsense and didn’t believe them. Secondly, the fact the apostles didn’t immediately believe what had been said also adds a layer of credibility, if the intention had been to dupe mankind, Luke wouldn’t have those primed to lead the future of the Church questioning the very event forming a central tenet of faith upon which its future rests.

In his sermon at Canterbury Cathedral for Easter Day 2023, Archbishop Justin speaks of the enduring meaning of the resurrection. ‘The resurrection means the things of God are eternal. The silent prayers of someone’s life; unseen generosity; self-sacrifices made. They’re not just actions that improve the world. They are actions that have eternal consequences. And everything that is against God is sure to die. Injustice and brutality may seem to triumph, cruelty and oppression look as though they get stronger, yet they will vanish. We know with certainty that policies that cause pain and suffering will fall away because they have no eternal foundation. Because the tomb is empty, our hearts are full. The full resurrection of the body means this isn’t just for one bit of our lives. Nothing is outside the power of God. And that means eternal life, eternal hope, eternal joy because Christ is risen.’

1. What does the Resurrection mean to you?

2. What do the words ‘And that means eternal life, eternal hope, eternal joy because Christ is risen’ mean to you today?

3. Is there anything you wish to be released from this Easter day?

4. How do you seek to move forward from today in a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus?

Risen Lord Jesus,

as Mary Magdalene met you in the garden

on the morning of your resurrection,

so may we meet you today and every day:

speak to us as you spoke to her;

reveal yourself as the living Lord;

renew our hope and kindle our joy;

and send us to share the good news with others.

(From Easter Day Eucharist Service)