Father, you raised your son by the spirit. Father, son, and Holy Spirit. The great drama has come to an end That’s. Lord Jesus, you are risen. Father, your plan is being fulfilled and Holy Spirit, you raised the Son to life. So Father, send your spirit now to us to speak to us, to lift Jesus High work among us and be present in your name. Amen.
There’s a song, uh, a spiritual that goes back before the American Civil War. Were you there when they crucified, my Lord. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they led him in the tomb? Our gospel talks about Mary and the other Mary. They were there. When others crucified their Lord, they were there when others nailed him to the tree.
They were there when others laid him in the tomb, and now they walk to that tomb under that shadow of death. 36 hours or so after the burial. Very early, they go, these grieving women. They had followed him all the way from Galilee, cared for his needs, listened to his teaching, and they make their way to the tomb.
Things could not be more dismal. A young life they had cherished had been cut off in its prime. Jesus, other followers are still in hiding. It’s semi dark and they’re grieving the loss of a loved one. And there is real cause for fear. What will happen to them? Are the religious leaders willing to manipulate?
If the religious leaders are willing to manipulate things to kill Jesus, someone public and popular, what could they do to them? Unknown followers. No wonder the doors are locked where the male disciples are living and the body is in a borrowed tomb. So they don’t know how they’ll get to the body because while they know where the tomb is, Matthew tells us a big stone has been rolled in front of the entrance.
Mark shares the question among the women who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb in Israel for a small grave. 20 men were needed to roll a stone down a hill to cover the door of the tomb. Matthew says it was a large stone. The women would be, women would be needing more people than even the full Roman squad of 16 soldiers who were there to do it.
How could they manage it? So these women were experiencing grief at the death of Jesus, fear of future violence and powerlessness due to the stone. They were in the shadow of death.
It was on this Easter morning. Where do shadows hang over us?
We’re gonna stand to sing the first verse and chorus of the Dutch version of there is redeemer. Shall we Stand?
See it again.
We talked about shadow and now about shock. These women. On Easter experience, something that will change their lives forever. Shock of their discovery. Look at what we’ve already heard. The stone have been rolled away. We know how, but they did not. And then they see an angel. The angel said, do not be afraid for, I know you are looking for Jesus, who is crucified.
Their worlds are changed forever. Now. Life and death will never be the same again. And the angel continued. He is not here. He has risen, just as he said, come and see the place where he lay. So Mary and Mary are given three shocks of increasing intensity, which not only surprise them, but also make them afraid.