" Beyond Visiting an Empty Tomb "

 

On Easter Sunday, most Christians are excited about the news that “Christ has risen!”  Each of the 4 gospel stories reflects that someone or someones go to the tomb and finds Jesus “missing”—err, I mean “risen.” 

 

But not so fast!  The women, we’re told, go “prepared” to deal with Jesus’ dead body.  The others, at least to “see” if what they were told, was in fact true—at least suggesting that they hadn’t believed Jesus when he told them he would be raised.  And apparently, Jesus told followers he was going ahead of them to Galilee—where they would see him; except, none of the believers are discovered after the resurrection “going to Galilee” where they would SEE Jesus.  Apparently, it was “good enough” to simply *SEE* that Jesus was not dead. 

 

I think at least part of the message of Easter is that Jesus is not dead, but that he has been “loosed” in the world.  Which means we will not find him in the tomb.  In Luke’s gospel, “two men in dazzling clothes stood beside [the women] …the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”  On Easter, part of the message should be that we are encouraged to get out of Church, and look for Jesus alive in the world. 

 

 

At first, the stories of Easter are about Jesus “appearing” to followers, demonstrating his “aliveness.”  Jesus—on the road to Emmaus, Jesus breaking bread at supper, Jesus walking through closed and locked doors, Jesus eating a piece of fish.  These are the “low-hanging fruit” stories where a risen Jesus interacts with believers. 

 

But Easter has other resurrection stories, too. 

 

In Matthew’s gospel, in the earthquakes after Jesus’ death, tombs are opened and people witness those who had died, walking around Jerusalem.  Believers have also known and seen “resurrection”—Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and restoring a girl to life.  But as we come to the third Sunday of Easter this year, in this Sunday’s New Testament reading from the Book of Acts pushes our boundaries even further.  Peter suddenly pushes people out of the room, kneels and prays, and tells Tabitha to “get up.”  It’s a surprisingly similar story in Mark’s gospel where Jesus says, “Talitha cum,” which means “little one, get up.”

 

It seems that “Jesus being loosed in the world” means more than simply Jesus’ appearing to people so that they might *see* him.  Jesus being “loosed in the world” appears to mean that Jesus appears with, or even within, other people …so that people might *see* him, or *see* his ministry.  But it’s through a third party! 

 

This should mean, I think, that if we’re waiting for Jesus to *appear* to us in Eastertide, he might.  But it also means that Jesus expects to *appear* within us and what we do, when we do for others. 

 

Resurrections mark new beginnings.  We’re not just waiting for Jesus to “be alive” again; Jesus’ resurrection means he is being made alive in us and through us—maybe in astonishing and surprising ways.  For Peter, that suddenly means even doing some of the same things Jesus did! 

 

You see, Peter believed Jesus and believed IN Jesus.  Peter followed Jesus.  In Luke’s gospel, and in John’s gospel—Peter even runs to the tomb to *see* Jesus was not there.  Peter doesn’t always get things right.  And Peter—does the works of Jesus after Jesus’ resurrection.  It’s almost as if Peter has his own resurrection-like-thing—he doesn’t die, but he does appear “changed.” 

 

We believe Jesus, we believe IN Jesus.  We claim to *follow* Jesus—we even dare to “look in the tomb” in our own way.  We haven’t always gotten everything right, in faith, and yet we persist in trying to “follow him.”  I believe we, too, have “resurrection-like-moments!”  Perhaps even beyond what we might expect!  …If we are willing to “step up” or step into them! 

 

 

But *stepping up* might also involve “stepping-out” in boldly living into our faith out in the world.  In trusting the Holy Spirit, in walking with God, in accepting the challenges of the life and lifestyle of Jesus Christ.  Even raising the dead?  …Yes.  Jesus was raised.  We are raised.  Others are raised. 

 

Thanks be to God! 

 

 

So, what are you doing for others in your risen-ness? 

 

I hope it’s not just visiting an empty tomb.