Alleluia! It is Easter morning! A day for which we have all risen early to be here – regardless of the chilly weather, make that freezing weather– to see the sun break forth in its eternal and unconquerable beauty and mystery – rising from the water and then spilling its light of hope across the waves and upon each of us gathered here. But our efforts – though we will not underestimate the significance of our getting up early, in the darkness, out of our warm beds, our efforts actually began days ago or possibly weeks ago as we made plans for this Easter weekend.
Some of you, I know, have traveled home from college, others have come from homes at a distance to be together with family and friends. But what was it? What was it that first instigated those plans? Yes, we knew there will be Easter hams, legs of lamb and other delicacies to grace our tables, and the wonderful traditions of egg-hunts and visits from the Easter bunny. But I would like to suggest that those are merely the trimmings, the hands-on touchable ways we celebrate Easter. Unlike the story, the story of the life of a man called Jesus from a town called Nazareth - who lived and died and rose again – his story – one filled with mystery and wonder that also draws us here this day.
So let us look to our scripture lesson for today that Michael Lepoutre read for us. This telling from the gospel of John brings us the personal experience of Mary Magdalene at Jesus’ tomb. The recent past and the publishing world have taken great liberty with Mary Magdalene – reading between the lines of her story and speculating much about her – was she the wife of Jesus? Or a repentant prostitute - as portrayed in Jesus Christ Superstar who is remembered for washing Jesus’ feet with her tears.
The news media, the literary world, and the broadway stage are good at weaving stories and expanding upon unresolved possibilities, but according to scripture, Mary Magdalene was none of these. What we do know is that she was a woman from Magdala, a town known for its vice and violence, and one of seven Mary’s mentioned numerous times in the New Testament. She was also a woman whom Jesus healed, and one who became a faithful and trusted follower.
Now to the actual story. You should know the context in which we find today’s lesson. Just before our lesson begins it is reported that earlier in the morning Mary had come to the empty tomb – while it was still dark. (Some of us can relate to that time of day) Seeing that the stone had been removed from the tomb entrance – she ran and went directly to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved (whom we presume was John), telling them "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where to find him."
Through her actions we can see that Mary was very close to the disciples, very close and very trusted. For as soon as Simon Peter, their leader, and the other disciple heard her report, even though it was a dangerous time for them to be out in public, they ran without hesitation - to the tomb.
The disciples entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there that had been used to wrap Jesus’ body. It is reported that the "other disciple saw and believed". And then, they returned to where they were staying. What the other disciple believed, we are not sure. For he simply could have believed that Jesus’ body had been stolen. The concept of resurrection was not yet understood in any fashion.
Let’s see what we know so far. One faithful woman went to the tomb, and seeing it empty reported the only logical explanation that could have been made. That someone had taken Jesus’ body out of the tomb, and they did not know where to find it. So far, there were no other categories through which to understand the empty tomb. Mary’s confusion reflects that of her world, who had no explanation – until they began to encounter the risen Christ. Grave robbing is the only possible explanation for the pre-resurrection world.
Now for the rest of the story. We have Mary weeping at the entrance to the tomb. Not only has the Lord, the one who healed her and gave her hope, been crucified and died, but now insult has been added to the violence of h is death by a seeming abduction. But note, as she wept, Mary bent over to look into the tomb, and there she saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus body had been lying, and they spoke to her. "Woman why are you weeping? And she tells them that which she understands. "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."
In her despair, she turns to leave, and sees a man standing. The man repeats the same question, "Woman why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" And supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
Here we meet the most powerful moment of the story, when Mary becomes the first in John’s gospel to encounter the risen Christ. Even Jesus’ questions to her cannot penetrate her grief or confusion. Her world is being determined by the seemingly harsh reality of the empty tomb. And as she asks for help, still with the assumption that the resolution of all this lies within her control. "Tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away".
And then the "gardener" moves beyond the expected and beyond all logic and calls her by name. And in that moment, Mary’s world changes and in that moment our world, as people of faith, was changed.
Now you may wonder how it could have been that Mary did not recognize Jesus – her beloved Lord. But look at the wording, "and turning, Mary "supposed" him to be the gardener. How many things do we "suppose" in our lives – which in fact limit our possibilities – at least to our understanding of different events? Our minds, our logic, and our suppositions are limiting factors to us as God’s children who walk this earth.
Let me tell you a story, a true story. Many years ago, First Congregational Church of Greenwich had a pastor whose name was Duke Potter. Some of you may remember him. I do not. But I have been told this story about him during my time here that has stayed with me. Rev. Potter loved First Church and had many friends. One day, while he was at the church, he got the news that a very close friend had just been killed in an automobile accident. The news was a terrible blow, and soon he left his office and went home. Later that afternoon, it turned out that the report that reached the church was in fact mistaken. Duke’s friend had not been killed. In fact he came by the church to see his friend.
Upon learning of the mistake, he rushed over to the Potter’s home to tell him he was all right. He knocked on the door, and waited. No one answered. He knocked again, the second time a little more persistently, and after some moments, Rev. Potter came to the door. Opening the door he looked his friend in the face and asked what he could do for him? He also asked that he excuse his delay in answering the door, for he had just heard the news that a dear friend had died. And it was not until that friend not only looked him in the face but called him by name, saying "Duke. It’s me. There has been a terrible mistake." That Duke Potter could see his friend, could comprehend that this was his friend alive and well. There is great power in our suppositions and significant limitations.
As Jesus spoke to Mary, the intimate and the cosmic came together. Her logic was broken open. There was both intimacy with her beloved Lord, and the reality of resurrection breaking into human time to be believed and trusted for all time. Death in all its aspects was no longer the final word. Also in that moment the cross, that symbol of violence and death was transformed.
As we look at the cross today – we see it standing boldly pointing upward from our beach, – just as the little tree did on its hillside. We see the empty cross right here in front of us declaring as well that death was and is not the final word. We see the cross now as a symbol of the power of God’s love beyond our understanding and beyond our logic.
The good news of Easter morning is impossible to comprehend. With that in mind, the role Mary Magdalene plays takes on even greater significance. As she listened to the voice of the gardener, and heard her name spoken, her perspective began to take on a new understanding. Like the cross, the empty tomb no longer portended death. It began to be a testimony to the power and possibilities of life beyond life, and of life in which the shepherd calls his own sheep by name. As John put it earlier in his gospel, "The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And the sheep follow because they know his voice." The post-resurrection Christ was and is – if we would but dare open our hearts and minds – the one who still knows us personally, and who breaks through all boundaries to lead us on.
The impossible, the most unlikely, that breaks through logic and human understanding, that was Jesus way. His teachings were revolutionary – so was his choice of one to go to the disciples with the news of Easter morning. He entrusted his message to one of the least of these – a woman, who had been broken, and then healed, and who because of her faith dared do as Jesus’ asked. And she went and witnessed as he asked. The story began with her. It is offered to us today.
Where does that story find you today? Facing hardship in a difficult relationship? Facing a bad medical prognosis? Worried about job security? Worried about the constant warring of nations – or the increasing warming of the earth? Or are you perhaps amazed at the blessings that have come your way – seemingly deserved – or undeserved? Wherever it is we find ourselves the news that God is with us, with each of us no matter how deserving or undeserving can be life-sustaining. And wherever it is or will be that life seems cruel, unjust, or hopeless – for those places, too, the news of this morning is given to us.
Mary Magdalene was a woman of amazing faith – to be willing to do Jesus’ bidding – even coming face to face with the disbelief of the disciples. Maybe you have amazing faith. As "would be" faithful people on this Easter morning, let us also remember that the disciples had a hard time when they first heard the news. They saw Mary Magdalene as a woman in shock, maybe even as one who out of her grief was losing her mind. The disciple Thomas refused to believe even when Jesus appeared to him – until Jesus insisted that he put his hands into Jesus wounds to find out for himself. Peter denied Jesus three times, but then turned back and was there when Jesus reappeared. Judas betrayed him – with the hope of Jesus proving himself before the Sanhedrin – the sadness for Judas was that he couldn’t forgive himself.
The good news of Easter morning was hard to swallow at first, hard to comprehend, hard not to run away from - God knew that. There was and is no shame in not understanding. There was and is no shame in doubting. There was and is no shame in walking away because it was and is just too much to take in. But, in the end it is not about understanding. When it comes to just what happened there can be no certainty, just a ring of truth that something unimaginable happened. I believe that God has hopes and dreams beyond our understanding and awaits us – with outstretched arms and a love that is at once personal and powerful – and way beyond our suppositions or logic, and is there breaking into our time if we but look. Mary, in her grief, did not run away, she looked into the tomb, into the place of despair and there found two angels, then turning around came face to face with Jesus. Today, emboldened by the good news of Easter morning, let us face our fears and open our hearts and minds, that God might send other angels to our places of despair, and that we might in turn – turn around without supposition and meet our Lord, face to face. Amen.
