April 12 - He is Risen!

Mark 16:1-8

I have been writing the Sunday Bible Blog post for several years now, and I have probably written about these three verses several times.  But in these pandemic times, the verses are different, aren't they? Everything has changed in just a few short weeks. A friend of mine said every day seems like "Blursday."

But look at what happens on the Sabbath, three days after Jesus was crucified, a death that is described as on the top of the list of one of the most painful ways to die. His disciples had all deserted him. His mother and her friends were grieving. He was gone. The promise of a savior for the Jews seemed to be only a distant dream. How could they have believed that this gentle rabbi would really save them from the Romans?

And then Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome came to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. And the stone - the huge, heavy, stone that guarded the entrance of the tomb (so that no one could steal the body) was gone. Rolled away. Can you imagine what they thought? What they were feeling?

And then (I know, I'm using "and then" a lot - but it's the kind of story that you tell in a breathless sort of way - it's simply so astonishing). And then they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side - and yes, they were alarmed.

And then - the words we hear every Easter - they come from this young man dressed in a white robe:

"Don't be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"

The women fled. They were afraid. What on earth was happening? Could it be true? Could Jesus be alive?

We know the answer.  He is risen! Yes, he is risen indeed! Hurry, and tell others.  Rejoice that Jesus is risen.  He has conquered death. He has conquered sin. He has conquered coronavirus. He his bigger than any pandemic. Yes, it will be a different Easter this year. But Jesus is the same yesteday, today and tomorrow. Thanks be to God!