Leaving the tomb: with fear and great joy!
April 20, 2014 | Anita Retzlaff

Christ is risen! (response: He is risen indeed!)

We stand this day in the full light of God’s power – resurrection! The shadows are gone, death is undone and Jesus’ promises kept. We are people of God who believe in resurrection; in the power of life that rises from beneath all deathly things. Death does not have ultimate power and it does not have the last word. This is the resurrection hope which we celebrate today.

I cannot offer to anyone a scientific explanation of how it is that a dead Jesus entombed for three days lives and breathes again. But I do know that Jesus repeatedly told his friends that exactly this would take place: he would be killed and then raised to life again after 3 days. Jesus has been clear about how this would all go. As the Son of God, as God himself, Jesus is completely forthcoming about his death. He continually tries to prepare his disciples for what is about to happen to him but they just can’t seem to take it all in. It is too much: too preposterous; too horrible; too frightening. They are so anxious and frightened about the “dying” part that they never did fully realize the “rising” part.

So the early morning visit of the women to Jesus’ tomb on that third day is a huge shock for them.  They are scared out of their wits, totally unprepared for resurrection. It is no accident that “fear” is mentioned four times in this short part of the story. After their earthquake-induced encounter with the white-clothed angel of the Lord the two women flee the gaping tomb “quickly with fear and great joy.”

And this is a huge comfort for me. For I too have read Jesus’ words – many times - and most often skipped over the “rising” part of the story. I too am not really prepared for resurrection. I can debate the “mystery” of Jesus’ dying and rising and can hide behind all manner of insightful arguments and protestations - and totally miss the point.  Jesus said that he would rise from death.  And he did.  How earth-shattering it is for us to come face to face with resurrection power – the promise that death does not have ultimate power and is not the final word. We are fearful and joyful at the same time. Resurrection breaks open our tightly controlled little worlds and promises the only hope that really matters: new life through Jesus’ life.

Jesus makes bold claims about himself; that he is the way to God, that he is God himself: that his way is the way to live well on this earth; that his way is the hope and promise of new life. When Jesus greets the women on that Easter morning, they fall at his feet and worship him. They worship God, the One who overcomes death to bring life.  What is at first blush fearful becomes their joy!

In Jennifer’s baptism this Easter morning we join her in testifying to the power of resurrection.  We renew our baptismal vows in the light of new life.  And we prepare to come to the table of our Lord sharing in the bread and wine of God’s promises to us all.  We come with joy and thanksgiving, at peace with our God who makes all things new. AMEN