Answered Prayer
They kept their promise. They had promised to care for the body of Jesus after the Sabbath. So, they kept their first promise to keep the Sabbath, and their second, to care of the body of Jesus.
Early in the morning, when the birds have not yet begun to sing, when the rays of the sun have not burst across the horizon, when most people and animals are still resting, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary made their way to the tomb. With fear and trembling, with determination and resolve, with anxiety and sorrow, they put one foot in front of the other and made their way to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid.
The tomb had been provided by Joseph of Arimathea. After Jesus’ death, Joseph, a quiet and wealthy disciple, approached Pilate to see if he might lay Jesus to rest. He tenderly and lovingly laid him to rest in the tomb, knowing the women would have to prepare the body on Sunday. The women watched him from afar. And they all watched as guards were posted around the tomb and the large boulder was rolled with many men in front of the entrance to the tomb.
The two Marys carried with them the spices and oils to anoint Jesus’ body and care well for him. They intended to do their part. But as they approached the tomb, the earth shock under their feet. Their world literally was moving. Nothing was as they expected.
A number of years ago, there was a small earthquake that occurred in Hellertown, where we lived at the time. I was alone in our house in the afternoon, writing my sermon in the library, where the refrigerator door rocked open and some of our knick knacks fell off of the library shelves. I was stunned, not sure what had happened. I walked outside to see my neighbors, looking around and to the sky. Wondering what had happened, until one neighbor said with comfort and authority, the weather service declared we experienced a series of small earthquakes. We all nodded our heads and walked away feeling convinced that anything could happen.
The earthquake had been accompanied by the rolling away of the stone, the appearance of a lighting clad angel, and guards who fell over like dead. The angel spoke words of comfort and authority, like my neighbor, Jesus is not dead; he is alive!
Even before the Marys could articulate their prayers, they were answered. Now, perhaps, they prayed on the way to the tomb. Prayed for the guards to find compassion, for the stone to be rolled away, for their hearts not to ache so much with grief. But praying for resurrection was just on the edge of absolutely unimaginable! Could they have imagined that their prayers would be answered in this way? Prayers answered in even more incredible ways than they could have suggested.
And Jesus shows up on the road as the Marys were on that was to lead them to tell the disciples. Jesus who had already answered the prayers they were not even aware of praying, amazed and astounded them. Even before the words could be formed, the gospel writer in Matthew has Jesus show up and answer the abandoned cries of Good Friday. The prayers of My God, My God, why has thou forsaketh me were fulfilled in full and more with miracle of resurrection and very presence of Christ.
Resurrection is not the finale to a great play, like we sometimes imagine it. The climaz of movie we have watched and then put back on the shelf. Resurrection is not the one great miracle that Jesus had up his sleeve that we should cherish for all time. Christ’s resurrection is our reminder, our touchstone that our prayers are answered too!
In Jesus Christ is risen, we are told that where we thought there was no way, God will make a way. Where we thought that the world has ended, it was just waiting for the next act. When we thought the caterpillar had died in the cocoon, we did not know about the butterfly who would come. When we thought death had triumphed over Jesus, we are amazed and delighted by resurrection and life eternal!
We have no trouble relating the darkness of night, the desperation of the holy week story. In fact, every year, there are always those who hear the story anew and comment that they had no idea that the loneliness, the betrayal, the denial, the suffering that they feel every day is what Jesus felt as well. They ask me, Why don’t we tell the story? This is why we tell it every year. Every year there are those who need to know that the holy week they live every day is known to Jesus.
Where many of us need to be convinced is that
IT WILL NOT ALWAYS BE HOLY WEEK! We will not always suffer. We will not always be betrayed or betray others, be denied, or deny others, suffer pain and tragedy.
Christ the Lord is RISEN Today means that our prayers have already been answered. We are living into what astonishing surprises God has in store for us. How has the God who knows us and loves us answered our prayers? Resurrection people know that prayers have already been answered. They are tuned into looking for what the answers are and how the Christ who is knows loose in the world will show up.
Jesus being on the loose also means that we can not always predict or anticipate exactly where we will find him. Like a missing sock or absent tool, he might show up exactly where we left him or just as likely Christ may be somewhere all together. Like earthquake in the middle of the day in a town that has not experienced such seismic waves, we know that once earthquake has happened anything is possible. Once Christ’s resurrection has happened and the one who was dead is now alive, anything can and will happen!
God’s love overflows and pours out for us.
Christ the Lord is Risen. He is Risen, indeed.
This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.