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Last Sunday's Worship
Easter Sunday
How Do You See the Tomb?
Our Easter Sunday began with an Alleluia Medley that was accompanied by Jeff Summers on trumpet. Lillies lined the communion table, the white swoop communicated that Christ had risen, and the congregation exclaimed, "He has risen indeed!"
The children marched around the sanctuary in an impromptu Easter parade - thank you congregation for singing "In My Easter Bonnet" as they marched!
The message was all about seeing and looking in the empty tomb. In John 20:1-18, we find that Mary Magdelene discovers Jesus' tomb empty. She runs to tell the disciples and John and Peter respond by running to see the tomb for themselves. Later, Mary returns and as she stares at the tomb, Jesus appears to her.
Within the descriptions of these tomb encounters we find that the gospel writer has used the Greek language to convey three different meanings for our English word "see." That was the gist of my message.
When Mary first sees the tomb she sees it as an observer. She sees, but she does not understand. So, she runs to tell the disciples. When John and Peter arrive, John, standing outside the tomb, looks in and also merely observes. Peter steps into the tomb and sees in a different way. The word used here means to see and discern or question. Then John steps into the tomb and the word for see here means to see and understand. The gospel says he sees and believes.
When Mary returns and Jesus appears to her, she also sees with understanding. She recognizes him when he calls her name.
The point is to ask ourselves how we see Easter. Do we merely observe? "Nice service, Let's have brunch!" Or, do we discern? Are we turning it over in our minds, considering, questioning? Or, like John, do we see and understand? See and believe?
How do we approach Easter? As one special day, or a season? In the church calendar, Easter is from now until Pentecost, which is May 28th!
Let's see how we can continue to celebrate Easter in these coming weeks and really see and understand!
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