Devotional 4-12-09

Read John 20: 1-18

John shares his eye-witness account of the first Easter morning. Mary Magdalene had gone before dawn to the tomb. We know from other accounts that there were other women with her, and they had gone to prepare the body. When they arrived, found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, they ran to tell Peter and John—two of Jesus’ most trusted disciples.

Along with James, Peter and John made up the inner circle—they were Jesus’ closest disciples and had witnessed more than the others, including the transfiguration of Jesus some weeks earlier. Jesus must have seen in them a spiritual maturity; perhaps they were ready to see who Jesus really is.

John includes an interesting detail in his telling of what happened on Easter morning. In the race to the tomb after they learned from Mary that it was empty, John got there first. It was apparently important to John, who always refers to himself as “the one Jesus loved,” to arrive ahead of Peter. As a man, I get that…everything’s a competition. I imagine that the impulsive Peter, upon hearing the news of the empty tomb, sprinted furiously and became exhausted. John paced himself.

This Easter morning, some of us will race to be the first to witness the risen Christ—we’ll be gathering for a sunrise service in the prayer garden. It’s not a competition, though. Whenever we rise, Christ has risen. Alleluia!

There’s something else, though, about this gospel that jumps out at me. Imagine, if you can, the emotional highs and lows of the last few weeks from the disciples’ perspective. After following Jesus and witnessing miraculous healings and feedings and casting out of demons, the disciples have accompanied Jesus in a triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, shared a Passover meal with Jesus that would forever be labeled “The Last Supper,” then saw Jesus arrested, tried in a kangaroo court, and crucified.

But THIS morning, they finally see, and believe, what Jesus had been trying to explain to them. He would die and be resurrected on the third day. It was true. So what is their response? The answer is in verse 10.

Then the disciples returned to their homes.

What? Their response seems anticlimactic, that they would witness the resurrection…and then just return to their homes. Shouldn’t such a witness prompt some other action or emotion? But then…I guess you could ask me the same question.

How will this Easter affect you? Will your experience of the resurrection of Jesus Christ change you? Will you live life differently because you have seen and believe? Will you love more radically? Will you give more generously?

Or will you just return to your home and to your normal routine?

Dear God, may the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ transform each of us, so that we might be the ones who do Your will and bring about Your kingdom on earth. Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Mission Prayer Focus and response:
As Lent ends and Easter begins, don't forget the new life that we celebrate as Christians. And don't forget to share that new life with others. The mission projects give us many opportunities to put "feet" to our prayers, and to be the visible body of Christ working in the world.