Devotional 4-24-11

Please read Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”  So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

We blend the birth stories of Matthew and Luke into one nativity story so that our collective memory of the Nativity includes both shepherds and wise men. The same is true, I think, with the gospel accounts of the first Easter. In our memory, there is only one story, albeit with differing details and emphases.

As you read this Easter morning’s Gospel lesson from Matthew, you may be so familiar with the details of the story that your mind filled in details that aren’t present.

Try taking this quiz after reading the above scripture: Why were the two Marys going to the tomb?

If you answered that they were taking spices to prepare the body, and they had to wait until after the Sabbath, then you are, well, wrong. Okay, you are not necessarily wrong; you have demonstrated that you paid attention in Sunday school and church and that perhaps you have knowledge of the various gospel accounts of Jesus’ post-crucifixion appearance to the women. But if you only had Matthew’s version of the events, and you could divorce your mind from other memories, then you should have answered, “They were going to see the tomb.”

Matthew says nothing of spices or preparing the body; these two women, devout believers in Jesus’ words, were going to see. The two Marys had been witnesses to the words and acts of Jesus during his lifetime. They had seen him do great things and heard his great teachings. Matthew recounts several times when Jesus had said that he would be killed and arise on the third day; no doubt the two Marys had heard him.

It had been a dreadful weekend for Jesus and his followers. There was nothing to be joyful or hopeful about. Jesus had been betrayed, arrested, denied, abandoned, mocked, and crucified. Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus had died.

Jeff Taylor