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……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.”
(From the New Revised Standard)
Just outside the city walls of Jerusalem lies a beautiful garden, called ‘The Garden Tomb’*. In the mid-nineteenth century archaeologists discovered an ancient tomb, and evidence that it had been an agricultural garden was shown by the remains of an ancient wine press. Israeli archaeologists have dated the site back to 8th-7th century BC. Today, the garden with its rocky outcrop reminiscent of a skull, is a tranquil and beautiful haven for Christians to worship. The tomb may not be the one mentioned in the Gospels in which Jesus was buried, but we do know that it is situated near to the Jaffa gate through which condemned criminals were taken. The tomb itself had also been sealed by a giant stone.
After the horror of the crucifixion on Friday, the meeting with the risen Christ by the two women must have been beyond belief, yet they did believe. They had seen his body taken down from the cross, watched the tomb sealed, then guarded by soldiers. Yet he was alive! His message to them: "Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me."
Our task is to take the message of the risen Christ to others, through our actions and words, and to love others at this time especially, as Christ loved us.
*You might like to look up the photographs of “The Garden Tomb” on line.
Heavenly Father,
we thank you that you sent your Son,
our Lord, Jesus Christ,
to repair our relationship with you,
which was fractured because of our sin.
We thank you that you still call us to
be your people.
May our joy this Easter day be as great as
those who first saw you in the garden.
And may our resolve not waiver in
the light of current events.
Amen.