Thoughts for the Day

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Fantastical stories have always been told, but social media has made it even worse. Do I believe the truth that someone's heart can pump blood the opposite way round the body to everyone else? Or would I believe the opposite, that lies were truth, as in Aesop's tale (The boy who cried wolf)? There was a time in the 1980's when clergy became accustomed to doing strange things in church on Easter Day. One vicar ate a daffodil, and another did a handstand in the pulpit. Both told their congregations that were witnesses and challenged them to go home and tell their families to see if they would be believed. It gave them an idea of how difficult it might have been for the first witnesses of the resurrection.

Today's reading is Luke's account of Easter Day. He says a group of women came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, and found two men in "dazzling clothes" who reminded them that Jesus had told them he would "rise again". The women immediately go and tell the disciples, but their words seem like "an idle tale". They are not believed! Finally Peter does go to look for himself and is amazed at what he sees.

What is surprising about the Gospels accounts is not their differences, but their similarities. They were written down many years later (possibly 35-60 years afterwards). If we have played the game of 'Chinese whispers' we will know how quickly a phrase passed along a line of people can change. But the fact here remains the same - Jesus had risen from the grave - and would shortly be seen by hundreds of people! These accounts were to spread quickly around the world.

We should remember, that we too are witnesses, to how the Gospel of Jesus Christ has changed our lives. We just need to faithfully pass the message on!

Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank You for the faithful witness
of those who passed on the message
of Your resurrection so long ago,
despite the dangers of doing so.
We thank You for those
who witnessed to Your work,
and passed on their faith to us.
May we be encouraged to witness
to Your Gospel news,
and share our faith with others.
Amen.