Sunday 31 March 2024
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. (v. 1)
Background
Today we read Mark's account of those first encounters with Jesus being alive and showing himself to his followers after his crucifixion and burial on the day named Good Friday. Today is Easter Sunday, celebrating Jesus rising from the dead and the tomb where he was buried being empty.
Jesus' close followers and friends, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had come to anoint the body of Jesus as was their custom. They believed that the entrance to the tomb would be blocked and faced the unexpected: the stone had been rolled away and the entrance was open. It revealed a young man dressed in white. He was a messenger from God and revealed to them that Jesus has risen and gone to Galilee. He asked would they go and tell the disciples and Peter. Peter, as predicted by Jesus, had denied he knew Jesus three times (see Mark 14:66-72) but his failure to acknowledge Christ did not exclude him from hearing this good news.
But these women trembling and bewildered fled from the tomb (v. 8), stunned into silence, and fearful of the consequences of being first-hand witnesses.
There is scholastic debate concerning the following verses (vs 9-18), such as who wrote them, why and when? They include unnamed disciples being surprised in their ordinary day by the appearance of Jesus. They were alarmed, doubtful and sceptical about such extraordinary phenomena.
Jesus speaks plainly to them as they needed convincing. They heard the same instructions as the women had received: "Go and tell". They had a future and a purpose to be witnesses in telling people about Jesus and extending the Kingdom of God outwards to our present-day generation. There is a continuity from that first Easter Day through all times and places and we are all called to be witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah, he is risen!
To Ponder:
- Why is it so difficult to be modern-day witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
- Take time today to realise the impact of the Resurrection in your own life.
- Some of those disciples needed to see and hear Jesus before they believed that he was alive. Do we often need such proof ourselves? Where can we hear Jesus' word and appreciate his presence?
- Enjoy some Easter hymns today such as 'Christ the Lord is risen today' (298 in Singing the Faith). Today we see colour: the greyness of death and grief have been overcome. "Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!"
Prayer
O God, we celebrate that you are a living presence, present with us in our experiences of life, with our human frailty and weaknesses, offering us hope and joy of your resurrection power and purpose. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Frances Ballantyne
Frances Ballantyne was ordained within the Congregational Federation and transferred to the Methodist Connexion where she served in the South Holland and Mid-Cheshire Circuits and is currently in the Leicester Trinity Circuit. She has been a volunteer for Victim Support and is currently a member of the Methodist Survivors Advisory Group. She has contributed to BBC Radio Leicester's ‘Thought for the Day’ and written articles for 'The Accord Journal' (for Christian counsellors) and prayer poems for several publications. She is currently challenged by a diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer.