Tuesday 06 April 2010
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared ... Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest." (v.1, 8-9)
Background
Luke's account of Easter morning is produced with hischaracteristically vivid and people-focused style. He tells us thata group of women were the first witnesses to the empty tomb.They're shocked to find the tomb open (though one wonders how theywere intending to anoint his body if it was sealed?) Luke lovesheavenly messengers, so the appearance of two 'men/angels' istypical. These do what all Luke's messengers do - they make clearwhat God wants humans to know, understand and accept.
The responses and actions of the women are moving and demonstrate adeep love and care for Jesus. They desire to look after him even indeath. Loving devotion is clearly appropriate for Christiandisciples. Jesus is not just the icon of faith but the object oflove. It is interesting then that in John's Gospel, of all thequestions Jesus might have asked Simon Peter who betrayed him, hesimply asks him if he loves him(see John 21:15-19).
The missing person in this narrative is Jesus himself, who doesn'tmake an appearance at this point. Instead the men/angels state whatthe other Gospel writers put in Jesus' mouth. He has risen. He isalive. His crucifixion was predicted and, as Jesus said, was notthe end. And light begins to dawn as the women 'remember' the wordsof Jesus. In Luke's Gospel this 'remembering' is often a signal ofrevelation, of faith growing, as if we are saying to the deepplaces in ourselves "Yes. That's right. I believe it".
The male disciples dismissing the women's tale is the stuff ofgender stereotypes, but significantly, as the readers, we know thatthe women are right and the men are 'closed' to the truth. "Forgoodness sake, listen to them!" we want to say as we read the text.But they don't, and the appearances of Jesus in the remainder ofthe chapter are evidence of the persistence of a gracious God withselectively deaf human beings.
To Ponder
How seriously should we take the whole idea ofangels - messengers of God - today?
Is 'loving Jesus' a superficial or a profoundexpression of Christian discipleship? Why?