The Angelic Message

(by Dave, 5 min)

Scripture

Mark 16:1-8 (ESV)

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

__________

The empty tomb and the defeat of death it represents is often the focus of Easter services. In his commentary on the Gospel of Mark, William Lane also sees the empty tomb as the dividing line between human understanding and divine revelation. To illustrate, what would any of us think if we discovered a body missing from a casket into which we saw it interred? We would think someone took it. The divine being waiting at the tomb reveals to the women and us a message no human would conceive on their own. He has risen.

In Mark’s gospel, the same angel who reveals the divine truth about the body of Jesus provides instructions. The women are to tell “his disciples and Peter” that Jesus is going before them to Galilee. And Peter? Isn’t he a disciple? Not in Peter’s mind nor likely in the minds of the women. In the courtyard of the high priest, he denied being a follower or even knowing Jesus. Peter leaves this dreadful episode in his life weeping bitterly in shame. But the young man in a white robe says he is to go to Galilee where he will see Jesus.

The angel gave us two divine messages on the first Easter morning. He is risen, and like Peter we are forgiven. In our limited experiences as humans, we need divine wisdom to help us see that an empty tomb doesn’t mean a stolen body. To help us recognize that for a believing repentant heart, forgiveness now reigns in the kingdom of heaven. These are not human perceived realities and only a divine messenger can introduce them to our minds.

However, we can imagine a living Christ because he walked among us before and after his resurrection. We can imagine Peter lifting his tear-filled face to Christ and seeing no disdain in the resurrected, compassionate eyes. No condemnation or scorn. No memory of his sin. No ridicule or sorrow for the suffering Peter’s behavior brought about nor resentment for the cross that paid for his (and our) sins. As a believer, all he saw was mercy and love. He saw them in such great measure it lifted the fallen disciple from the ashes of his shame and despair to lead the nascent church.

Easter is indeed a time to celebrate the defeat of death represented by the empty tomb, but don’t let this one slip by without remembering the angel said tell his disciples and Peter. Maybe this Easter let your mind roam to an encounter with Jesus and put yourself in Peter’s place. As surely as Jesus predicted the denial by Peter, he knows the darkest recesses of our hearts. The sins of our minds and desires we hide from everyone with our public façades.

This Easter let’s imagine looking at the face of the one who knows everything about us and seeing only mercy, love and abundant forgiveness in his divine eyes. This Easter lay down your burdens and guilt entirely for He has risen. Lift your head and stand tall for redeeming love came out of that tomb in such great abundance it cannot be overcome by the collective or individual sins of believers.

his betrayal was washed entirely away forever. The same is true for you and me, and that brothers and sisters is truly worth celebrating.

Happy Easter everyone,

Dave