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Who Says It's Over? John 20:1 – 16; Acts 10:34 – 43 A few weeks ago while meeting with the Pastor’s class — five wonderful middle school youth — we talked about life after death. Someone raised a question that I tried to answer, but then had to admit,“I really don’t know.” Let’s make a date (I said) to talk about that again; when we meet as a Pastor’s class after we have all died. “You mean this Pastor’s Class will never be over? someone said. As we laughed together we did commit to meeting again when we could experience firsthand the answers to all our questions. The great news of conversation is that we have youth who are here to claim a faith — that life with God has no end even if it also means having to meet as a class after the resurrection! Oh, that all of us could have all the answers now. Our Easter text from John always amuses me with the few answers we seem to get but the major running around that it includes
We have no indication of the distance between the tomb and the disciples’ homes, but we can assume that this was heavy-duty activity, especially for Mary Magdalene, who made two return trips that morning. That, of course, is not our primary concern. But it does describe life: running around a lot; much motion; much emotion; and often little depth – little getting to the core – the heart – the real portion. If we keep active enough, we can skim, cover up, and never dig down to where we hold or find truth and meaning. Today as we look at this Easter story one more time – I’d like these three characters to tell us what they were thinking and what they were believing. Did they think it was all over for what they had discovered in ministry with Jesus? Each had a very distinctive response. Peter — who had been given some level of leadership responsibility — had just gone through an awful experience. Jesus had warned him that he would deny Jesus, and Peter surely went to the depths of despair when that turned out to be true. How utterly disappointed in himself he must have been! As far as we know Peter had not been able to go to the cross. However, he was the one to whom Mary Magdalene ran when she found the stone removed from the tomb. And he had the courage to be the first into the tomb. He was the one to see the linen wrappings lying on the floor. He was the first to see that Jesus was not there. Even though he saw all of this he didn’t see. He didn’t know. He didn’t understand what was going on. And yet this man became what Jesus had foretold (at another time) — the rock on which the church would be built, the leader that would spread this message, deepen and expand the Gospel, the one who would provide strength in times of great need. We have no factual evidence that Peter thought Jesus’ life and ministry were over. But he surely was demoralized when he was caught in the denial. He was certainly bereft when he knew of the crucifixion, and yet he ran to the tomb. At some point he was able to proclaim the faith that has resounded for centuries. When that clicked in – how it came – where he was when he realized that God would not be beaten by death – we don’t know. Then there is John — or as he is called throughout this Gospel, the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved.’ John is far quicker than Peter and not just in running. John is intuitive. He leads from his heart. He knows from his heart. Although he did not run into the tomb; when he did enter, ‘he saw and believed’ with no lapse of time. What were the exact tenets of that belief, we don’t know. Tradition tells us that John had been at the cross because Jesus entrusted his mother to John during those hours of anguish. We also know that John’s way of carrying out ministry was in deepened spirituality, almost mystical theology, and little necessity for the organizational strength that would characterize other disciples and be necessary for church growth. Mary Magdalene seemed to be present for every event of these last days. It is clear that she was at the cross. And early on the day of resurrection she was the first to arrive at the tomb; no dispute about this. There are a variety of other women who are named — and different ones in the various Gospel traditions — but Mary Magdalene is always mentioned and always mentioned first. The death of Jesus was devastating for her. The reality that someone had stolen his body made matters much, much worse. Her sadness could not even be lightened by angel appearances. Only when the voice of Jesus came through — calling her name — was Mary able to believe that it was not over. Three people — all of whom had experienced the death of their dear, dear friend — all of whom had been closely aligned with Jesus and his ministry — each of whom had very distinctive ways to faith. Each of them vitally important to our heritage and the passing on of this faith. Malcolm Gladwell wrote The Tipping Point (New York: Little, Brown and Company. 2000) a few years ago in which he describes how certain ideas, trends or social behaviors cross a threshold and become epidemic, spreading throughout a city, a nation or the world. Three factors are important for this to occur, he claims: the people, the message and the context or environment. All three have to be present and working in specific ways. I won’t review the book but found his study to be fascinating especially in relation to our three characters — Peter, John and Mary Magdalene. Gladwell claims social epidemics are dependent upon the special and rare gifts of a few people — connectors, mavens and salesmen. Connectors are people who not only seem to know lots of others but have the gift of bringing people together. The whole ‘six degrees of separation’ is dependent upon this concept that there are certain folks who, indeed, are the traceable factors linking all of us. Mavens are those who accumulate knowledge. They know ‘stuff’ and they share it even if hearers don’t understand. They are brokers of information, constantly educating, helping others to be attuned to what is going on in the world. Salesmen have a natural exuberance. Although they do not know in depth what the mavens know, or the people the connectors do, they can sell the message better. In fact, they can sell anything. Three prototypes of people who start epidemics: Peter, John and Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene: whom everyone knew; who always seemed to be at the right place at the right time; and who is always in the list of people named whenever there is a listing. John: who knew everything — not because he studied it — but because he knew it from his heart; he knew everything not because he wanted to show off but just because he knew. And Peter: the rambunctious, (often bumbling) exuberant salesman who became the leader of the church even after he had denied Jesus and left him in the lurch. We can thank God that even IF they thought life with Jesus was over at one point or several they were able to be persuaded, they were able to be changed, to be the ones we now know were the foundation of the epidemic belief that death would not be the victor — that God had other plans. These characters give me a great deal of hope. There is no one way to faith. Peter didn’t get it right at first. He made lots of mistakes, but he didn’t give up. Mary Magdalene wore herself out and didn’t even get it when she saw angels. And John (though believing at first sight) when he believed couldn’t explain it so everyone else could understand. Yet all three — together with different time tables and varying ways — came to the knowledge, the faith, that God was not finished — that death would not take it all. Life was not over for Jesus Christ, for them, for the world. And they had a message to tell, a story to share, a faith to proclaim, and a power to do so. Today the message is the same. The environment is still ripe. The question is whether we — people of faith — will tell, proclaim, live that faith so that the ministry we hold dear AND which God depends on us to deliver will reach epidemic proportions. May it be for us this Easter morning. May it be for us in and through this congregation. May it be for us as we meet anyone who crosses our path in life that we spread the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ that claims: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will separate us from the love of God. That Good News will never, ever be over! SW |
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