After that day, everything was different. The first disciples witnessed a dead man walking. Their lives would be forever changed, defined by “life before Easter” and life “life after Easter.” On numerous occasions, Jesus showed up in resurrected form before he ascended. In the season of Easter we will examine six “after Easter” encounters with Jesus. What did he say and do? In what practical ways does resurrection change my daily life? Nothing will ever be the same.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
“You have made us for Yourself. And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” (Augustine)
Creator of all things, hear my voice, for you have made it. You who live in heaven, hear my prayer from earth. I am one person in one little town in one corner of your vast creation. Of all the people on the planet, hear me also. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Confession
O God, in the beginning you made us good, even “very good.” I admit the many things in my life that are far from your good intent. I try to change, and then find myself in the same place once again. Lord, you know me. Have mercy. Make me right. Forgive my wickedness. Bring me back to good, as you intended from the beginning. Amen.
Word
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?” (Mark 16:1-3)
Meditation
There are certain things that happen, that are so profound that we measure time by them. I think that in our generation there will always be BC and AC. “Before COVID” and “After COVID.” You’ll see life through the lens of this past year. You’ve had other major life events that have changed you. Something so profound that you are a different person because of it. And you’ll never be the same. It changes EVERYTHING.
That’s exactly what happened for a timid tribe of women and men in the first century. Something like a bend in the universe happened. Something so surprising that it would change history forever. What happened? Well, a carpenter from Nazareth had gained a following through his teaching and miracles. Although he was popular, he was a threat to the establishment. So they got him killed. It was a major injustice. There was no real proof, but he was executed like a criminal. A few of his followers took his corpse off the cross and quickly put it in a tomb before sabbath.
After the sabbath was over, some women went to embalm the body, to give it a proper burial. But when they got to the grave, the door was open and the body was gone. Nothing would ever be the same.
“Before”: They saw his brutalized body. They witnessed the grave site.
But “after”: They saw a dead man alive again. They touched him and talked with him and ate with him. First the women. Then the core 11 disciples. Then over the coming weeks, hundreds and thousands of people saw him. 500 people at one time saw him. Because of this one event, humans – even non-Christians – measure time with BC and AD. BC stands for “Before Christ.” AD is Latin for “Anno Domini,” which means “in the year of our Lord.”
Happy Easter. Relish the fact that everything has changed. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Benediction
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Rom. 11:33,36))