Sermon for April 20th, 2014

John 20:1-10

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Just the Gardener

There's a story about a mother who was having a hectic day. Her little son, who had been playing outside, came in with his pants torn. "You go inside right now," she ordered him, "and start mending those pants yourself!" Awhile later, she went to check on his progress. The torn pants were lying across the chair and the door to the basement, usually kept closed, was open. She called down the stairs, loudly and sternly: "Are you running around down there without your pants on?" "No ma'am," came a deep-voiced reply. "I'm just down here reading your gas meter."

Mistaken identity is one of many themes in today's scripture passage. Mary Magdalene does not recognize Jesus because he isn't where he is supposed to be. I can relate to that a little bit--as a pastor, people are used to seeing me here in the sanctuary, dressed in my robe (or suit). So when I see someone in the grocery store on a weekday, and I'm dressed in blue jeans, t-shirt, tennis shoes and a baseball cap, and I say "Hi (so and so)! How are you?" ocassionally I'm met with a blank stare. "Who are you, strange person, and how do you know my name?"

Jesus, lost and found. they have taken my lord away. have you lost Jesus at some point in your journey this year? easter is a good time to find him again.

out of context. if you see your pastor in a baseball cap...

darkness (skotia) -- barbara brown taylor.

Passage begins in the darkness (skotia). Barbara Brown Taylor says this is where we are most likely to encounter God.

The disciples return to their homes...but Mary stays.

Mary doesn't recognize the angels. She doesn't recognize Jesus.

Don't hold onto me....but go to my brothers and say to them...