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?"

We'll come back to Mary Magdalene and this idea of mistaken identity later in the sermon. First there are some other themes I'd like for us to explore, starting with the very first verse: "Early 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." When we read this passage, our eyes quickly jump to what we think is the most important thing: the stone had been removed from the tomb. But I'd like to direct our eyes back a little, to five little words at the beginning: Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark."

Easter is one of our biggest celebrations of the church year--it's a day for bright colors, happiness, sunshine and light. We decorate the church with white paraments and white Easter lillies. But notice (and this is a profound thing) that Easter begins in darkness. Those of you who got up early this morning to join us for the sunrise service at El Paso High school already know this!

It's not just the resurrection that begins in darkness: Jesus enters into the world as a baby on a dark, star filled night. Jesus comes to the disciples walking on water in the darkness of a stormy night. In the Old Testament, it is in the dark of the night that Jacob wrestles with God, and God changes his name from Jacob to Israel. It is in the dark of the night that God leads Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt. It is in the darkness of the whale's belly that Jonah turns to God and answers the call. It is in the dark of blindness that Saul has his conversion experience and becomes Paul the Apostle.

Barbara Brown Taylor, and Episcopalian Preacher, has an article in this week's issue of Time Magazine where she argues that we are actually more likely to encounter God in our times of darkness than in those of light. Perhaps this is because when things are bright and cheery, we don't think we need God. We can find our own way, thank you very much. But in the dark, we are lost without someone to guide us.

So this Easter we'll definitely celebrate, we'll definitely rejoice in the light of the resurrection. But if you find yourself in a season of darkness and struggle, know that even the greatest miracle of all began "while it was still dark."

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...