New tomb — old tomb

Albert Bogle April 09, 2023 1 3

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Matthew 28: 1-10 (NIVUK)

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you.’

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

 

I think for many of us we still look for a retro Easter. We follow a retro Holy Week instead of engaging with the power of the resurrection to transform every week of our lives. We want to sing ‘Lo Jesus meets us risen from the tomb lovingly he greets us scatters fear and gloom’. We want to keep Jesus in the garden, we want to talk about Mary’s story. But the more powerful story is the one we tell, our story.

There is a great danger in venerating the old tomb. Pilgrims make visits to it to recapture a moment of past history. The angels warn against it. They tell the two Marys, “He is not here; he has risen”. It’s almost as though they are saying ‘move on’. The risen Christ ushers in a new era which I believe many of us have not recognised.

The question is have we truly met the risen Christ, if we have, it will probably not have been in the 2,000 year old resurrection garden? Jesus comes to us, and is found in the streets of  21st century Glasgow or New York. He comes when we are seeking, but also when we are least expecting an encounter. He comes at our moments of brokenness and despair. He meets us, speaks our name and a new life, a new adventure begins.

New Tomb Old Tomb

Lord,

We tell the old story

Of resurrection day

We want to believe

Yet — fear to receive its power,

lest it change our story

So we keep living in the retro glory

of past days and olden days.

Break us out of the old tomb

Break us out of Groundhog Easter Day

that we might have eyes to see

Your Kingdom coming

Being shaped by the unnoticed ones

Moved by your Spirit

Changing lives with resurrection power

Not always from cathedrals or ancient liturgies

But simply by the power of sacrificial love.

Risen Lord

You left the tomb behind

Forgive us when we leave you behind

To return to a tomb that even angels have vacated.