Daily Worship

There and back again

Norah Summers March 31, 2016 0 0

Matthew 28: 1-9

The Resurrection

28 After the Sabbath, as Sunday morning was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake; an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid that they trembled and became like dead men.

5 The angel spoke to the women. “You must not be afraid,” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has been raised, just as he said. Come here and see the place where he was lying. 7 Go quickly now, and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from death, and now he is going to Galilee ahead of you; there you will see him!’ Remember what I have told you.”

8 So they left the tomb in a hurry, afraid and yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Peace be with you.” They came up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

“He is going to Galilee ahead of you – there you will see him”.

Probably the last thing we could have imagined anyone saying to us.
But we heard it, 
from an angel, no less.

No, listen, it’s true.
I know I sound excited, 
but it’s true.

Well, we had followed him all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem.

But we had no idea, 
not even in our wildest dreams,
what would happen there.

What a week.
Never before,
And surely never again.

And this morning?

An earthquake.
A bright light.
An angel.
Those fearsome-looking guards,
reduced to quivering wrecks.

And the angel speaks to us – us!
tells us we mustn’t be afraid!
 
Jesus is not here,
he is risen,
and he is going to Galilee ahead of us 
and we’ve to tell the disciples
and we’ll all see him there.

Of course we sound excited
and out of breath
and dazed
and incredulous.
Wouldn’t you?

And now we’ve to set off, again,
back to Galilee,
back to square one?

But nothing will ever be the same.