Alleluia and Pass the Potatoes

The Rev. Kathi Johnson

Easter 10:15am – 16 April 2017

Text: Matthew 28:1-10

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Grand Prairie, Texas

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What did you expect to see this Easter morning?

I expected to see some old – excuse me – some familiar faces, and some new faces. I expected to see lots of good food at the Easter breakfast. I still expect to see lots of eggs hidden around the property later. And later, I expect to see the insides of my eyelids during a lovely Easter nap. We all come to this day of Easter with expectations – what will we experience here at church, what will we experience the rest of today - what will we see?

This same sense of expectation is what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary have when they show up at Jesus’ tomb in our gospel story today. The text says they went to “see” the tomb but that word we translate as “see” is a loaded word – it doesn’t mean simply that they went to visit or look at the tomb. It means they went there with expectation.

I’m not sure if they expected what came next: an earthquake, and an angel, rolling back the big stone that the authorities had placed in front of Jesus’ tomb, to seal it. The angel rolls the stone and then plunks down on top of it, and addresses the women right away: “Do not be afraid,” the angel says to them. “I know that you’re looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here; he’s been raised from the dead, as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then, go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead...’ This is my message for you.”

Now, the next verse is important. What does the next verse say? “So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.”

They don’t stay there, conversing with the angels or even between themselves. The angel gives them a message, and they take it.

And on their way, they encounter the Risen Christ, just like that. He greets them, and then Jesus entrusts these women with the good news of his resurrection. And, just like that, the story of Easter is over – Alleluia and pass the potatoes.

But maybe against our expectations, the story of the resurrection of Jesus doesn’t end there. In the next two weeks during worship, we’ll hear what happened next: we’ll hear about the risen Christ appearing to the other disciples. We’ll hear about Doubting Thomas (who comes to believe) and about Jesus showing up while some disciples walk to Emmaus. In these appearances, Jesus defies fear by offering peace, and defies despair by offering hope. He defies their expectations.

Like some of you, I’ve been a Christian much of my life, and I’ve been in all kinds of churches and around all kinds of people in those churches. One thing I’ve learned is that we have more than a bunch of ancient stories to show us the Risen Christ. Jesus meets us here, at his table, when we share in the holy supper. Jesus meets us when we study Scripture or pray. Jesus meets us when we do loving acts of service in his name.

There are times when I expect Jesus to show up – like the times I mentioned just now.

Do we expect Jesus to show up, and do we see him when he does? Think back to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, walking along, going to tell the disciples about the earthquake, and the angel, and the message about the resurrection. They aren’t expecting to see Jesus, but Jesus shows up, and they see him and they worship him.

Sometimes, Jesus defies my expectations and shows up when I least expect it. I didn’t expect to encounter Jesus in an old train station, but I did one time, when I prayed for a sick homeless child. I don’t expect to find Jesus when I walk out to the Bunny Box or the mailbox or stroll out to the Outdoor Chapel, but I do, quite often, as I walk and pray. Sometimes, Jesus surprises me by showing up in the forgiving words of someone I’ve hurt or the words of encouragement someone gives me on a bad day.

Jesus defied expectations in the way he lived his life – through healing people, feeding crowds, paying attention to those who were normally ignored, loving his enemies, and praying for those who persecuted him. Jesus defied expectations by dying on a cross. We expect that God will cast us aside to live in our sin; in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are instead shown God’s love and mercy.

Our joy and our hope come from knowing that Christ is risen. This unexpected message is what we are called to share with everyone. So, go and tell the good news that Christ is risen indeed!

Amen.

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