LEARNING FROM THE WOMEN

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THE PROBLEM

Easter seems like a lot of hollow words sometimes -- Christ conquering sin and death and so forth. It’s sort of happy, certainly, but also vague. It’s not terribly real; it’s about Christ, but not about me. It doesn’t feel as if it’s part of my world. I’d like to offer a perspective that I’ve found helpful: Experience the Easter event through the eyes of the women in the Gospels.

A PERSPECTIVE: THE WOMEN

In Luke's gospel there are several women who are part of Jesus' entourage, traveling with him from Galilee ministering to his needs, and remaining at his side right through the fateful journey up to Jerusalem. They watch him suffer and die on the cross, and follow his corpse to the tomb to see that it is properly taken care of.

They are his personal friends, and have committed their lives to him. When they come to the tomb that Sunday morning with spices to finish anointing the body, they are grieving terribly -- this was their personal friend who had died. This is nothing vague for them, because Jesus is not vague or distant. And this is the key: Jesus is a real person to them, who has made a difference in their lives. 

Has Jesus ever made a difference in your life? What about the way you talk to Him or relate to Him? Does he affect the way you spend your money or use your possessions? Have his words ever touched you and changed you? Have you allowed Jesus to take control of your life?

These women are, according to all four gospels, the first witnesses to the empty tomb. The fact that the body is not there doesn't of itself lead to faith. Stand next to the holy women as things seem to be going from bad to worse for them. Not only is Jesus dead, but now they can't find his body to anoint it. Have you ever stood perplexed in front of some event in your life that makes no sense? A serious illness, say, or a death, or a divorce? What do you do then? Well, stay with the women and watch what happens next.

REMEMBERING YOUR FRIEND

In Mark's account, two men appear and say to them "You need not be amazed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth whom they crucified. He has been raised up. He is not here." Then the announcement takes on the tone of a rebuke: Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here. He is risen. Remember what he said to you while he was in Galilee." This is not just a mechanical bringing to mind, for the women it is a form of presence of their friend, and they do remember, and they come to belief.

Then the empty tomb is transformed from an unsettling puzzle to a source of consolation; it suddenly makes sense -- it's what Jesus promised, it has a "shape." No matter what it looks like at the moment, said Jesus, this is God's victory plan!

Remember what he said to you. When things look bleak, when you keep trying and nothing works, when you feel lost in the wilderness, remember what he said to you: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest." "For man it is impossible, but nothing is impossible for God." "I will not leave you orphans."

Easter is the time to look at an empty tomb in your life and remember. Not just a mechanical calling to mind, but a vibrant, life-affirming "Aha!" kind of remembering. Stand with the women at the empty tomb on Easter morning and remember what your friend promised to you.
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Have a Blessed Easter!