In the name of our risen saviour. Amen.
Imagine it if you will, Jesus is dead, the disciples and his closets followers are devastated, this man who was supposed to be the Messiah, the saviour of Israel allowed himself to be crucified on a cross and killed by the very people that he came to save.
Forlorn and grieving the women go to the grave to complete the rituals of anointing so that the body wouldn’t decompose into a stench.
But instead of finding the stone in place, it’s been moved and there is a man dressed in white saying, do not be alarmed!
Alarmed!!!
I must admit I think I would have a few things to say to the man – probably most of which would be unrepeatable!!
The man says he is not there, and then shows them the place, so no doubt very cautiously thy look past the young man, and see the empty place where Jesus had laid dead.
Just when you think this day can’t get any worse, you realise with horror that it can!
Then without another word from them, they flee, and say nothing to anyone else.
The end, that’s it – the gospel ends – no explanation of who the man was, or what happened after that encounter.
Imagine your favourite series or soap on TV, the episode is building to a massive climax, your on the end of your seat, you want to see what’s going to happen next.
Just as they are about to reveal the answers you have been waiting for… … the screen fades to black and the credit start to roll – nightmare! You’ve just been whipped in to a frenzy of excitement, suspense and maybe horror, depending on what you’re watching – and then you have to wait that agonising time until the next episode.
Mark’s gospel gives a unique perspective on the events of that day, but they stop, its as if this was the very first cliff-hanger.
Some people believe that the last page of the manuscript was lost, and others believe that it was written specifically in this way, Marks Gospel causes us to think about how the events unfolded afterwards, fortunately or unfortunately depending on the way you see it we don’t have to wonder too much, as all we have to do is flick to one of the other gospels and read the rest of the story.
But I want to stay with Mark’s gospel, and although it is a small passage it’s full of rich ideas, but apart from a few small details, it’s quite ambiguous.
Who was the man in white? We believe it to be an Angel, but why not identify him as such? Why tell the women to fetch the disciples and Peter – wasn’t Peter a disciple, was there more to this statement than meets the eye? Could it be because just a short time ago Peter had denied Jesus three times? Did the women pluck up the courage in the end and tell the disciples to go to Galilee?
Lots of questions – no answers.
Today is Easter Day, our pilgrimage to the cross, and the pain that we felt through it has ended, our new Paschal Candles burns brightly with the new blessed flame which will remain with us all year, and today we have cause to celebrate as we recall the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, and his defeat of sin and death.
As we celebrate, Children (some older than others!) will enjoy the Easter eggs they receive, and perhaps some of us will sit down together with other members of the family perhaps for the first time in a long time, as we celebrate this most Holy and Glorious Day together.
But imagine if Mark’s gospel was the only one that we had, where would that have left us – would our faith be as strong without the other explanations? Would the Christian faith have begun and grown into what we now have?
Let’s take it that Mark did intend his Gospel to end there, how can we be sure that the message of Jesus would be taken up and spread to such a degree that it has been?
I think the answer to that question lies within the rest of the gospel. The Jesus that Mark portrays is one of truth and reliability, one who only spoke of things that actually happened, rather than making bold outlandish statements that didn’t come to pass.
Christ had already spoken of how he was going to be crucified and killed, and in Mark 9:9 as they were coming down from the mountain after the transfiguration he said that he didn’t want people to know he was the messiah until after his resurrection.
If we consider the other things he said, then it is logical that we would believe him on this point as well.
Of course it is easy for us to say, yes there is definitely a page missing and that on that page we would have seen the appearance to the disciples, the conversations they had by the lakeside, the wisdom he shared with them, the great commissioning and his ascension.
But what if this is how Mark had intended the gospel to end, all the questions I have asked in the last few minutes and a multitude of others would be left unanswered.
Could it have been that Mark wanted us to ask these questions, to continue the conversation with other Christians, perhaps study together and encourage us to look deep inside ourselves for the answers?
We all know that faith isn’t just dependent upon the scriptures, and although they are an important and integral part of our faith, we also know that the guidance and wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives to us is a vital aspect in our journey of faith.
But perhaps Mark already knew this, and he wanted us to ask questions, to explore the intricacies of what he had written, to seek answers to those things which make our faith so important to us.
There is an old saying, ‘we receive much more satisfaction when we accomplish something ourselves, rather than having it done for us.’
Mark may well have intended for his gospel to end in this fashion so that when we proclaim the good news, through our words and actions, then it would have a fresh and newfound vibrancy that can only be found when we use our faith and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to guide us when we are seeking deeper answers.
For those of us who walked the path of Lent and our course this year where we considered some of the deeper questions about the importance and significance of Holy Week, I have been told by some of them of how it has enriched their journey and has inspired them in their own walk with Christ.
Additionally, for those who spoke to me of how poignant and thought provoking they found our observance of Holy Week, no doubt there will be things which you will be praying about and contemplating in the days ahead.
It has been a strange but blessed Holy Week this year with changes being made to ensure we kept COVID safe, and I know for myself there were a few moments which I found particularly moving, especially the Vigil on Maundy Thursday night as I sat alone in church keeping, whilst at the same time knowing sisters and brothers were keeping vigil from their homes, the evening had an incredibly strong sense of peace to it. There were other moments for me during the week, and I am looking forward to having the time to reflect more deeply on them in the coming days.
I want to encourage us all to be more like the Mark, ask questions, seek answers, don’t let the cliff-hanger sit there unanswered.
Whether you partook of the course or not, I want to encourage you to spend time contemplating what Lent has meant to you this year, and also how you are going to respond to God.
Take time to pray, and listen as we continue to seek to understand what being a disciple of Christ means to us personally and as a member of our benefice. The road over the past year has been hard, and having the strength to observe a Holy Lent has added to that challenge.
Today it’s time to take rest and recharge ourselves for the things that lay ahead of us, for it is a day of great jubilation, we once again sing our Alleluias, and celebrate Christ risen from the tomb; We celebrate the sacrifice he made for us, the fulfilment of prophecy and the assurance that we live as an Easter people who know salvation and the promise of eternal life through the new life of Christ.
Today our joy is complete as we greet our Risen Saviour, and we give thanks for all we have received.
May you all have a Blessed and Joyful Easter.
Alleluia, Christ is Risen.
