Easter Ambivalence

Easter Ambivalence

Psalm 118:21-24; Mark 16:1-8 CEB

An Easter meditation delivered by Rev. Dr. Randy K. Hammer 

April 12, 2020

Had you been in that small group of women who visited the tomb of Jesus on that early Sunday morning, what would have been your feelings?  What would have been the mood?  What would have been your reaction to finding, as the account relates it, a stark, empty tomb?

An Easter resurrection account, with some variations, is found in all four of the gospels, as you undoubtedly already know.  But I chose Mark’s resurrection account for this morning’s service for a couple of specific reasons.

First, biblical scholars have long believed that of the four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – Mark was the earliest of the four, and both Matthew and Luke borrowed material from Mark for their own accounts.  So, Mark’s resurrection story is the earliest resurrection story to be found in the gospels. 

I should be forthright and tell you that there is a passage that refers to the resurrection in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians based on early Christian oral tradition, and this account likely was written a few years earlier than any of the gospel accounts (1 Corinthians 15:3-7).

However, with that having been said, Mark’s account is the earliest gospel account, which means we possibly find here in these eight verses the core or purest essence gospel account of what happened on that Sunday morning that we celebrate today.

But the curious thing about Mark’s gospel – and this constitutes the second reason I chose it today – is that the oldest known Greek manuscripts end at Mark 16:8 – “Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb.  They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid” – period.  Such is the way the earliest copies of Mark’s gospel ended. 

Verses 9-20, that follow, constitute two additional endings that were later tacked onto Mark’s gospel, as other stories about Jesus’ appearances after his death began to circulate and as handwritten copies of Mark’s gospel were copied over and over to be circulated throughout the churches.  In other words, the final chapter of Mark grew, as did the stories about Jesus’ post-Easter appearances.

But here’s the point: the reality is those first intimate followers and loved ones of Jesus were terrified when they approached and then ran from the tomb that Sunday morning!  “They were afraid”; such is the way Mark originally left his readers hanging.

Fast forwarding 2,000 years, do we not also approach this Easter morning with alarm, terror, dread, and fear?  Do we not greet this Easter morning with a certain amount of ambivalence?  That is, with opposing attitudes or feelings, with a degree of uncertainty?  The fact that we are not able to physically celebrate together this most important day of the Christian year says a lot, does it not?   Health experts tell us that we are currently approaching the apex of the COVID-19 epidemic in America. 

Most of us are alarmed by the news we hear daily.  Most of us are filled with terror of this invisible, silent killer.  Most of us are filled with dread over what could happen to us or our loved ones.  And if we are honest with ourselves, most of us would have to admit that we are afraid this Easter morning.

But the good news is, that watershed Sunday morning that began with so much alarm, terror, dread, and fear eventually gave way to great joy and hope.  Those closest to Jesus who had been so devastated by the events of that fateful Friday, and who had been so alarmed and frightened on that early Sunday morning, were able to look back upon those events and find great meaning in them, draw strength and courage from them, and find joy and hope in them.

And that is what Easter does for us.  Easter enables us to reflect upon and hold sacred the sufferings and troubles of life in a way we otherwise could not do.  Easter gives us confidence that the evil powers of the world will eventually be overcome.  Easter gives us hope that on the other side of the dark tombs of life there is a glorious sunrise and new possibilities.  The story of Easter gives us courage to face whatever struggle we currently face because the essence of Easter is victory, hope, and life!

As Suzanne stated earlier this week as we were planning and discussing today’s service, “If Easter is not able to support us during times of turmoil, then what good is it for us?”

So, as we reflect upon this Easter morning, carrying with us alarm, terror, dread, and fear brought on by all the sickness, suffering, trouble, and uncertainty in the world around us, we remember that those close friends of Jesus were weighted down with alarm, dread, terror, and fear too.  But may the essence of Easter – which is victory, hope, and life – provide us with both comfort and courage to face the weeks ahead!  May it be so.  Amen.