Loving God, you meet us in our bewilderment and fear and bring us good news. Help us this day to trust your promises, and to walk with the Risen One, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The very first line in the Gospel of Mark is this: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk. 1:1). By the end of the Gospel of Mark, it is clear that the story is still only beginning. Mark ends with the words that we heard today: “and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mk. 16:8). We know for a fact that this is not the end of the story, for if it were, none of us would ever have heard about Jesus Christ. No – we know that eventually, somebody said something to somebody. We also know from other New Testament writers about appearances of the risen Jesus and even eating and drinking with him and touching him. So why would Mark’s gospel end with this ending that isn’t really an ending?

I happen to believe that Mark intended it this way. I believe that Mark knew that any ending would be quite inadequate for the good news of Jesus Christ. I believe that Mark ends with a realism that proclaims the good news in spite of our failures and our fear. I believe that Mark speaks to us where we live, for how many of us have ever said nothing out of fear? If we were one of the women in today’s gospel, perhaps we would have been afraid, too! Keep in mind the events that had just taken place.

The disciples had run away, Peter had denied that he even knew Jesus, and the women had stood at a distance, watching what was happening to Jesus (Mk. 14-15). One has to imagine that they might be feeling some guilt over not having “been there” for Jesus in the end. The women who had watched from afar must have seen how alone Jesus was. They were, in all likelihood, overcome by grief and disbelief over what had happened to Jesus. And so there they are on Sunday morning, coming to the tomb – hoping that at least they would be able to anoint his body in the end.

Doesn’t it make sense that they would be alarmed and bewildered and perhaps plagued by guilt feelings once again when they come to the tomb and don’t find Jesus’ body? Yet, the message of the angel is for these women, and for the disciples who ran away, and for Peter who denied Jesus. He has been raised from the dead, he is going ahead of them to Galilee, and there they will see him. It is a message that addresses their confusion about the past, their bewilderment about the present, and their fear about the future. It is also a message that Jesus had given them prior to his death.

Three times Jesus told his disciples that he would suffer and be crucified and then be raised from the dead (Mk. 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). Jesus had also told them that after he was raised from the dead he would go ahead of them to Galilee (Mk. 14:28). Promises are being fulfilled, just as Jesus said they would be.

And so, in his brief message, the young man (or angel) addresses the women’s confusion over what has just happened. Jesus’ crucifixion and death was not the end of their hope in him, but was part of God’s plan all along. As horrible as it was, Jesus knew that it was coming and submitted himself to unspeakable suffering, knowing that in the end it would bring life. Jesus also knew that in the end he would be raised from the dead – Thus, the stone already rolled away from the tomb and the absence of any body inside. It is unlikely that it sinks in right away, but the angel addresses their confusion: “He has been raised... just as he told you” (Mk. 16:6, 7).

At the same time, he addresses their bewilderment over the present. They came expecting to anoint Jesus’ body, and instead they are greeted by a young man who seems to be an angel. They came expecting a heavy stone in their way, and instead they find the tomb wide open. They came hoping that they could do this one last service for Jesus, and instead they are given a commission to go and speak. Yet, the angel has a message for the present, too: “he is going ahead of you... just as he told you” (Mk. 16:7).

You come expecting one thing and you find something else. You expect people to act in a certain way and they don’t. You expect things to stay the same and then they change. You expect things to change and then they stay the same. You come expecting a costume party and you find out that it isn’t. Aren’t most people at least a little disconcerted when the earth shifts under them?

Yet, Jesus is going ahead of us. No matter how unstable or rocky the road seems, when we are following Jesus, he has gone ahead of us to prepare the way. When we have been told to share the good news with others, Jesus has gone ahead to prepare their hearts. When we have a difficult road to travel, Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare the way. When we are confronted with matters of life and death, Jesus has gone ahead of us, assuring us that death is not the end, but is followed by resurrection. Remember? “He is going ahead of you... just as he told you” (Mk. 16:7).

Finally, the angel’s message addresses both their fear and ours about the future. For the women plagued by guilt and bewilderment -- for the disciples who ran away when Jesus needed them most – for Peter who caved in to fear and denied knowing Jesus – and for us – the angel has a message: “You will see him, just as he told you” (Mk. 16:7).

They would not be left simply wondering what happened with no body and no Jesus either. Jesus would not stay away from them because of their frailties and failings. In the end, they would see Jesus, and they would know that he is risen. This promise is not only for them, but for us.

The only thing that will vary from person to person is where and when we see Jesus. Perhaps we will see him through a young child who remembers sitting on Jesus’ lap. Perhaps we will see him in the waters of baptism and in the bread and the wine of the Lord’s Supper. Perhaps we will see him in a vision or a dream. Perhaps we will see him in the eyes of somebody who is hungry or thirsty or sick. Perhaps we will see him when we are in deep need ourselves and somebody ministers to us in the name of Christ.

Wherever it is that we see Jesus, we will know that it is him because of the witness of the Scriptures and because of his love. And, ultimately, we will see Jesus when we die. He has gone ahead of us. There, we will see him – not because we are especially good or worthy, but because Jesus has given himself for our sake.

It is my hope, however, that all of you would see Jesus before you die. For it is through constant companionship with Jesus that our confusion and our bewilderment and our fear become transformed into faith and understanding and peace. “He has been raised. ...He is going ahead of you... You will see him, just as he told you” (Mk. 16:6, 7). Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen.

Resurrection of Our Lord (B)      Mark 16:1-8
April 12, 2009
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2009 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved