The Very Regular Resurrection of Our Lord - Easter Sunday

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[John 20:1-18] “…Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead.” (verses 8-9)

This Will Be My Confidence

On the morning of the resurrection of our Lord, it all seemed so regular. It was the most unusual, un-regular thing to happen. A man had died, but was alive again.

Yet the events, as recorded, and as they happened, were so very regular and matter of fact, even with rather mundane details being recorded.

Mary Magdelene was bringing spices to the tomb [Mark 16:1], that early Sunday morning, to further anoint the body of Jesus, as was their burial custom. She arrived at the tomb expecting a deceased body, as is usual. But He was not there. [John 20:1-2]

She goes and tells Peter and John, that “disciple whom Jesus loved” – as in, “He loved even me” – and reported to them what she assumed, that someone had taken Jesus’ body away.       

Peter and John run to the tomb. It’s noted that John outruns Peter, looks in first, but without entering. Peter arrives, lagging behind, but enters the empty tomb first. They observe where the burial cloths are lying and how they are folded. Finally believe it. But go home. [John 20:3-10]

Mary Magdalene stays, weeping. But even when the two angels appear to her, the conversation is as natural as day. “Woman, why are you weeping?” “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have laid Him.” [John 20:11-13]      

And then Mary Magdalene turns around and sees, outside the tomb, the resurrected, living Lord Jesus – the one who was dead but is alive again – And this is so regular, so normal, that she assumes Him to be the gardener, one of the groundskeepers. [John 20:14-15]

It’s as if it’s as normal as day for this man, our Lord, to be living again. And it is. As normal as encountering a gardener in the garden, a groundskeeper in the cemetery.

Jesus asks Mary the same question the angles did, “Woman, why are you weeping?” And then, “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking she’s speaking to the gardener, she says, “Sir, if you’ve carried Him away, tell me where to, and I’ll come get His body.” [John 20:15]

But now it does happen. When Jesus calls her by name, “Mary”, she finally sees what she’s looking at: “Rabboni! Teacher!” [John 20:16]. It’s Him! He is risen!

Her Savior – her Redeemer – the one whom she loved most, because He so loved her – loved her, and you, to death, to death on a cross – He’s alive! She did not lose Him! He did not let her be lost.

He is bodily risen. She clings to Him. But He tells her, “Do not cling to Me yet – I still have one more thing to do to finish My course. Go, and tell My brothers – His disciples – ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God’” [John 20:17].

Mary then went on this sent mission and became the first to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus to His disciples, saying, “‘I have seen the Lord’ – and that He had said these things to her.” [John 20:18]

On Good Friday, He died for our offenses. On Holy Saturday, His body rested in the tomb. On Easter Sunday, He rose from the dead never to die again.

Friday through Sunday, in the Passion narratives and in the resurrection accounts in the four gospels – we get the regular details – and a lot of details. Not all of which even seem necessary. But all of which make it a surprisingly regular accounting of things. Because, in fact, it is all very regular.

What I mean is this: That there is nothing more regular than you being a creature created by God. Because this is a creation created by a Creator. And, being more than animals, it is normal that we are, morally, held to account for our lives. And, it’s true that we are sinners.

So, if God, who created you, loves you – and He does – what would be more normal, more regular, than for Him to have sympathy, to come down and join you, so that He can be of greatest help to you. To give His life for you, when you’ve gotten yourself into trouble.

You see, moms and dads know we should do the same for our children, to give ourselves for them. So, how much more would God, who is fully and purely good, do the same?

And, having given His life for us, in our flesh, how would He not also overcome all those things which assaulted us – sin, death, and hell – which He, the Parent, took on Himself – and rise again from them, alive, to share with us and give us life. His life to our bodies?

What God in Christ Jesus has done for you – by His incarnation, suffering and death – by His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His pending return — by His presence for you now, here, in His means of grace, His Word and Sacraments – it would, in fact, be abnormal, irregular, for God, who is good, to not do all this for you.

We know forgiveness and mercy, healing and protecting life, are good. Because we know that we’re suppose to do it. So, how much more would He forgive and give life? And He has.

All that our crucified and risen Savior Jesus has done for us is spectacular and most amazing – and very normal for God. And, undervalued by us.

He is available to all. Is He valued by you? Will you cling to Him where He has made Himself available to you? In prayer, calling on His name. In the ways He comes to you – in Baptism, in His Word learned, in His Sacrament received? In His blessing on your head?

This is regular life. It is also regular and normal to not know it all for sure yet, one-hundred percent. To still have questions. To still have blank areas in our knowledge. To still say, “I don’t feel sure about some things yet.” And, “I don’t know it all yet.”  

You are as regular and normal as Peter and John, that disciple whom Jesus loved. It says, when they were at the tomb, that John, “also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead” [Jn 20:8-9] – though they had heard it many times [throughout the Gospels].

I guess we are very regular. Stick with Jesus, regularly, and He will increasingly become your confidence and your strength. That is the regular way.

I urge you, therefore, brothers and sisters, to value your time with your risen Savior Jesus. To be with Him regularly, here and at home. And to live the most normal life that there is for us to live – a life with God, who is our Creator and our risen Redeemer. Amen.