DiscipleshipoftheEasterJesus(Mark16:1-8)
TheResurrectionofJesus16WhentheSabbathwasover,MaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJames,andSalomeboughtspices,sothattheymightgoandanointhim.2Andveryearlyonthefirstdayoftheweek,whenthesunhadrisen,theywenttothetomb.3Theyhadbeensayingtooneanother,‘Whowillrollawaythestoneforusfromtheentrancetothetomb?’4Whentheylookedup,theysawthatthestone,whichwasverylarge,hadalreadybeenrolledback.5Astheyenteredthetomb,theysawayoungman,dressedinawhiterobe,sittingontherightside;andtheywerealarmed.6Buthesaidtothem,‘Donotbealarmed;youarelookingforJesusofNazareth,whowascrucified.Hehasbeenraised;heisnothere.Look,thereistheplacetheylaidhim.7Butgo,tellhisdisciplesandPeterthatheisgoingaheadofyoutoGalilee;thereyouwillseehim,justashetoldyou.’8Sotheywentoutandfledfromthetomb,forterrorandamazementhadseizedthem;andtheysaidnothingtoanyone,fortheywereafraid.
TheShorterEndingofMark
[[AndallthathadbeencommandedthemtheytoldbrieflytothosearoundPeter.AndafterwardsJesushimselfsentoutthroughthem,fromeasttowest,thesacredandimperishableproclamationofeternalsalvation.]]
TheLongerEndingofMark
JesusAppearstoMaryMagdalene9[[Nowafterheroseearlyonthefirstdayoftheweek,heappearedfirsttoMaryMagdalene,fromwhomhehadcastoutsevendemons.10Shewentoutandtoldthosewhohadbeenwithhim,whiletheyweremourningandweeping.11Butwhentheyheardthathewasaliveandhadbeenseenbyher,theywouldnotbelieveit.
JesusAppearstoTwoDisciples12Afterthisheappearedinanotherformtotwoofthem,astheywerewalkingintothecountry.13Andtheywentbackandtoldtherest,buttheydidnotbelievethem.
JesusCommissionstheDisciples14Laterheappearedtotheeleventhemselvesastheyweresittingatthetable;andheupbraidedthemfortheirlackoffaithandstubbornness,becausetheyhadnotbelievedthosewhosawhimafterhehadrisen.15Andhesaidtothem,‘Gointoalltheworldandproclaimthegoodnewstothewholecreation.16Theonewhobelievesandisbaptizedwillbesaved;buttheonewhodoesnotbelievewillbecondemned.17Andthesesignswillaccompanythosewhobelieve:byusingmynametheywillcastoutdemons;theywillspeakinnewtongues;18theywillpickupsnakesintheirhands,andiftheydrinkanydeadlything,itwillnothurtthem;theywilllaytheirhandsonthesick,andtheywillrecover.’
TheAscensionofJesus19SothentheLordJesus,afterhehadspokentothem,wastakenupintoheavenandsatdownattherighthandofGod.20Andtheywentoutandproclaimedthegoodnewseverywhere,whiletheLordworkedwiththemandconfirmedthemessagebythesignsthataccompaniedit.]](Translation©LawrenceMoore,MarkforMissionalDisciples,WalkingtheWalkPublications,2018)
Thefaithfulwomendisciples
MaryMagdalene,MarythemotherofJames(and,presumably,Jesus),andSalome
cometothetombatfirstlight.MarkcontraststhemwithPeter,JamesandJohn–
thethreemaledisciplesthataresoconspicuousbytheirabsence.InGethsemane,
Jesus,inthedeepestpossibledistress,takesthemwithhimtosharehismomentof
aguishandtesting.Heasksthemtwiceto“keepawake”;thisissomethingthathe
mustdoalone,butasksthemtwiceto“keepawake”–ieto“keepwatch/keep
company”(14:34,38).Theydononotkeepwatch,butsleepinstead.
Bycontrast,Marktwiceemphasisesthatthewomen“keepwatch”:theykeepwatch
duringthecrucifixion(15:40)andwatchJesus’burialandthesealingofthetomb
(15:47).Markemphasisesthatthey“keepwatch”byconstructinghiscrucifixion
narrativeoverthethreeRomanwatches:9am,12noonand3pm.
TheyhavebeenpreventedfromanointingJesus’bodyforburialproperlybyboththe
Sabbathandthestone.Theserepresentthetragedyandapparenthopelessnessof
thisendingtoJesus’mission:Pilate(Rome)hasauthorisedtheburial;theSanhedrin
hasnotevenaffordedtheLordoftheSabbathaproperburialinorderthatSabbath
observanceisn’tviolated.TheworldorderofEmpireapparentlyremainsintact.
ThehintofNewCreation(16:2)
Thereisthebaresthintthatsomethingradical–agame-changer–hashappenedin
Mark’snarrative.Thisisanewweek.Theoldweek,sealedbyJesus’deathandthe
Sabbath,hasbeenbroughttoaclose.TheSabbathorder–a6-dayweekfollowed
bytheSabbath–ismodelledontheGenesiscreationnarrative.ThiswasGod’s
orderforhumanliving:anorderthatwasmeantforthelife,blessingandflourishing
ofhumankind.IntheworldofEmpire,ithasinsteaddelivereddeathand
godforsakenness.TheSabbathnighthasbeenthesealofdarknessanddeath.
Thewomenarrive“veryearlywhenthesunhadrisen”.IsthisaMarkanpun–
“sunrise/Sonrise”?IsMarkdeliberatelyevokingthecreationstory–whenthecosmic
darknessofchaosisshatteredbyGodcreatinglight?Isthereanewstorytobe
written,arisingoutoftheashesoftheold?
“Whomovedthestone?”(16:3-4)
TheseversesweretheinspirationforFrankMorison’sclassic,WhoMovedthe
Stone?MarktellsusthatthewomenreturntothetombonEasterSundayexpecting
thateverythingwouldbeastheyhadleftit.Theirquestionastheywalkisvery
personal:“Whowillrollawaythestoneforus?”TheeventsofEasterSundayarefor
thedisciples.DiscipleshipoftheEasterJesusisnotaboutfaithfullyattendinga
martyr’stomb;itwillprovetobesomethingfarmoreradicalandchallenging.
TheyarrivetofindthestonerolledawayandthetombemptyofJesus’body.We
arenottoldwhomovedthestoneandhow.Mark’snarrativedoesnotrecountwhat
hadhappenedearlier;thestonehasbeenmovedandthewomenaretoldonly,“He
hasbeenraised”(16:6).Whileitisclearthattheanswertothe“who”questionis
God,Mark’semphasisisonthefactthatthemovingofthestoneandtheraisingof
Jesushavealreadyhappened.Thewomenarelatecomersonthescene.Theywill
notseetherisenJesusatthetomb–“heisnothere”;hehasalreadygoneaheadof
themtoGalilee,wherehewillbewaitingforthem(16:7).
TheabsenceofJesus:anewstoryhasbegun
MarkshowsnoapparentinterestinJesus’experienceofEasterSunday.Thereare
noresurrectionappearances;noencounterswiththedisciples;noteachingonwhat
theresurrectionmeans,orhowittiesinwithallthathasgonebefore–no
equivalentofLuke’sEmmausRoad,Matthew’sGreatCommissioning,orJohn’s
restorationofPeter,inotherwords.Jesus,whohasbeensocloselythefocusof
Mark’spassionnarrative,andwhosebodyhasbeensomuchafocalpoint,isnow
simply“nothere”.HehasalreadyleftforGalilee.
Mark’sEasterstoryisn’taresolutiontohisaccountofwhathasgonebefore.Thisis
notsomedramaticdénouement,inwhichhetiesupallthelooseendsandanswers
allthereaders’questions.Whatismoststrikingispreciselytheabsenceofthissort
ofcontinuitywithwhathasgonebefore,signifiedbytheabsenceoftherisenJesus.
TheresurrectionofJesusisnotalast-secondrabbitthatMarkpullsoutofthehat.It
isnotsomesortof“happyending”tohisearlierstory;thatstoryended–itwas
sealedwithJesus’bodyinthetomb.Thisisanewstory.ItisanewstoryofJesus–
theresurrectedJesus–andithasalreadybegunforhim.Hehasleftthesceneof
thelaststory.Thenewstoryisnotsituatedinthegarden,amongthewreckageof
the“oldstory”.
ThisnewstoryofJesusisalreadyimpliedpreciselybyhisabsence.Markflagsit,but
thatisall.Instead,hisentirefocusisonthedisciples.Howwilltheyrespond?This
isbecausethenewstoryfocusesonthedisciples.Itwillbewrittenbythemintheir
responsetothecalloftherisenJesustofollowhim.
Theencounterwiththe“youngman,dressedinawhiterobe”(16:5)
Thewomenencountera“youngman,dressed(literally“wrapped”)inawhite
robe.HeisneithertheangelofMathew’sstory,northetwomenin“dazzling
clothes”ofLuke’s,whoinboththosestories“appearsuddenly”.NordoesMarktell
usabouttheneatlyrolledlinengracewrappings(asJohndoes).
Wehaveseenthis“youngman”before:heisthemysteriousfigure,presentwiththe
disciplesatJesus’arrest,whoseloinclothisseizedbyaguard,andwhofleesfrom
Gethsemane,naked(14:51-52).Heisotherwiseunnamedandunidentified.
IsthisstretchingMark’ssymbolandimagerytoofar?ItmaybethatMarkhassimply
recordedanincident;therewasanunidentifiedyoungmanwhowasthereandwho
fled,andofwhomweknownothingelse.Oritcouldbethattheyoungmanis
actuallyMarkhimself,assomeChristiantraditionhassuggested.ButMarkdoesnot
introducerandomcharactersintohisnarrativewithoutpurpose;similarly,his
passionnarrativeissaturatedinsymbol,aswehavediscovered.TheGethsemane
storyfocusesonTheTwelvewhohadbeenwithhimatthePassovermeal,andwho
hadprotestedtheirloyaltyvehemently.Thereisnomentionofanyoneelsepresent
atthemeal,leastofall,theyoungman.Yetheappearsmysteriouslyandisincluded
inthestoryofJesus’ultimatedesertionbythedisciples.Andnow,onEasterSunday,
wehavetheappearanceofanothermysterious“youngman”.Itisdifficultnotto
hearimmediateechoesoftheGethsemaneincident–particularlybecauseMark
againmakesafeatureofhisclothing.
Aswesawalready,ChedMyerssuggests,compellingly,thatweoughttoseethis
“youngman”asasymbolofthedisciples.AtGethsemane,hefleeswiththe
disciples,leavingbehindhisloincloth.Heembodiesthefaithlessnessofthe
communityofhisdisciples.Jesusis“wrapped”(clothed)inalinengrave-clothby
Joseph.OfthisthereisnosignonEastermorning(compareJohn’snarrativeatJohn
20:6-7);instead,theyoungmanis“wrapped”inalongwhitecloth,recallingMark’s
descriptionofJesus’robebecoming“dazzlingwhite”atthetransfiguration
(9:3).Whiterobeshad,bythetimeMarkwrote,becomethesymbolofChristian
martyrs.
Weoughttoseetheclothingsymbolisingdiscipleship,inotherwords:theyoung
man’sloinclothinGethsemanethatisleftbehindsothathecanfleerepresentsthe
faithlessnessofthedisciplesandtheirrefusaltowalktheWayofthe
Cross.Narratively,itisthesameclothpurchasedbyJosephinwhichhewrapsthe
crucifiedJesusinordertodisposeofhiminunseemlyhasteasan(unholy)actof
Sabbathobservance.Now,onEasterSunday,theyoungmanagainrepresents
discipleship–discipleshipoftheJesuswhosenewstoryhasalreadybegun.Butthis
time,heisdressedinJesus’graveclothes,whichhavebecomeforhisfollowersa
martyr’srobe.
Thethirdcalltofollow(16:6-8)
MarkpresentsEasterSundayasthethirdcalltofollowJesus.Thefirstisbythe
lakeside(“FollowmeandIwillmakeyoufishforpeople”);thesecondatCaesarea
Philippi(“Denyyourself,takeupyourcrossandfollowme”).Inthetombthatis
emptyofJesus,thewomen,whohavefollowedJesusfaithfullytothecross(theend
ofthatdiscipleshipstory)nowhearJesus’thirdcalltofollowtherisenJesus.Three
pointsneedtobenoted:
1. Theyhearitfromthe“youngmaninwhite”,whorepresentswhat
discipleshipoftherisenJesuswillmean(iemartyrdom).Thisisthecallto
walktheWayoftheCrossfaithfully,insteadofabandoningit/Jesus.
2. Theyaretoldto“tellthedisciplesandPeter”.Hereistheclearestindication
thattheEasterstoryisanewstoryofdiscipleship.Markhasportrayedthe
collapseofthecommunityofdisciplesintwostages:thedisciples’flightand
Peter’sdenial.Theyoungmannowissuesthethirdcalltofollowintwo
stages:“GoandtellthedisciplesandPeter”.Thisisthecalltothesame
discipleswhohavefailedJesussospectacularly.Theresurrectionofthe
crucifiedJesusmeansthattheirfailurewillnotbethelastwordinthestory
ofdiscipleship.Iftheywillhearandrespond,thereisanewopportunityto
shareinthenewstoryofJesus.
3. TheyaretogobacktoGalilee,whereitallstarted.Thisiswheretheywillsee
therisenJesus.Theresurrectionisnota“happyending”tothestoryMark
hastold,butthebeginningofanewstoryofdiscipleship:thestoryisstarting
alloveragain.
Terrorandamazement:thereactionofthewomen(16:8)
Theabruptendingofthegospelat16:8haspuzzledanddisturbedMark’sreaders
sincethebeginning.Indeed,sounsatisfactoryandoffensivehasitseemedthattwo
laterendingswereaddedIlatermanuscripts(16:8band16:9-20).Thereisnodoubt,
however,thatneitherofthesewereintendedorwrittenbyMark.
Arecurringargumenthasbeenthattherewasoriginallyalongerendingtothe
gospelthathasbeenlost.NTWrightmakeswhatispossiblythemostcredible
defenceofthisthesis(TheResurrectionoftheSonofGod,chapter14).Twopoints
countcompellinglyagainstit:
1. Ifitisthecasethattheendinghasbeenlost,wecannotreconstructit(as
Wrightandothersdo)andthenuseitasabasisforourreadingoftheclosing
versesofMark’sstory.Quitesimply,thatisnotthestorythatwehave.Nor
isimportingorassuminganendingsimilartothatoftheothergospelssafe;
wehavealreadyseen,fromwhatwedohave,thatMarktellshisownstory
verydifferently,withdifferentemphases.
2. Theassumptionofalostendingderivesfromtheabruptnessand
unlikelihoodoftheending:Markrecordsonlytheterrorandamazementof
thewomen,theirfailureto“tellthedisciplesandPeter”,andthefactthatwe
donotknowwhathappenedasaresult–whether“thedisciplesandPeter”
“heardandfollowed”.Yetwehaveseenthattheentirethrustofthestoryat
thispointistopresentEasterSundayasanewstoryofJesusthathasalready
begunforhim;thequestioniswhatpartthediscipleswillplayinit.
“Terrorandamazement”areperfectlycredibleresponsestotheeventsthatthe
womenwitness.BotharetermsusedbyMarktodescribehumanresponsesto
demonstrationofpowersbeyondtheircontrol–storms,exorcisms,thethreatof
death,miracles,thetransfiguration.This“newstory”isterrifyingandamazing:itis
anactofGod–ofre-creation–thattakesthemintoentirelynew
territory.Moreover,itisareasonableresponsetothecalltofollowJesus,given
whattheyhavecometounderstandwhat“takingupthecross”means.Itfindsit
echointhereactionofMark’sownreaders,facedwiththequestionofwhat
discipleshipofJesusmeansinthecontextoftheGreatRevolt.
Theunfinishedstory:anewstoryofdiscipleship
Wedonotknowhowthestoryends–orrather,begins–becauseMarkdoesnottell
us.Butthisissurelypreciselyhispoint:Markwantshiscommunity(whoknows
whathappened“afewminuteslater”afterhisstoryends)toputthemselvesinthe
shoesofthedisciples–thefirstchurch–onthatearlyEastermorning.Mark’sown
communityishanginginthebalanceofwhethertosellouttotheRomans,embrace
themessianiccalltoarmsoftherebelrecruiters,orfollowtheJesuswhodid
neither,butdidnotsavehimself.Jesus’prioritywasnothissurvival.Facedwiththe
calltofollowbyayoungmanwhoisdressedasamartyr;facedwiththepowerof
Rome,ontheonehand,andthepowerofresurrectionontheother,terrorand
amazementarebothcompletelyreasonableresponses!
Wemakeahugemistakeifweassumethat“resurrection”inthecontextofthisthird
calltodiscipleshipisasourceofcomfort.Resurrectiondoesnotmeanthatwecan
avoidtheconfrontationandsufferingofchangingtheworld;ifwearetofollowthe
crucifiedJesusfaithfully,theresurrectionmeansthatwecannotfleewhen
crucifixionlooms.GethsemanetellsusthatJesus’ownfaithinhisvindicationby
Godmeantthatthehorror,terroranddarknessoftheWayoftheCrosshadtobe
facedratherthanavoided;therewasnootherwayofbeingfaithful.Thatwillbe
equallytrueforanyofuswhoseektorespondtoJesus’calltofollow.AsDietrich
Bonhoeffersays,reflectingonMark16:8,“WhenChristcallsaperson,Hebidsthem
tocomeanddie”(TheCostofDiscipleship).
Mark’sunfinishednarrativeishismeansofemphasisingthatthenewstoryofJesus
thatbeginsevenearlieronEasterSundaythanthearrivalofthewomenatthetomb
isanewstoryofdiscipleship.Itisastorythathascontentandcredibilityonlytothe
extentthatthediscipleshearandrespond.Itisalways,ineveryageandcontext,a
“storywaitingtobewritten”bythechurch–thecommunityofdisciplesofJesus.
ThisisthepointthatMarklabours,andwhichisalwaysthemomentofdecisionfor
thechurch.Thechurchalwayshangsinthebalancebetweenbeingthefaithful
discipleswhoanswerthenewcalltotakeuptheircrossesandfollow,andthe
discipleswhoflee.EachofusasMark’sreaders–individuallyandcommunally–is
challengedtowalkJesusWaytotheKingdom–tobeavisibledemonstrationof
whattheKingdomis,ratherthanabaptisedversionofEmpire.Weareauthentically
thechurchtotheextentthatourlivesandactionscorrelatetothestoryofJesusthat
wetell.WearetoberecognisablylikeJesus–partoftheGoodNewswe
proclaim.Andwemayprovetobefaithless–tobepartoftheBadNewsfromwhich
theworldneedssaving.
Thatiswhatshouldcauseus“terrorandamazement”.ThecalloftherisenJesusto
followpresentsuswithanopportunitytofollowthatisasterrifyingasitis
wonderful.Itisnotacalltotakeuparmsandfight;itissomethingmore
difficult.TheWaythatJesuscallsustowalkisneverlesscostlythanthewayof
armedrevolt;thereisnocross-freeroadforfaithfuldisciples.Terror,amazement,a
timetodecidecarefully,witheyeswideopentowhatwearesigningupfor:Mark
intendsustounderstandthattheGoodNewsofJesus,theMessiah,theSonofGod,
isastorythatcanonlybewritteninthebloodofthechurch.
Goingdeeperintothetext(Mark16:1-8)
Likesomanyscenesfromthegospels,thisonehasbeenalltooromanticisedbythe
church.Itwouldhavebeenariskyactforthesewomentodemonstratesolidarity
withsonotoriousapoliticaldissident.Butitwashardlyatriumphantone.Thisdawn
broughtthemonlythenumbdutyoflastrespectsandthataching,inconsolable
emptinessthatcomesfromhopecrushed.Thisseemsmerelythelast,pitilesslegof
Mark'sdiscipleshipjourney,endingatthecemeteryofourdreamsforanewworld.
Cruelly,eventhetherapeuticritualofweepingoverJesus’corpseandmustering
braveeulogiesisdenied.Theentrancetothemakeshifttombissealedshutbya
boulderthat”wasverylarge"(16:4).Theyhaltintheirtracks,pulledupshort.”Who
willrollawaythisstone?"theycrytonooneinparticular(16:3).Thisstoneblocking
theirwayterminates,withoutexplanation,thediscipleshipjourney.Whatanabrupt
andbitterclosuretothestory!ButthereisonemoresceneinMark'sgospel,and
uponithingesthepossibilityoftheChristianchurch.
Thelastwordcamefromtheenigmaticmessenger:"Getup,gotellhisdisciplesand
Peterthathe'sgoingonaheadofyoutoGalilee.Thereyouwillseehim,ashetold
you”(1627).Thisyoungman,thesymbolofthetransformationfrombetrayal
(nakedness)todiscipleship(whiterobe)hasissuedthethirdcalltodiscipleship(see
1:17,8:34).Itisaprospectthewomen,thereader,neverconsidered.Ourknees
buckleatthisinvitationtoresumetheWay—fornowweknowitsconsequencesall
toowell.Fromdeepwithinus,fromthatunexploredspacebeneathourprofoundest
hopesandfears,roarsatidalwaveof"traumaandecstasy".Terrified,weracewith
thewomenoutofthattombasifwehavejustseenaghost.Andsowehave.Forin
Jesus’emptytombisnothingbuttheghostofourdiscipleshippastandour
discipleshipfuture.InEaster’sfirstlight,Mark'sstoryendsasitbegan:"Heisgoing
beforeyou..."(16:17)
WearepromisedthatwewillseeJesusagaininGalilee,whichiswherethedisciples
werefirstcalledtofollow!Thenarrativeiscircular!Thisepiloguepresentsuswith
themostdangerousofmemories,alivingone;themostsubversiveofstories,a
never-endingone.Mark'sresurrectiontraditionoffersnovisionsofgloryortriumph.
ItleavesusonlywithaGodwhohearsourbroken-heartedcriesbeforethestoneof
impediment,andwiththeexecuted-but-risen-Nazarenewhocallsustodiscipleship
asmanytimesasittakes.Thethirdcallisspecificallydirectedtothosewhose
discipleshipbecamemiredinthedead-endofdenial:"TellthedisciplesandPeter..."
(16:7).Thereisnowaywardjourneythatcannotberedeemedbynewbeginnings.
ThatiswhyDietrichBonhoefferinsistedthatthechurchmust"recoveratrue
understandingofthemutualrelationbetweengraceanddiscipleship.""Andthey
saidnothingtoanyone,fortheywereafraid"(16:28).Whatanambiguous
conclusion!
Thenarrativestrategyof"theysaidnothing"hassomethingelseinmind.Thegenius
ofthis"incomplete"ending,likeapaintinglackingthefinishingstroke,isthatit
demandsaresponsefromitsaudience.Markleavesusnotwithaneatresolution
butwithaterribleultimatum.Whowilltellthis"goodnews”?Foritisnotonlythe
womenwho"know",weknownowaswell.Ifwewishthestoryofdiscipleshipto
continue,wecannotremainmerespectators.Willwerespond?Ifwearehonest,we
willadmitthatthecrossissointimidating,andourblindnesssopervasive,thatwe
canonlyanswer,"Webelieve;helpusinourunbelief!”(9:24).Evenourbestefforts
atfaithfulnessseeminevitablytofounder.Butallthatispartofthestory,too.Forit
isatthepointoffailureandofdisillusionmentthattheinvitationcomesagain.Then
ourdiscipleshipjourneyeithertrulyendsortrulybegins.
"Toseeagain"isMark’smastermetaphorforafaiththatlooksmoredeeplyinto
realityinordertoseewhatcouldbe.Wemighttranslateitliterally:“torevision."In
Mark'sEasternarrative,thewearyoldstoryoftheworld,inwhichthepowers
alwayswinandthepooralwayslose,isradicallyrevised.Butwecan“see”thisonly
in“Galilee,”thesymbolicsiteofdiscipleship.Mark'sstorybeganinthewilderness,
farfromthecentresofpowerandprivilege.Tothatlocationthedisciplesareurged
toreturn.
"Thewomenlookedagainandfoundthatthestonehadbeenrolledaway"(16:4).
Wetooareinvitedtolookagainandseethatawayhasbeenopenedup—awaythat
carriesustowardlife.Awaywasopenedforthewomentopreparethebodyof
JesusandtofollowtherisenonetoGalilee.Awayhasbeenopenedforusaswellto
bindthewoundsofourworld.Inaplaceofdeath,anewbeginningisoffered.Asin
Peter'scase,ourfaileddiscipleshipcanberedeemedbygrace.
Deathandresurrection,brokennessandhealing,marginalisationandempowerment,
sinandreconciliation,injusticeandtransformationallshapetheverypatternofthe
Christianlife.Resurrectionisgratuitous-apure,unearnedgiftofGod.Itisthe
ultimatetestofandtheonlyhopeforadisciple'sfaith.Atthesametime,weare
calledbytheSpirittoekeouttheresurrectionbitbybit,stepbystepontheWay.
Sometimesourexperienceofresurrectionisgloriousandclear.Butmostoftenitis
thefruitoflong,painfullabour-birthed,butneedingtobenurtured.
ChedMeyersetal(1996)“SayittothisMountain”:Mark’sStoryofDiscipleship
Allageworshipideas(Mark16:1-8)
Oneofthekeystogoodallageworshipistokeepitsimpleandrelativelyshort.
Ideallyaimforaserviceof45-50minutes.That’snottosayaservicecan’tbelonger
butifyouarethinkingof1hr30+thinkcarefullyaboutyouruseofspaceandabove
allelsebecreative,takerisksandhavefun–partyingisintegraltothekingdombut
we’llleavethatforayearonLuke…
Reflection–theauthorofMark’sgospeliskeentopointoutthatJesuswasvery
opentohisfriendsthatthisjourneytheysharedwouldculminateinhisdyingand
rising.Oneachoccasionthedisciplesareconfusedandfailtounderstandlookingfor
metaphorratherthanliteralunderstanding.Nowpost-deaththeyhavehadtoface
thefactthatcertainlyintermsofhisdeathJesuswasright.Thechallengethatawaits
themnowiswhethertheycanacceptthewholepictureheforetoldandembracehis
‘rising’.
ThefigureinthetombinstructsthewomentotellJesusfriendstogoonandmeet
JesusinGalileeashesaid–anacknowledgementofJesus’wordsinMark14.
Afterthedevastationanddisappointmentofthecrucifixion,againstalloddsthe
‘Way’isbackon.Everythinghaschanged–andboththewomenandthedisciplesof
Jesushavetomakeadecisionabouthowtheywillrespond.
Thisisgame-changingforustodaybecausethechallengeoftheemptytombislikea
claxonforthechurchtoembracetheideaoftheimprobableandtheseemingly
impossible.ThingscanchangeforthebetterandwhenwefollowtheJesuswhohas
goneaheadofusandtrustinthehelpoftheSpirithesendswecanbeboththe
catalystandtheagentsofthatchange.
JeffGoldbluminthemovieJurassicParkdeliversthefamouslinewhenchallenging
RichardAttenborough’sbeliefthatthedinosaurscanbecontrolledandwillnot
breed‘Lifealwaysfindsaway’.Heisprovedright…
ThisisthesamemessageJesushasbeendrip-feedingintohisfriends–deathwill
happenbutlifewillfindawaybeyondit.Thisisourgoodnews.
Idea–Eitheruseaplaytentoraframe(clotheshorse/maiden)andcoveritwitha
sheettocreateamakeshifttomb.Createastonefromcardorusesomethinglikea
gymball.Inviteanyyoungoroldpeopletoenterintothetombandbringoutone
thingtheyfind.Insidehavereadystripsofclothwiththeversesbelowwrittenone
oneach(theycanbeanypreferredtranslationratherthanthosebelow)Onceallthe
versesarecollectedinvitetheholderstoreadthemout:
HethenbegantoteachthemthattheSonofManmustsuffermanythingsandbe
rejectedbytheelders,thechiefpriestsandtheteachersofthelaw,andthathemust
bekilledandafterthreedaysriseagain.Mark8.31
9Astheywerecomingdownthemountain,Jesusgavethemordersnottotell
anyonewhattheyhadseenuntiltheSonofManhadrisenfromthedead.10They
keptthemattertothemselves,discussingwhat“risingfromthedead”meant.Mark
9.9-10
Hesaidtothem,“TheSonofManisgoingtobedeliveredintothehandsofmen.
Theywillkillhim,andafterthreedayshewillrise.”Mark9.31
3“WearegoinguptoJerusalem,”hesaid,“andtheSonofManwillbedeliveredover
tothechiefpriestsandtheteachersofthelaw.Theywillcondemnhimtodeathand
willhandhimovertotheGentiles,34whowillmockhimandspitonhim,floghimand
killhim.Threedayslaterhewillrise.”
Mark10.33-35
27“Youwillallfallaway,”Jesustoldthem,“foritiswritten:
“‘Iwillstriketheshepherd,
andthesheepwillbescattered.’[a]28ButafterIhaverisen,IwillgoaheadofyouintoGalilee.”Mark14.27-28
Prayer–Goingawayfromthe‘mock’tombrolloutalengthofliningpaperaccording
tothenumberofpeopleinthecongregation.Havesomepaintsandrollerstohand
andinvitepeopletocomeandplacetheirfootprintsonthepaperalongwiththeir
nameasasignoftheirfirst,oron-going,commitmenttofollowJesusandbepartof
hisWay.
Havesomereadycutfeetforthosewhoareunabletodothepaintactivityandgive
themspacetoaddtheircut-outfootprintstothecollage.
Youcouldhavemusicplayingorsingsongslike‘Willyoucomeandfollowme?’
(R&S558);‘Today,Ichoose’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSOQQVvHwJI;‘
HereIamLord(ItheLordofseaandsky)’(MP857)
Liturgiesandhymns(Mark16:1-8)
Thisiswhereyoucanfindhymnsuggestionsandliturgiesforusewiththisweek's
text.
OpeningPrayerforEasterSunday
CreatorofLife,
inraisingChristJesus
up,through,outof,andbeyond
thechainsofdeath,
Youopenedforustheway
toeternalandabundantlife.
MayourAlleluiasonthisday
floathighabovetheceiling
ofwhatwethinkweknow
andtranscendtotheheavenof
whatwebelieve—
andthuslive.
Raiseusup!
Renewourlives!
Resurrectourdreams!
ThroughJesusChristourLivingSavior,
Amen.
~writtenbyKarenTurner,andpostedon
theLifewaywebsite.http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_LW_MaundyThur
sday.pdf
Wheneverythingwasdark
anditseemedthatthesunwouldnevershineagain,
yourlovebrokethrough.
Yourlovewastoostrong,
toowide,
toodeep
fordeathtohold.
Thesparkscastbyyourlove
danceandspread
andburstforth
withresurrectionlight.
GraciousGod,
wepraiseyouforthelightofnewlife
madepossiblethroughJesus.
Wepraiseyouforthelightofnewlife
thatshoneonthefirstwitnessesofresurrection.
Wepraiseyouforthelightofnewlife
thatcontinuestoshineinourheartstoday.
WepraythattheEasterlightoflife,hopeandjoy,
willliveinuseachday;
andthatwewillbebearersofthatlight
intothelivesofothers.
Amen.
MichaelaYoungson,SuperintendentMinisteroftheEalingTrinityCircuit,
TheimageatthetopofthispostisbyRichardLyall.Hehasmadethisimage
availablefornon-commercialuseinworship.
SalvationPrayer
Godwhocreatedussuffersbecauseofus
Godwhodieduponthecrosssuffersforus
Godwhodwellswithussufferswithus
AndinGod’ssufferingwefindhope
God,yoursufferingbringsussalvation
Withoutyouthehorrorsofhumansufferingwouldbeunbearable
Yourstoryoflife,deathandresurrectiongiveslifemeaning
Yoursufferingfreesusfromourprisons
Becauseofyoursufferinganewworldisbreakingintoours
Maywelivethisdayintheknowledgeofyourpain
Maywelivethisdayintheassuranceofyourlove
Maywelivethisdayinthehopeoftheresurrection.
Today.
(writtenbyChristineSine,andpostedon
theGodspacewebsite.http://godspace.wordpress.com/)
Prayer
LordJesus,
youstretchedoutyourarmsofloveonthehardwoodofthecross,
thatallpeoplemightcomewithinthereachofyoursavingembrace.
ClotheusinyourSpirit,thatwe,
stretchingoutourhandsinlovingserviceforothers,
maybringthosewhodonotknowyoutoanawarenessandloveofyou;
whowiththeFatherandtheHolySpiritliveandreign,
OneGodforever!Amen!
~C.H.Brent(1862-1929AD)
PrayerforOthersonEasterMorning
OGod,withfacestouchedbythelightofanewday,
andheartswarmedbyourprayersandpraises,
wecomebeforeyoutopray
fortheneedsofourworld.
IntothelightofEastermorning
weraisethosewhoarestrugglingwithillness,
withdespairovertheirlives,orwith
thebreakdownofrelationships.
MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.
MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.
IntothelightofEastermorning,
webringthoseplacesinourworld
wherewar,violence,povertyandneed
aretheexperiencesofeverydaylife.
(Theseplacesmaybenamed)
MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.
MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.
IntothelightofEastermorning,
webringtheheadlinenewsofthisweekend
(thismaybenamed):
weholdinourheartsthepain
ofthosesufferingviolence,bereavementorconflict.
MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.
MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.
AndintothelightofEastermorning
webringourselves,theprivatestruggles,
theheart’syearnings,thehiddendreams,
theunfulfilledpotential.
MaythelightofChristshineuponus.
MaythelightofChristshineuponus.AMEN.
(writtenbyAnnSiddall,andpostedonthewebsiteoftheStillpointSpirituality
Centre.http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/)
CommunionforEasterSunday(seeattachments)
HymnSuggestion
MARYMAGDALENE&OTHERS
Tune:Bunessan
1.FaithfultoJesus,servinghimalways
uphillanddowndalethroughGalilee-
womenunnoticed,quietlysupporting;
Maryandothershelpinghimbe.
2.Jesusarrested-followersscattered-
menwiththeirbigmouthscannotbefound;
womenremainingwatchJesusdying,
Maryandothersstandingtheirground.
3.Allhopenowfaded-onlyabody,
coldanddisfigured-Jesusisdead.
womenstillcaringwatchinghimburied;
Maryandothers-nothingissaid.
4.Huddledtogethercarryingspices
(stillservingJesusinacoldtomb)
womeninmourningdoingtheirduty-
Maryandotherslostinthegloom.
5.Newhopesurprises(alarming,unsettling)
"Jesusisliving-risentoday!"
Thesefriendssofaithfulcan'ttakethegoodnews;
Maryandothersrunningaway.
6.Godofrenewal,hopeandsurprises,
youlovethequietfaithofafriend:
yetyouwouldblessuswithnewbeginnings,
Maryandothersneedwhatyousend!
AFUTUREfortheFRIGHTENEND
Tune:"Youshallgoout...."
1.Onresurrectiondaythewomenranaway,
&thestoryofGod'slovewasleftuncompleted-
yettoallwhofear,risenJesuscomesnear
sothatthey'llliveouthislove.
Sothestorywillonlybecomplete,
(withthebalancejustright,theendingneat)
Jesu'sstorywillonlybecomplete,
ifweliveouthislove.
2."IfJesusyouwouldsee,thengotoGalilee",
andbegintolivethelifeyou'veleftuncompleted.
Inthedailygrind,risenJesuswe'llfind
asweallliveouthislove.
Asweworktoensurethatjustice'sdone,
asweofferourall'tillovehaswon,
theneachdaywewillknowGod'srisenSon,
asweliveouthislove.
3.Donotprocrastinate,thetimeisgettinglate,
andeachmomentmustbeusedthat'sstilluncompleted
Wecanstartrightnow-risenJesusshowshow-
letusallliveouthislove.
IfweeachfollowJesusdaybyday,
letthepresenceofGodchasefearaway,
thenourstorycompleteswhatGodwouldsay,
asweliveouthislove.
ANEASTERDAYCOMMUNIONHYMN
Tune:DayofRest
1.Thefeastbeguninshadow
isnowdiffusedwithlight;
betrayalanddenial
arethroughYourdeathputright-
nowmightyresurrection
invitesusalltoshare
asguestsaroundYourtable-
forgiven-welcomedhere!
2.LikePeterandtheothers
wefailorsneakaway;
wehelptocrucifyYou-
forgiveus,Lord,wepray-
butthroughYourresurrection,
Yourvict’ryinthestrife,
withMaryandJoanna
wenowreceivenewlife!
3.We,too,walkwithCleopas,
confusedandindespair;
today,asinEmmaus,
oh,RisenLord,benear!
Sitwithusatthistable;
setheartsonfireforYou-
letEasterjoyempow’rus
eachdayourwholelivesthrough