Mar. 31, 2024

“It’s Easter - Are You Listening?”

Mark 16:1-8

 Crucifixion was a study in cruelty, designed to maximize the suffering of the victim. Crucifixion was death by slow torture. Good Friday recalls how the Romans were masters of this terrible act. As our Gospel opens, Jesus has already died and his body has been placed in the tomb.  Luke’s story begins with the end and ends with the beginning. Mark begins by telling us about a group of women who were convinced it was the end. These women had devoted their time and their possessions to his cause. Then they had watched him die. There was nothing “good” about that Friday for them. For them it was the end. As it happened, when they reached the tomb, they found the stone was already rolled away. And, the tomb was empty. The body of Jesus wasn’t there. Now Mark ends this story by telling us of a group of women who were told of a beginning. The angels have an announcement for these frightened women. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.” They hurried back to tell “the eleven apostles and the other disciples” the great news. They told them but the disciples didn’t listen. The disciples believed death had claimed one more victim—Jesus. Soon the disciples would be convinced by “many infallible proofs” that Jesus had defeated death. It would be the beginning of Christ’s people carrying on the Risen Christ’s work. The story was just beginning. It’s Easter. Are you listening?

 Questions:

1. What was crucifixion so terrible?
2. How was the tomb the end?
3. How was the message of the angels the beginning?