John 20.1-18
“Do not hold on to me”
You made it; you’re there; well done – you’re on the last of this series and about to launch out to celebrate and to live Resurrection. How have you changed on this year’s journey through Lent and Holy Week? Have you?!
Today’s verses begin early Sunday morning with three disciples, Mary, Peter and John discovering the tomb empty and assuming the body of Jesus had been taken. The men returned home, maybe they needed to do their grieving in private. Mary stayed and her tears continued. The last few days had seen such a rapid change in her world that it seems to me she was experiencing both extremes of grief – part of her wanting to deny any of this was happening and part of her accepting that Jesus was gone forever with all the feelings of helplessness and sorrow that entails. She is staring into the grave, seeing only darkness. When she turns, facing into the light of day the gardener, or so she assumes, asks why she is weeping and who she is looking for. Jesus speaks her name and we have to imagine how that felt for her. The text suggests she embraced him, holding on tight – fully back in the denial stage of grief. If she could only hold on to this moment everything could go back to being as it was before – no arrest, no trial, no crucifixion. But the world has changed. The power of God’s love has defeated the worst cruelty that humanity can conceive. Now the world must be told that death can have no dominion. Mary lets go and sets out to share this life changing news. Do we? Or is the annual Easter celebration a time for clinging to traditions, expecting nothing to change other than to go through it all again next year?
Which Jesus do we hold on to? Which model of God do we cling to?
There is no room here to explore this in detail but know this - the stone is rolled away. All barriers hindering our relationship with God are removed. Any stones that get in the way now are the ones we create. You have been freed to turn around and go out to share and live Resurrection. Halleluiah!
Sally Thomas
Inner Manchester Mission Network Facilitator
Christ is Risen - risen indeed!
We pray for everyone searching for a new start, new hope, new love.
May you and God meet each other today.
Easter life to you,
Amen
