There is no definitive conclusion of the Gospel accounts after Jesus’ resurrection. The tales of seeing Jesus alive seem to unlock hopes and promises of revelations to come, come pouring out. The symbol of Easter is not an empty tomb, but a wide door opening on a sunrise. It is like going out early on an Ithaca morning in late April or early May and having the fresh spring air hit our face and chill our nostrils. There is still a hint of winter around, but we know what is coming.
The picture we have of the disciples in the days that follow the resurrection is frankly one of confusion. They continue to be afraid, perplexed, and hence resort to old habits. The writer of Mark claims that the first witnesses of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome, don't say anything to anyone at first. Two of the disciples decide they need to leave Jerusalem and take the road to Emmaus. Seven other disciples, including Peter, James and John, go back to fishing in Lake Galilee. They all continue to misinterpret and forget what Jesus' asked them to do. A large group of the disciples twice gathered together in an upper room that was carefully locked because of a free-floating fear of the outside world.
Yet the risen Jesus doesn't sulk over our disbelief or play a game of hide and seek. Whether the disciples are fearfully huddled together, escaping Jerusalem via the dusty road to Emmaus or fishing along the shoreline of the lake, Jesus revealed himself, saying, “Do not fear, I am not a ghost, it is really me. Here am I ahead of you, meeting you again. Come along, come follow me out into the world.”
Yes, to be sure, the risen Lord needs to explain the meaning of Easter. For despite what some of the Gospel writers later will claim, it was not at all obvious in the scriptures or in the tradition that the messiah would have to suffer, die, and be raised. A suffering messiah was a radically new fulfillment of the scriptures. It became clear that the risen Lord was leading people of faith into a new age that would be much more than a continuance of the previous age.
The message for all of us is that God calls us beyond our strength, our endurance, our wit, and our imagination. The resurrection story is unfinished because God is simply not finished with us. God won't let death be the end. God goes ahead, prepares the way, and clears the path. The resurrection story is about a fresh life, a freedom and life in a new land and God won't permit us to smother it. We can't ultimately sandbag God's love.
Easter proves that we don't have to beg a reluctant God, we don't have to keep looking over our shoulder to see if God might be tempted to sneak back to a safe heaven. Jesus goes on ahead and doesn't hold back. Nor is God's grace withheld until the church or we get our own house in order. Easter isn't delayed until everything you and I should have done is accomplished. God doesn't hold off until the church is of one mind over this or that issue. Easter is not a result of our consensus about new life, but of God's commitment to new life. While we were still despairing over the guest list, fretting about the menu, and fumbling for the good silverware, God announced, “Wake up!” The world will not frustrate or delay the invitation, evil will not cancel the banquet, or death kill the host. “Hey! It's time to celebrate the victory of life over death,” says the risen Lord. “Do not fear the future anymore. Come along; meet me at the Farmer’s Market, or along the shores of Beebe Lake, or at Loaves & Fishes. Come to my banquet held in thousands and thousands of places around the world, large and small, places where sisters and brothers gather as Easter people.” Enter and celebrate the feast of victory God has won for humanity, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
