In the readings referenced below, Jesus takes the ordinary and demonstrates how the power of God is manifest. In the first (John 9:1-41), Jesus makes mud and rubs it on the blinds man’s eyes. He tells him to go and wash. And he does and comes back seeing. Now comes the problem. The disciples ask who was responsible for the man’s blindness, him or the parents. The authorities assume that someone is guilty and have already made the blind man an outcast, after all he is blind. Just to make it more problematic Jesus has made mud for the man’s eyes on the Sabbath, work you know, not allowed even to change a life. Even more telling is that the authorities disputed that the man was blind or that he could now see, and questioned him and his parents. Think about it, they knew him and that he had lived in their community, yet they disputed his being healed, separating him and, like bullies, challenging him and his very existence. They claim their heritage as children of Abraham, but cannot see God with them. Jesus tells the blind man who he is and sets him free from the bigotry and self-serving of false piety.
In the second text (John 11:1-45), Jesus stays nearby and hears that his friend Lazarus is sick and fallen asleep. Jesus continues his ministry to the community of the blind man, even though the authorities want to stone him for breaking the Sabbath. The report comes that Lazarus is dead and they go to Bethany, where the authorities are seeking to question and condemn Jesus for breaking the rules. In the second passage, we hear the doubt about why Jesus wasn’t there, the promise of the new life, and the practicality of staying away from the tomb. The mourning is still going on, and the tomb is closed, and ever practical, we are reminded that the tomb will smell. But Jesus goes to the tomb and asks that the stone be rolled away. The very human and ordinary thing that happens in that Jesus cries and prays to his Father that the people will see what God is doing. “Lazarus, come out!” “Unbind him and let him go.” Just words of promise and healing and change. And those who were with Mary in the midst of mourning believed. Simple words. Breathing faith.
According to the text (Matthew 28:1-10), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were standing vigil at the tomb of Jesus. It had been three days and the Sabbath was over, so just maybe they could get the tomb opened and the final preparations for death be completed. Imagine, an earthquake, the earth reels, the stone tips and rolls away and the tomb is open and a figure in dazzling white, so bright, no wonder they were frightened that they couldn’t move and the guards were frightened to death. And even more, the angel tells them not to be afraid, that he who was crucified was raised and he is not there. He even invited them to look and see. Now think about it, they were tired, Jesus was dead and now gone, raised, and there is an angel telling them Jesus is risen and to go to Galilee and he will meet them there. If that isn’t enough, as they are returning to Jerusalem on a full run to tell the disciples, Jesus stops them with a simple: “Good morning” and in those words they are ready to hold him in their terror. Keep him for them. But Jesus tells them to let go so they can meet him in Galilee.
Telling the world. Simple words, go wash, get up, good morning. Words that ask us to let go of our rules and expectations. Words that surprise us by their simplicity that somehow demand that we walk with Jesus in his resurrection to show love to a world in pain. Words that ask us to journey well into our Galilee to declare: Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb! Amen.