Mark 16: 1-7
“Thirty-three years” Mordachi thought to himself.
- “Thirty-three years since the birth of Jesus.”
- He remembered the excitement that ran wild throughout the Kingdom.
- Sitting in the mysterious presence of God seemed like only yesterday.
- He would never forget the beautiful sound of the borning cry.
- And then there were his own words to the frightened shepherds:
- “Don’t be afraid. A son is born to you this day and he is Christ the Lord.”
Now a generation had passed…and the years had not been kind.
- Jesus was all that the prophets of the kingdom had said he would be.
- He loved those who were unlovable.
- Brought joy to the sorrowful.
- Gave hope to the hopeless.
- Healing to the sick.
- Sanity to the possessed.
- And life to the dying.
He did so many special things:
- In the wilderness he went nose to nose and toe to toe with Old Scratch – Satan himself!
- And wupped him!
- He tamed the wild-eyed demoniac of Gerazine.
- Amid a storm that frightened seasoned sailors…he hushed the wind and angry sea.
“But what was the use” Mordachi shouted as he finished packing his bag…tears streaming down his cheeks.
- Things in the kingdom were not well.
- Though Jesus did and said many good things…
- Those in power refused to hear or understand.
- Finally…the religious leaders could not cope any longer.
- And they began plotting against his life.
- They would succeed by feeding the greed of one of his followers.
- “Judas” Mordachi spat as though he had just eaten something bitter.
- The prophets had foretold the destiny of Jesus.
- But Mordachi had put it out of his mind with the hope that if he did not think about it…it would not happen.
- But it did happen!
And what sadness there was when they all watched helplessly as Jesus prayed:
- “Father…if it is possible…let this cup pass from me.”
- Mordachi even looked up to God…willing him to intervene.
- But all He did was sadly hang his head as if helpless.
And what followed made justice a travesty.
- The trial was a mockery.
- The Temple rulers had already determined his guilt and punishment.
- The politicians were too cowardly to intervene.
- Even the people were seduced into calling for his end.
And then there came the verdict: Death by crucifixion.
- Mordachi shivered…remembering the brutal treatment and torturous walk to that hill overlooking Jerusalem’s garbage dump.
- And Jesus carrying the heavy crossbar that his hands would be nailed to.
Mordachi placed his hands over his ears as he remembered the thunderous blow of the hammer that drove the metal spikes into the hands and feet of Jesus.
- A deep moaning welled up in the kingdom…clouds gathered…darkness prevailed.
- Mordachi had lifted his eyes to God…only to see Him with his face in his hands and his shoulders shaking with weeping as no-one has ever wept before.
Well… Mordachi had had it! That was the last straw!
- This idea of a Holy Nation…a Royal Priesthood…a New Jerusalem was a lot of idle talk.
- The hope of anything good died with the death of Jesus on the cross.
- Mordachi was going to leave the kingdom.
- He did not want any part of this.
- It was all a cruel hoax.
He finished packing his backpack.
- Looked around his modest dwelling for the last time and walked out.
- Closing the door behind him.
- It was still dark and a strange peace…a quietness hung over the kingdom.
- Just like what happens after an early morning rain.
- “Another false sense of security” Mordachi said to himself.
- And so… Mordachi walked slowly away.
- Shifting his backpack as he considered what could have been and then what really was.
Out of respect he decided to stop by the grave in which the dead body of Jesus was placed.
- It was the least he could do.
- The early morning air was cool.
- On the horizon the first glowing hint of dawn.
- Mordachi stood in front of the huge stone that covered the mouth of the tomb.
- Lowering his eyes to offer a prayer of lament Mordachi sensed a slight tremor in the ground beneath his feet.
- Startled now…he saw the monolithic stone moving.
- “It cannot be” Mordachi thought as he stood amazed at what he saw.
No one was pushing the stone…it was rolling on its own.
- Mordachi wanted to run.
- He was scared to death.
- And then suddenly a light brighter than a thousand suns bust forth from the dark grave.
- Mordachi was stunned as if struck on the back of his head.
He was startled as he felt something touch his left shoulder.
- He squinted through the blinding light.
- And there…smiling at him with the biggest…warmest…most beautiful smile was Jesus.
- Jesus squeezed Mordachi’s shoulder as he looked deeply into his eyes.
- And then he walked off in the direction of the city.
Mordachi…with tears of joy streaming down his cheeks…began to laugh and dance.
- Now he knew.
- Now he understood.
- It was not the end.
- It was just the beginning.
Mordachi climbed to the top of that big stone and sat there laughing and singing and swinging his legs like a little child sitting in a chair too big for him.
- “Up from the grave he rose” he sang with all his might.
- “The powers of death take flight…
- The gift of life is ours to have…
- The wrong of sins made right.”
Once Mordachi saw the shadow of Satan lurking in the trees.
- Laughing like a silly child… Mordachi stuck out his tongue.
- Put his thumbs in his ears.
- Wiggled his fingers and called out:
- “Take that Ol’ Scratch.
- You’ve met your match.
- It’s all over for you.”
What a happy day! What a glorious day!
Then he heard footsteps.
- Women carrying spices and cloth strips for burial approached.
- They were startled at what they saw.
- The open grave and a man dressed in white sitting on the stone…singing and swinging his legs.
They slowly went near.
- Mordachi jumped down.
- He was filled with so much joy he felt he would burst.
- “Where is he?” the women asked.
Mordachi…with the gentle rays of dawn’s early light reflecting his own joy…said:
- “This Jesus whom you seek is not here.
- He is risen.
- He who was dead is alive just as he told you.
- Go back and tell the others what you have seen and heard…
- And that he is going on ahead of you and will meet you in Galilee.”
CHRIST IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED!