It was about 5 a.m. on the morning of Sunday 5th April AD 33. Another earth-tremor was felt in and aroundJerusalem. The soldiers who drearily guarded the tomb where Jesus’ body had been placed were alerted to the possibility of a rock-fall, because the tomb was hollowed out from a cliff-face. But instead they were presented with a startling sight as two brilliant figures in white proceeded to roll back the massive circular stone that covered the entrance. This was too much to bear, and they fled.
A few minutes later a few women arrived on the scene, carrying whatever else was needed to give Jesus a decent burial. They talked amongst themselves, wondering how they might remove the stone. It was far too heavy for them to budge. But on arriving from the Damascus Gate, they were astounded to find the stone rolled back. Mary Magdalene was prepared for the worse, and rushed into the tomb, only to find a strange sight. There were the aromatic unguents still in place, and between them lay the sindona, and the soudarion between, in its own position, just as though the body had disappeared into thin air. She was distressed, but at the same time perplexed. Something didn’t add up. The other women had by this time seen the evidence for themselves. Mary made her way back to the disciples. The other women were suddenly startled by the appearance of an angel, who told them that Jesus was alive. They made their way back to the city.
Mary was then accompanied by Peter and John, who rushed to the tomb, and saw for themselves the evidence that Mary had brought. But they didn’t stay around for long, leaving Mary standing by the empty tomb by herself. Grief stricken she was approached by the “Gardener”, who then revealed Himself to her. Her grief was instantaneously turned to emotionally vibrant joy, and without further thought flung her arms around her Lord and Master, saying “Rabboni!”, the highest term of respect for a teacher.
“There’s no need to hold me so tight,” said the risen Christ to His excited female disciple. “I have not yet ascended to my Father. There is plenty of time. Go and tell the good news to my brothers, and particularly Peter. Tell them I shall meet them in Galilee.”
And so the story gradually unfolded during the day. The disciples were none too ready to receive the testimony of the women, but in the end had to eat humble pie, as the Lord strode through the fastened wooden door of their upper room, and calmly presented Himself to them. Thomas was not there. Later he also had to kneel before Jesus, exclaiming “My Lord and my God,” a statement to confound sceptics through the ages. Something amazing had happened. Something so astounding that apart from their abounding joy they could hardly credit. It knocked them for six. But the words gradually began to filter back into their minds, the words that they had all but forgotten during the last two days, namely that “on the third day I shall rise again.”
What happened at 5 a.m. on that Sunday morning has flooded this world for 2000 years with a light that cannot beextinguished. Satan, thinking that he had locked the Son of God in his underground domain, his nether regions, was now in a mighty rage, and all his minions kept well out of his way as he flung himself about the world yelling abuse. His anger was totally unrestrained for many years. Realising that he could no longer lay a finger on God’s Man, he sought to “take it out” on the disciples, now apostles, and all those who dared to follow in the “Way” set down by their Master. Eventually, after two centuries, the rage abated, as he turned his mind to more cunning and deceptive measures to undermine all those who received the vision of the risen and ascended Christ.
…and so we add the last verse to the little song…
Sunday’s Man was nowhere to be found,
Just seismic rumblings far beneath the ground;
The angels came and made the soldiers run;
Resurrection day had just begun!Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Christ is risen from the dead!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Christ is risen from the dead!
