FROM RESURRECTION MORNING AND BEYOND:
–Gathering the parts and putting them together.
After Lent, Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, The Great Vigil of Easter, and Resurrection Sunday itself, there is a high “burst” of rejoicing, celebration, and worship. But when it all settles, what follows afterwards? What are we left with going forward as Christian Believers?
Let’s look at some details, generalities, and specifics:
–After 40 days of fasting and prayer, some form of self- denial or spiritual discipline, we worship and celebrate with festivities of food, special adornments of clothing, and hats, etc.
EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING:
–According to the 4 Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, early on Easter/Resurrection Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus with spices to do the usual traditional rituals to His body. (As with many major news reports, there are slight variations about which women– and how many women were with Mary.) By the way, and contrary to common belief, it was not Peter who got to the empty tomb first. Jesus actually told Mary: “Go and tell my disciples AND Peter …” what you have seen. JESUS REVEALED HIMSELF FIRST TO A WOMAN AND SENT HER TO GO AND TELL THE OTHERS.
–Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty and so she could not perform the traditional rituals as planned. She began to weep. She was terrified, devastated and shocked wondering what had happened to her Lord!
–Suddenly, she saw a man who turned out to be an angel. He asked her why was she weeping? Why was she seeking the living among the dead? Jesus is not here. He is RISEN just like He said He would. (Luke 24) Then the angel left.
–As She continued in deep grief, she saw another man who looked like a gardener. He called her by name: “MARY!” It was the voice of Jesus. “Rabboni!” –she said and attempted to touch Him. But He told her not to do so for He was not yet ascended to His Father and her Father–to His God and to her God. Remember that as God in flesh, Jesus was fully human and fully God. Therefore, as man, God- the Father was also His God.
–At some point Mary Magdalene was joined by Joanna, and Mary-the mother of James. Some of the gospel include other women who followed Jesus from Galilee.
–The women ran to tell Peter and the other disciples what they had seen: – The tomb was empty, an angel spoke to Mary, and that she saw the risen Christ with her own eyes.
–Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb to confirm the report and found it to be true.
LATER- THAT SAME SUNDAY AFTERNOON:
–2 other disciples were on their way to Emmaus, a village which was about 7 miles from Jerusalem. They were downcast, dejected, and disappointed about what had happened to Jesus on Good Friday. What was even more incredible was the news reported by some women that He is risen.
–Suddenly a man joined them on their journey and began to ask what was their conversation about? They began to tell Him all that happened to Jesus who they thought would be their Savior and Deliverer. They were surprised that He did not know of all these horrible events for Himself.
–One of the disciples on the journey was Cleopas. No name was given for the other. Jesus began to upbraid them for being so foolish saying: “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe what was written by the Prophets and the Psalms.” And beginning with Moses, Jesus outlined the Scriptures to them explaining that all this had to be fulfilled. The Christ had to suffer all these things and to enter (back) into His Glory. He expounded all things in the Scripture concerning Himself.
–On this same Sunday evening, as they were nearing their destination, Jesus attempted to continue on His way, but they restrained him to stay and share a meal with them. And as He did on the night of the Last Passover, He took bread, gave thanks, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them. As He did so, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. Suddenly He vanished from their sight.
–They began to say to each other: “Didn’t our hearts burn within us when He opened the Scriptures to us?
LATE EVENING –A 3RD TIME ON THE SAME RESURRECTION SUNDAY:
–Cleopas and the other disciple arose and ran 7 miles back to Jerusalem to report to the 10 Apostles what they had just experienced. (Thomas was absent at that time and Judas had already hung himself.)
–At the same time the Apostles were sharing what they knew to be true: Jesus is risen and had shown Himself to Mary Magdalene.
–As they were together sharing reports with one another, Jesus appeared in their midst and said: “Peace to you!” They were terrified and thought they were seeing a spirit.
–Jesus asked them why they were so troubled? He showed them His hands and feet. To prove His authenticity, Jesus asked if they had any food. They gave him fish and wild honey and He ate.
— Earlier in the account of the discovery that Jesus was risen, Luke agreed that it was Mary Magdalene who reported it, but later he said it was Peter…???
(Not sure how or why this happened.)
–Jesus then reminded them of what He told them before His Crucifixion that this would happen. Obviously, they did not comprehend the possibility or reality of what He was alluding to.
–HE OPENED THE UNDERSTANDING of these Emmaus travelers THAT THEY MIGHT COMPREHEND THE SCRIPTURES. Then He said to them: “Behold I send the Promise of my Father (The Holy Spirit)
–It is important to note that 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, JESUS APPEARED TO HIS DISCIPLES, SPOKE WITH THEM, AND ATE SOMETHING. Is this a plausible explanation for Sunday Worship? JESUS APPEARED 3 TIMES ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK!
THE NEXT 40 DAYS AFTER THE RESURRECTION:
THE ASCENSION:
–On the second Sunday after His Resurrection, Jesus appeared among the Apostles again. (This is now His 4th recorded appearance as the Risen Lord. (Thomas was present on this occasion) He challenged Thomas to touch His hands and put his hand in His side because Thomas had said a week before that this is the only way he / Thomas, would believe that Jesus was alive again.
–Jesus showed Himself to over 500 people at one point and met His Apostles in Galilee where He made breakfast of fish and bread and ate with them.
–On the 40th day of moving about in His glorified body on earth- following His resurrection, Jesus met with His Apostles at Bethany on the Mt. of Olives.
–He told them not to leave Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high. (The power of the Holy Spirit.)
–Then He lifted up His hands and blessed them. As He was doing so, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
–And they worshipped Him. Then they returned to Jerusalem with great joy continually praising God in the Temple. For those who still have questions about whether Jesus should be worshipped and adored, observe what His Apostles did.
THIS IS NOW 40 DAYS AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
PENTECOST: 10 DAYS AFTER THE ASCENSION & 50 DAYS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
As they were continuing to tarry in Jerusalem as Jesus told them to do, on the 50th day after the Resurrection, PENTECOST happened. The Promise of the Holy Spirit with power from on high came upon them and filled them with power to carry the Gospel from Jerusalem and into all the world. (“Pente” in Greek means fifty.) They were glorifying and praising God in various languages which were not known to them, but they understood one another. Some thought they were drunk with wine too early in the morning.
SUMMARY:
NO– Easter did not end on Resurrection Morning, although it is, and was good to rejoice and to celebrate. What followed Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday, are also very important in the economy of the Christian journey on earth and in heaven. The Gospel of Christ from His conception to His death, resurrection, ascension, and the eternal hope of His coming again, is all inclusive for Believers and gives them/ us hope like no other religion and faith offers. No other religion/faith can claim that their Savior came from heaven in human form to lay His life down to redeem the sin of human beings so that we have the choice to have eternal life in heaven where He has gone to prepare a place for us with Himself. No other religion can claim that their savior died and arose again as it was prophesied hundreds of years prior in the Scriptures. None can claim that their Savior ascended visibly from the presence of witnesses with an angel explaining that this same Christ who was taken up into heaven (from whence He came) –would come again in like manner. The cycle continues annually, and each year we hope to grow deeper and more knowledgeable in the understanding and practice of our faith. We trust we will receive more enlightenment in the things of the spirit and that our understanding will be enriched and strengthened daily and year after year until our redemption is complete and we shall see Him face to face.
“To God be the glory! Great things He has done!” (From an old hymn)
Prepared by: Brenda R. Berry (Rev.)
Presbyterian Pastor Emeritus–2019
B.A.; M.Div.
Author: “WISDOM…Where Are You?” (New Edition 12/23)
DATE: April 14, 2024 – (Post Easter reflections and clarifications)
