Categories: uncategorized
Date: 23 March 2008 06:38:04
I have been a wuss this year, I got up for sun rise but didn't wander down onto the beach this year to do my bible reading down there at "proper sunrise". Rather I sat looking out at towards sea from my front room, window as I read of Jesus revealing his ressurection to the women at the tomb, at silly o'clock. I am going to wait and go down for the 7am Son Rise (at a time when it is convienient for us to get out of bed) service on the sea front.
As I read the story though a few things have got me this year though. Firstly, why even in non-costal places do people find the need to go down towards water to celebrate the risen Christ? Back in Tractor Land we all used to travel out to the nearest shore like bit of river bank and down here we all wander down to the sea front. The tomb was in a garden, so why don't we have services in gardens or parks?
Also it's interesting reading through the different gospels about who actually discovered the body. There is general agreement that there were a couple of Mary's involved, but beyond that it depends on which gospel you read as to who else was about. Also was it one angel or two? Again it seems that different gospels are saying different things.
It also became clear this year that these women were bricking it when they discovered the body was missing and angels started appearing - the reality of the ressurection was not initially a plesant experience. Then when reality sets in they rush back to tell the disciples and these women, who would have been suffering from sleep deprivation (would you have slept well having seen a man you loved - in whatever sense - crucified?), are told they have completely lost the plot by the male disciples. I think, those of us who spend time in cosy Christian settings, forget this is still how the discovery of the risen God can be for some people today. They become totally freaked by what's going on and then have to face ridicule when they try and translate to others the reality of what they have discovered.
The women at the tomb are then not just important from a feminist perspective, they also give a model of experience and hope to people who may not find coming to faith an easy situation, initially to be in. Thus, it becomes important to have Son Rise services at sun rise and not to skip forward to the time Peter and John arrived just because in our cosy Western world you might get a few more bodies at the service. God knew what he was doing when he gave us the whole story :D
So Happy Easter, CHRIST HAS RISEN!!!!