Listen

Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.

John 20:11-18

Think

In the chapel at the college I attended, there’s a processional cross that sits next to the altar, created by a sculptor named Paul Granlund. On one side of the cross is a crucifix. The form of Jesus hangs lifelessly on that cross, his face full of pain and anguish. On the reverse side of the cross, the form of Jesus is seen leaping off the cross, almost becoming airborne… and the look on the face of Jesus is one of joy.

During the season of Lent, when that processional cross is carried into worship, the crucified Jesus faces forward. But on Easter morning, we “flip the cross.” And as we look at the altar, it is the resurrected Jesus, the one leaping off of the cross, that we see.

Easter is a “flipping” event. We move from shadow to light, from sorrow to joy, and from death to new life. Easter reminds us that there is always love, hope, and grace, that love always wins.

Where have you seen new life emerge this past year? How have you experienced that new life? How might you help others experience that new life?

Todd Buegler

Pray

Dear Jesus, your journey to the cross is complete.

As your people, we have followed you from life, to death, to life again. We have been baptized into your death and have been raised with you to new life.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, as I continue to follow in your way, that my life can reflect your great love, and I can journey with all I encounter to the cross and back.

In your holy name I pray, amen.

Go

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus.
Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

May the God of all grace, bless you now and forever.
Amen.

“The Easter benediction,” in Evangelical Lutheran Worship