Good afternoon,
" He said, 'Don't be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed to the cross. He's been raised up, and he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now —- on your way . Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said.' They got out as fast as they could , beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone. " Mark 16: 5-8 ( from the Message by Eugene Peterson )
This is Mark's account of the Resurrection. It stops at verse 8. There are twelve more verses that were added later, to clean up the story. So, the story of Jesus ends abruptly. The women come to the tomb, and they find no body, but they see this guy ( an angel ) sitting there dressed in dazzling light. And he tells them that Jesus is risen, and you should go to Galilee.
Eugene's Petersen's Message is an interpretation, and not a translation. His work came out of a Bible study he had in his Presbyterian congregation. He is true to the Biblical text, but his language is more contemporary. The women are in a daze, not knowing what they should think about this news. Their Lord is gone, and they cannot give him a decent burial. They run away. And then the story stops. They are out of control.
If you would have had only the Gospel of Mark, this is the story of Jesus' rising that you would have had. Not much there. What does it all mean for the women, and the disciples? No stories of seeing Jesus anywhere. And the women, it is said, declared nothing.
It is for us, to tell the resurrection stories in our own lives. Wendy Dunn was interviewed last evening on a Stratford video link about her work at Greenwood Court. This is a resurrection story for today. Someone had a birthday this week, and invited people to donate to the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank in Milverton. Now that is Resurrection. People are so happy to hear Bonnie Ropp play the hymns on the Poole audio service . Now that is a " rising up " event.
What are your stories these days ? How would you continue the abrupt ending of Mark's biography of Jesus ? What would you say beginning in verse 9….?
Prayer for the Day
Snow on an April morning
It does not seem right
Nothing seems right today
death in Nova Scotia
A virus out of control.
lost money and lost jobs,
lost lives, lost hope.
God, please find us in our losses
O. Lord. Secure us into your space
Spill out your grace , so we might feel safe
once more.
Display your resurrection now, and forever, more. Please Lord.
AMEN
Salaam, and peace for our journey together.
Fred
Ponder Anew 