He is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. That is the story of Easter – no suspense and no drama. Just a simple statement of fact. But, is that really the story of Easter, or is that what people expect to hear on this day? The Gospel reading from John’s Gospel has no suspense. The facts are laid out plainly and it is evident to the reader that Jesus is alive. So, can we just get on with the service and be early for lunch?
The Gospel reading really contains two stories about relationships. In the opening story, Mary Magdalene approaches the tomb and sees the stone has been rolled away. Her mind jumps to the conclusion that the body of Jesus has been stolen and she reports such to the disciples. Anyone who has read much about ancient history knows that tomb robbing was very common, even though people went to great lengths to thwart the efforts of those who would do such things.
