After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” – Matthew 28:1-10

“It won’t be the first time there was a small group for Easter,” were the wise words from my husband, Jamey, about having Easter worship recorded in the sanctuary with only 3 people in the room.  Our typical Easter traditions are filled with joyful celebration, flowers in bloom, new dress clothes, egg hunts, and lots of people gathered for worship. This feels very strange indeed. Because of the Coronavirus and restrictions on meeting together, we are trying to be creative in our online worship services.  It doesn’t really feel like Easter when preaching to an empty room, but it might be more closely related to that first Easter morning. There were no crowds gathered together at the empty tomb. It was just a couple of women and an angel with a message, “Jesus is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”  

The women expected to arrive at the tomb and care for Jesus’ body, to prepare him for burial.  Upon arrival, Jesus was not there, but an angel gave them a message to share with the disciples, “Go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.’” They had a job to do even though it wasn’t the one they set out to do. Now, instead of caring for the body of Jesus, they were proclaimers of the Good News that he had risen!  How is God using us during this time to be those proclaimers of the Good News? It will not look like we expected. It will not “feel” like Easter, being separated from our family of faith, but it can be incredible!  This Holy Week, as we walk through the events of the last week of Jesus’ life, I encourage you to read through the stories of Matthew 21-28. Log in to our Wednesday Bible Study on Facebook at 10am. Participate in our Interactive Maundy Thursday service.  Join us online for Good Friday worship at noon or at 7pm. Share our Easter worship with your family, a friend, or a neighbor (at a safe distance, of course). Most importantly, be a messenger of the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection!

Lord, as we walk through the events of this Holy Week, may we feel your presence and know your love.  May our Easter celebrations be truly joyful, even if done very differently than planned. Give us the opportunity to experience your resurrection and power in new and exciting ways.  Help us to see you in unexpected places! Give us a message to share with others that you are our risen Lord! Amen.