Loving God, in the midst of fear and confusion, you still managed to bring new life to your people.  Grant us the ability to see the signs of resurrection in our world, and the experience of the risen Christ in our lives, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

           The gospel of Mark has always had the strangest ending when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus.  What we heard today is exactly how the oldest manuscripts of Mark end.  “They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mk. 16:8).  It is perhaps not very satisfying as endings go, but it does manage to point us to the future.  Because we know that there was more that happened after this.  We know that other people found out that Jesus had been raised from the dead.  We know that other gospels were written and Paul became a missionary, and the good news about Jesus has spread throughout the world.

         I find it interesting that several of our confirmation students did not find this ending to be the least bit troubling. When they were asked how other people found out about the resurrection if the women didn’t say anything, several of them simply said that the angel must have told the others.  The gospel actually allows us to draw our own conclusions.

         Perhaps we might ask, however, what these women were afraid of.  One of the most likely answers, which is substantiated in some of the other gospels, is that nobody would believe them.  “An idle tale,” they would say.  “Unsubstantiated claims.”  “Fake news if I ever heard it.”

         In fact, there were a number of rumours that circulated after that first Easter morning.  The official line taken by the authorities was that the disciples had come during the night and stolen the body.  It was all a hoax perpetrated to mislead people.  At the same time, some of the disciples claimed to have actually seen Jesus – alive – with the scars of the nails still in his hands and feet.  Others told stories of angels and an empty tomb.  And how is anybody to know what to believe?  Is this not a question that people are still asking today?

         It is absolutely astonishing how many different versions of the truth are out there when it comes to Covid-19.  You have the U.S. blaming it on China, while in China the rumour circulates that the virus was planted there by the Americans.  You have the countries that are urging people to stay home and practice physical distancing, and then you have the countries where business as usual is continuing.  You have the preachers who are claiming that Covid-19 can’t touch them because of God’s protection, and then you have the outbreaks that have been linked to church gatherings.

         Numerous conspiracy theories and home remedies are circulating, as well as advertisements for products that supposedly will protect you from the virus.  Whether it is social media, or videos that are circulating, or email messages being passed around, the challenge of separating truth from fiction has never been greater.

         Unfortunately, in some cases, the truth is only recognized in hindsight.  The doctor in Wuhan, China, who first raised the alarm about this virus, was ignored and silenced by the Chinese government.  Other countries, too, ignored the warnings and are now experiencing ridiculously high death tolls.  The warnings, as we can tell now, were real.

         Perhaps in similar fashion, the truth of Jesus’ resurrection only became real to people as they experienced and saw signs of resurrection.  Those who got to see him and touch him and eat with him had no doubt in their minds that he was alive.  Those who saw him ascend into heaven and were present when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost had no doubt in their minds about the resurrection.  And even Paul, who had persecuted the church and arrested many believers, came to believe in Jesus after his encounter with him in a blinding light on the road to Damascus.

         Paul, and many believers who came after him, never physically met or saw Jesus.  Yet, they still saw signs of resurrection.  Those first disciples did not act like people who had perpetrated a hoax, but like people who knew for a fact that Jesus had been raised from the dead.  Peter, who had denied knowing Jesus out of fear, becomes a bold and powerful preacher by the power of the Holy Spirit.  And, since that time, many people have encountered the risen Jesus – in the lives of others, in dreams and visions, in answers to prayer, and even in his church.

         While Easter might be a little bit different this year, we are still invited to look for signs of resurrection and hope.  One of these signs is how creation has been able to breathe again in the midst of mass lockdowns – fish appearing in the canals in Italy (where the bottom is now visible); smog disappearing in places like China and India; endangered species turning their attention to procreation while there are no people at the zoo watching them.

         There are also signs of resurrection and hope in the church, in spite of the fact that we can’t gather in person for worship right now.  People have been picking up the phone and checking in on one another.  More people have been tuning in to online services than have ever actually showed up in person for worship.  In fact, some who aren’t able to get out at all are now able to join in worship from their homes.  And, new and different kinds of connections are taking place.

         There have also been expressions of solidarity and thanks to essential workers, from people making a joyful noise at a certain hour to people posting signs of encouragement in their windows.  And some have been donating whatever they can to get health care workers the protective gear that they need.

         The fact that the gospel of Mark ends in fear and confusion is actually quite appropriate these days – especially when we remember that it points us to the future and invites us to continue to look for signs of resurrection.  For, Jesus continues to live in and with and through his people, bringing life out of death, light out of darkness, and love into the midst of fear.  Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  Amen.

Resurrection of Our Lord (NL 2)                            Mark 16:1-8

April 12, 2020

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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