Sunday Luke 24:1-12

Prayer: Thank you, Merciful and loving God for your sacrifice for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Easter Sunday

⁵ …“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.

What would you think if you went to the cemetery and found that your loved one was no longer in the grave? Shocked comes to my mind.  Totally unexpected. Surprise? Resurrection would not be the first thing that comes to mind, at least for me.  In the story of Easter we often forget that the women came to the tomb in grief.  They were not expecting a miracle.  But then, when the angels reminded them, they remembered Jesus words. Afterwards, the women ran to tell the disciples.  Of course they were skeptical too.

Our DW reminds us that our faith is based upon the words and actions of witnesses.  Witnesses who tell of their experiences of the risen Christ. “Thus we continue to tell the stories of Jesus and his disciples, and we listen to each other’s experiences of faith. Easter faith is supported by and encouraged by the stories we tell one another, so that we can remember Jesus’ words for ourselves.”

Prayer: “God of new life, empower me to witness to your love, in Christ’s name. Amen.”

Luke 24:1-12

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Resurrection of Jesus

24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in, they did not find the body. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵ The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. ⁶ Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” ⁸ Then they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.