‘Sonrise’
Although there are differing emphases in the four Gospel writers’ accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus, their narratives contain many similar details.
We know it was right at the start of the day: ‘Dawn’, ‘Very early’ and ‘Early’ are the actual words used. It takes place ‘on the first day of the week’ i.e. Sunday. And it is either a group of women or a single woman (Mary Magdalene, as recorded by John) who first discover that the stone is rolled away, and that the tomb is empty.
And so the Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus begins to spread - from the women who first hear that ‘he is not here, he is risen’; and from Mary Magdalene’s personal encounter with her Lord in the garden outside the tomb.
In John’s account, Peter and John run to the tomb to see for themselves. And it is John who sees the strips of cloth in the empty tomb and ‘believes.’ As does Mary Magdalene on hearing Jesus use her name.
Once again, then, the global community of Christ that is His Church will celebrate that ‘Christ is risen - He is risen indeed - Hallelujah!’ In so doing, we stand with all who through two thousand years have also ’seen and believed’ and who have also heard their risen Lord call them by name - and followed him.
Easter is always eclipsed by Christmas in commercial terms, despite a chocolate feast. But Easter is the fulcrum of the Christian faith - it is the pronouncement of life over death, of light after all the darkness of the Passion and the Cross. It is both Sunrise and Sonrise for Christians world wide. And in a darkened world, Easter is God’s Light and Hope for all humankind - now and for always.
