He Is Not Here

Mark 16:1-8 is the earliest account of Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene goes with two other women at sunrise on the day after the Sabbath to the tomb. At sundown on Friday, as the Sabbath began, she had watched as he was wrapped in linen cloth and laid in the tomb. She had seen Joseph of Arimathea roll a stone in front of the door. And now they came to dutifully anoint his body. The tradition was partially practical. Tombs were used by a whole family, and it was possible that the stone would be rolled away again, and the anointing helped cover the stench of death. That’s why the Gospel writers were careful to tell us that Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb was a new tomb. There were no other bones or bodies there. And, since it was new, it must have been especially hard to open and close. Because the tomb was carved out of a solid rock. And a stone was rounded like a cart’s wheel to roll in front of the opening. And in front of the grave, a groove was dug for it. But, the new tomb’s groove was not yet well worn. And so the women wondered aloud how they would move that stone and complete their duty.
But when they arrive they find that the stone is rolled away and a young man is inside. We know his message, and it does not surprise us. But, they were terrified. Graveyards were places of hauntings and evil spirits and grave-robbers. And they were going to anoint a man who was condemned and crucified. His execution was called for by the Temple authorities and carried out by the Roman authorities. It made sense that they might be wary going to his tomb that morning. And it made sense that they were so overcome by terror that they ran, and ran. Terror and amazement has seized them.
Is that where the story ends? He is not here.
When we were in New York a few weeks ago, we took the kids to the Guggenheim Museum. One of the exhibitions was an exploration of Nonprojections by Paul Chan. Chan’s first works to be displayed at the Guggenheim were animated projections. But his current exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum includes an installation of video projectors sitting on the floor, pointing in different directions, with no screen or surface to display their projections. These projectors are connected by power cords to shoes that have a working electrical outlet in them. So, there are shoes with a power source directing projections, and although the projectors’ lenses flicker and strobe as if outputting videos, there is no corresponding surface on which imagery might appear. They are holding their contents within. There is no projection. There is no image.
It got me thinking. The women ran from the tomb, powered by fear and amazement, Mark tells us that they said nothing to anyone. But, I wonder, what their faces projected. They could not have returned unaffected. Their very expressions must have projected to anyone who saw them that something utterly life changing had happened. As Jesus was condemned and crucified, these women had refused to hide. They stood at the foot of the cross, through the dark hours, as he breathed his last; they watched as his body was taken down. They wouldn’t leave. They were exhausted. Time was short, preparations for the Sabbath needed to be made. But they wouldn’t leave until his body was safely inside the tomb. Their faces were long, tired, tear stained. They had cried until they thought they would run out of tears, but they hadn’t. All the way to the tomb they dreaded the work that was before them. Yet, they did it because that is what you did for those you loved. It was a bitter sweet duty to anoint your loved one’s body. And so, I imagine, while they were concerned about the stone, their conversation about it was a diversion from the heartache they felt. A way to make this terrible and awesome journey of death more matter of fact.
So when they returned, out of breath, wild-eyed, almost frantic, everyone knew something was drastically changed. They projected to anyone who saw them that something utterly life changing had happened.
Of course, we have the benefit of the rest of the story from the other Gospels. Jesus appeared. His disciples saw him; he ate with them. He showed his wounds to them so that they could know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was alive.
As I stood looking at the shoes and projectors in the Guggenheim, I tried to figure out how they had rigged the shoes with the outlets. How were they powering those projectors? As disciples of Jesus, our shoes, our feet are claimed as Christ’s. They are just as mysteriously powered, by Jesus. But what about the projection? You see, it is not just about powering the projector. It is about successfully projecting the image. And it seems to me that Mark, in writing his Gospel is asking an important question. How will you project the story? The women run and say nothing to anyone. Yet, surely their faces projected the miracle – trembling, bewildered, but no longer crying…he is not here! He is risen! Those words replaying and sinking in. What about you? Does your face project the story? In your life, do people see Jesus? We are powered to project the image of Christ in the world. Because if they don’t, he is not here, and that is the end of the story.
Maybe like the women, we realize that there aren’t words. There aren’t words that chase away our doubts. There aren’t words that console our wounded hearts. There aren’t words that change our circumstances. We use poetry and metaphor, but try as we might cannot explain the resurrection – the power of God in our lives to renew and resurrect. We can only project it. It is displayed in our lives.
We are resurrection people. When the storm clouds of doubt form, when the torrents of pain threaten to overwhelm, when the floods of worry lap at our sandbagged wall, we remember. Jesus is not here. He has risen! A friend of mine was picking up his four year old grandson from preschool, driving along, the little boy asked, “Poppy, do you know why Jesus died on the Cross? Wisely, my friend responded, “I think I know, but why do you think He did?” Without hesitation the little boy said, “So He can live in our heart!”
This is the good news of Easter! Jesus is not in the tomb. He is risen! And he lives in us! May we project his image.