EASTER -LECTIONARY NOTES

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Acts 10:34-43 (alternative suggestion to Jeremiah)
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 28:1-10

NANCY:
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

MATT:
2There 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. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

ERIC:
4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

MATT:
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then 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."

NANCY:
8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

ERIC:
9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said.

NANCY:
They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

MATT:
10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Notes on Gospel Reading: This passage bears witness to an event; in a way, this passage and the Acts passage are about "bearing witness", about being a storyteller
This Matthew account is full of drama; earthquake; lightning bright appearance of angel powerful enough to move a heavy stone; anxiety of Mary Magdalene and other Mary; fear and terror of guards; urgency in angel's instructions, fear mingled with joy as women respond; calm in Jesus' greeting. The "elephant in room" of course: Jesus' resurrection itself, returning to life from death - no wonder there's so much surrounding drama; it's appropriate. Do the responses of the individuals in this narrative reflect the genuine experience of resurrection? Seems so for the believer - one doesn't pretend it did not happen, even if one cannot explain it, even if one is afraid or overjoyed. For the skeptic, it is naturally different. SIGNIFICANTLY, the scripture narrative has both: fear/joy of those who encounter miracle of God in flesh, overpowering death/decay AND the disbelief, skepticism of those who have not encountered Him. A long drawn out proof process just isn't there. The narrative simply tells the story. It contains only stories, and storytellers - like Peter, and the remaining ten disciples; the women; two on the Road to Emmaus; others in the crowd mentioned by Paul; Paul himself - and us? Here is where the tension of telling the story lies: we can't prove it, only tell it, just as the Bible reveals it was first told. BUT it is the trustworthiness of the storyteller that leaves listeners open to encounter the living God. The Epistle Reading tells us to set our minds and hearts on things above; that is because once we've been convinced, we must live out the implications; we can no longer live as if it is not so. This "heaven-focused" life often leads believers away from the ground level evidence gathering and proof work, the very thing skeptics want. But that's not the way God operated then, or now; God continues to tell the story through trustworthy, undeniably changed storytellers - Peter, the women, Paul the persecutor-turned-believer. What kind of storyteller are you?

Notes/Ideas for youth, children's ministry:
From the Matthew text: what kinds of emotions happened in these people? Did they ever forget what happened, or doubt it? How did they feel, not being able to prove it? Have you ever heard a true story you didn't believe? A story you believed that wasn't true? Who do you trust? How about the Bible; is it in the "trustworthy" category and why? Who are the "bible" storytellers you trust; family, church, friends, etc.?Are you filled with joy or fear (the women felt both), about the Resurrection of Jesus; about your own Resurrection?

For the older kids: why was it important that the early Church preserved four gospels, named after four specific authors; why was it important to keep four separate and intact independent accounts (A: because multiple, corresponding witnesses are more authentic than one; specific names are given because the first two generations of believers still knew these men, or knew people who knew these men; there was an unbroken line of trust).

EPISTLE READING: Colossians 3:1-4
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.