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Friday, March 29, 2013

Some, As Yet, Unorganized Thoughts About Resurrection Sunday's Text

I've been busy this week - like most pastors and preachers, with preparations for the various programs and functions and meals and services of Holy Week.  My sermon notes, which are usually beginning to coalesce into something like a sermon by this point, are still an unorganized list of questions and comments.

The text for this Resurrection Sunday is John 20 : 1 - 18

Questions:
Who is the "we" in Mary's initial report?

Why is there so little reaction to the angles?  And clearly these are angels (vs 12)  In Mark (16: 5) the women see " a young man dressed in a white robe" (who is probably an angel, but this isn't specified)  and they were "alarmed" and ran away because they were afraid.  In John, Mary sees two angels, turns around and, forgetting them, begins a conversation with the gardener (she thinks).

Does belief come before understanding?

Did Peter not believe at this point?  The "other disciple? did, but what about Peter?

I've heard it said that Rabboni means more than just "teacher" - that it means something more like "divine teacher"  but is that true?  Is there a connection here to Jesus' statement in John 13, "...you call me teacher and lord..." ?

"Who is it you are looking for?"  Could this be an indication of mass or multiple use graves?

Some scholars have argued that "the Beloved Disciple" was Lazarus... could that explain why he's hesitant to go into the tomb?

In addition to these questions (and several others...) I also made a list of doubles in this section - things that were repeated and said repeatedly.

-they have taken the/my Lord out of the tomb/ away and we/ I don't know where they have put him (vs 2, 13)
-The strips of linen lying there (vs 5, 6)
-woman, why are you crying? (vs 13, 15)
-ascended / ascending to the /my/your Father (vs 17)
-Mary runs / the disciples run



Hopefully these, as yet, unorganized thoughts and questions will take form and become something like a sermon in the next day.

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