Luke 24:1-12 “But…Then”

It’s a little hard for me to write about Sunday today, because while we look toward Easter Sunday, today is Good Friday. The day of crucifixion — the most solemn day of the entire Christian calendar.

Before you can have resurrection, death must come first.

However, it’s exactly from this space of hopelessness and despair that we can empathize with the women who come to the tomb on the first Easter morning (Luke 24:1-12). It is only in this space that we can comprehend the curtness of the apostles’ dismissal of the women’s testimony — Peter and the rest were lashing out in grief.

Come along and see the contradictions of v. 1-12…look at the recurrence of the word but — showing a deep contrast between what was expected and what actually happened. Two of these buts do more than show contrast. When paired with the word then, these buts show the shift to a new perspective — a new paradigm for viewing life and death.

First, let’s start at v. 1: “But on the first day of the week…” The whole chapter begins with the contrast word of but because the world is about to be turned upside down (or perhaps rightside up :)). The women coming to the tomb are faithful to the end and beyond. Thank God for them! Yet, they didn’t yet believe in v.1. We have to wait until v.8 to find the then that connects for them: “Then they remembered his words…”

It’s here that these women at the tomb — “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them” — become the first Christians and the first apostles, for they are sent with a message. We can’t sing their praises too loudly!

We have to wait all the way until the last verse of the selected passage (v.12) for the other but–then statement. Peter checks out the women’s story — well, at least he got up and tried eventually. Then, he was “amazed” — in awe — maybe, he didn’t believe just yet, but at least he knew something big was happening.

So, looking toward the most important Sunday of the Christian year, let’s not rush ahead. Let’s try to stay in that uncomfortable, unbalanced space between but and then. And, let’s get ready to be surprised…beyond our wildest dreams…