Bishop Tracie Bartholomew

Easter 2024

 

Dear Friends,

 

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:7

 

These words are part of what we will hear on Easter Sunday, spoken by a young man, wearing a white robe, and sitting on the right side in an empty tomb. They are spoken to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome as they come to tend to the dead body of their friend and teacher. These are not the only words spoken to those disciples that first morning, but they are words of a promise that continue to illustrate our life of faith in the risen Christ.

 

According to Mark, on that first Easter morning Jesus wasn’t waiting at the empty tomb, he was going on ahead. We hear a similar promise in John’s gospel when Jesus tells the disciples that he goes to prepare a place for them. We read that promise at many funerals.

What does it mean for us that Jesus goes on ahead?

 

It means there is nowhere we can go where Jesus has not already been. There is nothing we can experience that Christ hasn’t already experienced. There is no circumstance in our lives beyond God’s understanding. This most certainly is good news!

 

As we prepare for Easter Sunday, hear the words spoken to you by a mysterious stranger in the tomb – Christ is going ahead of you, just as he promised. Because that’s true, we can face whatever happens today and tomorrow and the days after that.

 

Happy Easter, dear friends.

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Bishop Tracie L. Bartholomew