‘Luke’s account tells us that it was the evening of the day of the Resurrection that Jesus appeared to his disciples. Since Jewish tradition counts a full day as being from sunset to sunset, that means it counted as Monday,’ says Jenny Sanders.
Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash
In the summer of 1979, Bob Geldof let us know how much he and The Boomtown Rats hated Mondays. After two days of social buzz, a change of pace and taking advantage of the opportunity to kick back and relax over a weekend, Mondays can still loom ahead with all the welcome menace of a dentist’s drill.
Unless, of course, it’s a British Bank Holiday Monday; then we look forward to a lie in and make tentative plans for seaside trips and barbecues, accompanied by trusty umbrellas and raincoats.
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Easter Monday may find us lethargic from an overdose of chocolate, but some traditions see it as part of the ‘Octave’ of Easter, covering the period from Easter Sunday through to the following Sunday, with time set aside each day to reflect on the wonder of the resurrection. The holiday itself stems from an eleventh century medieval tradition known as Hocktide when money was raised for the church and parish. Eastern Christianity calls it ‘Bright Week’; how apt.
This is surely the highlight of the Christian year: a day of unfettered rejoicing that the crucified Christ has overcome the power of sin, death and hell once and for all.
This is surely the highlight of the Christian year: a day of unfettered rejoicing that the crucified Christ has overcome the power of sin, death and hell once and for all. As the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) back in approximately 33AD, that flurry of noise and dust demonstrated a new era of intimacy with God and the end of requirements for animal sacrifices.
We live out that celebration with the abstinence of Lent behind us and the contrasting joy of feasting – now entirely appropriate.
Luke’s account tells us that it was the evening of the day of the Resurrection that Jesus appeared to his disciples. Since Jewish tradition counts a full day as being from sunset to sunset, that means it counted as Monday.
Two of Jesus’ followers who had set out for Emmaus on Resurrection Sunday were joined by the risen Lord on the road. As they walked, the two men listened to probably the best Bible study in the history of the world as Jesus methodically and gently took them through the Old Testament Scriptures, explaining their fulfilment in the Messiah; how he had to die as a once and for all sacrifice for sin and would subsequently be raised from the dead. Luke says they were kept from recognising him until they had invited him in to eat where Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread in his familiar way (Luke 24:13–35).
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Undaunted and overwhelmed with incredulous joy, they hurried back the way they’d come, along the seven miles or so of dark road, to share the good news with the other disciples only to find that Jesus had been there too.
I always find it fascinating that while Mary recognised Jesus from a single word
I always find it fascinating that while Mary recognised Jesus from a single word, when he spoke her name in the garden, these two couldn’t put the pieces together despite the truths laid before them. A week later, Jesus appeared to his disciples in the Upper Room again, this time with Thomas present. Doubt was dispelled through seeing, hearing and touching Jesus’ scars.
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Many people died by crucifixion. It was the most brutal criminal death the Romans could devise. The crucial truth about Easter is who died that dark day at Golgotha. Jesus paved the way to give us direct access to God, full and free forgiveness and, with his resurrection, the promise, hope and certainty of eternity with him in the perfection of heaven. If we have placed our trust in Jesus, then his words to Thomas in John 20:29 apply to us: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Easter Monday is the perfect time to reflect, ponder and celebrate the wonder of the Easter truths and God’s immeasurable love for us demonstrated in Jesus’ death and resurrection. That historic weekend saw the crushing of Satan’s head predicted way back in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2–3); God’s decisive victory over sin and death and hell.
Let’s be as responsive as Mary, listening as we celebrate and embrace the blessing of Jesus himself as he calls us by name.
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