Christ My Hope Is Arisen!

“Tell us, Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the tomb of the living Christ, and the glory of His rising, the angelic witnesses, the shroud and his clothes.”

This question posed to Mary Magdalene in an eleventh century hymn allows us to enter into the joy experienced by the one chosen to be the first witness of the empty tomb on Easter morning. We recall in awe that Mary found in the tomb angels, the shroud and clothes, but she did not find Jesus because He was alive and not among the dead.

What would have happened if when Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, she would have found the stone still blocking the entrance to the tomb and the body of Jesus still lying there, dead?
Nothing would have happened. Life would have continued as normal in Jerusalem. Another great prophet in the line of great Jewish prophets would have been mourned after his unfortunate execution. Another wise teacher would have been added to the list of great enlightened minds that have lived throughout history.

What would have happened if when Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, she would have found Jesus alive, but simply revived, without a glorified body that could go through locked doors, travel great distances quickly yet still eat fish and bread?

Mary would have certainly been stunned just as those who witnessed the raising of Lazarus from the dead were stunned. She would have been amazed in the same way I am amazed every time doctors revive a dead person with electric shocks. After the initial amazement of the disciples, nothing significant would have happened because years later Jesus would have died like everyone else. In this scenario, once again, he would have been remembered as a great prophet and teacher.

Our faith hinges on the resurrection. “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain,” writes Saint Paul. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith. The resurrection of Jesus assures us that He is a worthy witness, assuring us that everything he taught is true. The resurrection teaches us that God has power over sin and death. We hear it so often, “Jesus rose from the dead,” that we seem to have lost the sense that this is truly remarkable. Had Jesus not risen from the dead, there would be no Church; there would be no Gospel to preach.

In the eleventh century hymn Victimae Paschali Laudes, Mary Magdalene cries out with joy, “Christ my hope is arisen!” Easter joy is the foundation of our faith. Easter joy is based on our sure and certain hope that if we die with Christ, we will rise with him and live forever. This is the greatest promise made to us believers and with great faith we accept it and await it.

[Picture above: Risen Christ from Seville’s Easter procession, 2006]