We only can imagine the Sunday some nearly 2,000 years ago when, in the darkness of morning, Mary Magdalene discovered the body of Jesus nowhere to be found at his tomb in Golgotha, just beyond Jerusalem.
His bruised, beaten, wounded, and defiled body had been placed in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, according to the gospels, after the crucifixion of Christ three days before.
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” Mary Magdalene rushed to disciples Peter and John, “and we don’t know where they have put him!”
Rev. Mike Garrett of First Presbyterian Church will tell the story of the empty tomb at the Easter Sunrise Service, which is scheduled for 7 a.m. Sunday in Cross Creek Park.
“The title of the sermon is ‘I Have Seen the Lord’ based on John 20:1-18,” Garrett said earlier this week. “The theme is that the always repeatable miracle of Easter in our lives is not our ability to see the Lord, but to hear him calling our name in the depths of our soul.”
Others participating are Rev. Fredrick D. Culbreth of First Baptist Church on Moore Street, Rev. Kathy Newton Dunton of John Wesley United Methodist Church, Bishop John Godbolt of One Church Covenant Fellowship, Rev. Chip Stapleton and Rev. Christie Gravely of Highland Presbyterian Church, and Rev. David W. Woodhouse of Hay Street United Methodist Church. Highland Brass will provide the music. Wessley Futrell, with Hay Street Methodist Church, will be the hymn leader.
“We encourage those attending to bring a lawn chair or be comfortable standing,
Garrett said. “In the event of rain, the service will be held in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church.”
An offering, Garrett said, will be accepted to support the Vision Resource Center.
‘I Have Seen the Lord’
Mary Magdalene was a devoted follower of Christ’s teachings, Bible Scripture tells us, and was distraught watching him die at age 33 on a wooden cross at the hands of Roman soldiers at the urging of Jewish leaders.
Blasphemy, they said.
Sedition, they said.
Treason, they said.
“Let him be crucified,” they said, and Roman Governor Pontius Pilate reluctantly ordered the crucifixion on the Calvary cross.
When Mary Magdalene entered the empty tomb, Scripture tells us, Jesus came to her with assurance he was the Son of God.
“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father,” John 20, verse 17 in the Bible reads, “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
And Mary Magdalene did as Jesus instructed, and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”
Rev. Mike Garrett will remind those on this Easter morning of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb in what will be the 64-year-old preacher’s last Easter sunrise sermon as pastor at First Presbyterian Church, circa 1800, and the oldest church in the city.
“I’m sure this will be an emotional Easter season for me,” said Garrett, who has been the First Presbyterian pastor since 2017, with plans to retire in July. “It’s all part of doing some deeply meaningful things for the last time, even while I pray about how I want to continue in ministry in the coming years.”
Epilogue
Dawn will come early this day over Cross Creek Park, with the morning dew settling over the grass knoll. You will hear the chirping birds welcoming this Sabbath day of resurrection. The downtown streets of this old city will be quiet and serene.
Sunrise won’t be long behind on what is forecast as a cloud-covered day. There will be prayers and hymns, and those in attendance will keep their eyes fixed on those mirror-like windowpanes of Dogwood State Bank overlooking Green Street, and with hopes of the sun’s reflection as an Easter morning reminder.
“He is risen!” Christians across the world will proclaim. “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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