Easter Vigil | 04.04.2026 | John 20:1–18 | Timothy Eichler |

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus‘ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” — and that he had said these things to her.

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Advent 1988 I was serving my internship in Bettendorf, Iowa. Parishioners were encouraging me to experience the fullness of the Advent season in anticipation of Christmas by attending concerts, walking around downtown during the weekend when they held a 19th century vibe I would call it Dickensequse, and to experience the drive-thru Nativity held at a local cemetery at night.

I embraced everything that was offered in the community and church to prepare for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was an advent of pure anticipation and excitement. Yes, even including the drive-thru Nativity in a local cemetery at night. Over the years I have paused reflecting upon the significance of a drive-thru Nativity in a cemetery. A place where all the residents once walked on this earth as you and I walk on this earth with all challenges of living life with all its hills and valleys now repose in stillness.

In the stillness of the night the crunching of the tires of the car on the snow packed roadway slowly moving among the scenes of the promised Immanuel: God with us (Isaiah 7:14) who is our wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, whose government will have no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). Immanuel who is a light to us and our salvation through His vicarious suffering, death, and resurrection bearing our sins (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). In the stillness of the night comes life.

Now for me cemeteries are comfortable places. I am comfortable in the city of the dead/cemeteries because of my prior vocation as a mortician. As a mortician and the years working in the Anatomy Department at the University of Minnesota I experienced the fulness of Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb early.

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him,” (John 20:1-2).

It was not the darkness of the early morning or the foreboding of being in the city of dead that caused Mary Magdalene to run away from the Jesus’ tomb. It was what she discovered upon her arrival at the tomb that disturbed her. Her expectations were not met. What she expected to find is not what she came upon. The body of Jesus was missing.

The body of Jesus is gone!

Upon her discovery “Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him,” (John 20:11-13).

All her expectations are in a confused state. In the comfortableness of the city of the dead, you can feel the racing heart beat, rapid breathing, wanting to run yet, wanting to stay. Her heart, soul, and body trying to grasp the reality of what she is facing. The stone has been rolled away. The tomb is empty. His grave clothes lie in the tomb. Where is Jesus’ body? Where have they taken him? Two angels are present and speaking to her.

What in the world is going on? Where is the comfortableness of the familiarity of life?

The comfortableness of life has been disturbed. What was comfortable is now uncomfortable as the promise of Advent and Christmas has come to fulfillment. In the comfortableness of life of the city of the dead (our way of life) comes the uncomfortableness of life (God’s way of life). What is discovered is life! As Mary was asked by the tomb: Whom are you seeking?

She answers, the body of Jesus is gone!

Into our comfortable world comes the uncomfortableness of God’s way of life.

The question to Mary is a question to us as well.

Whom are you seeking?

As much as I enjoyed the drive-thru Nativity in 1988 with all of the anticipation of the birth of our Lord. I knew that as much as I desired to find the spirit of Christmas there it was not there. Though there are forms of life in cemeteries they do not give life.

Whom are you seeking in the comfortableness of your life?

Are you seeking Immanuel: God with us (Isaiah 7:14) who is our wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, whose government will have no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). Immanuel who is a light to us and our salvation through His vicarious suffering, death, and resurrection bearing our sins (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)?

You will not find him in the cemetery; the comfortableness of your life. He is not there. He is in the uncomfortableness, the unexpected days of our lives.

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen

Timothy Richard Eichler
pastoreicher@gmail.com
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Coronado, CA, USA