The Morning of the Resurrection 1886 Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt 1833-1898 Bequeathed by Mrs S.G. Potter 1937
The British artist Edward Coley Burne-Jones began this painting in 1882 but he did not complete it until four years later. The scene depicts Mary Magdalene’s visit to the empty tomb, where she encounters the resurrected Christ, accompanied by two angels. The painting falls at the end of Burne-Jones’ Mantegnesque phase, and the regular horizontals and verticals and color strengthen the sad mood. The angels are making the ancient sign of adoration, of covering the mouth.
When the painting was first exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery (London), it bore the quotation from John 20:14, “At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” This represents, as was the painter’s preference, the hiatus between an event and its effect—here, that of Mary’s sight of, and recognition of Christ.
After the death of Laura Lyttleton on Easter 1886, a young friend of whom the artist was particularly fond, Burne-Jones expressed his sorrow by inscribing a personal memorial in the left corner of this painting “In Memoriam L. L. Easter 1886” but this is not visible.
Invocation
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may, by your life-giving Spirit, be delivered from sin and raised from death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Special Music – I Will Rise – Miriam Edele
https://youtu.be/pTHl0s9Nq6w
Call to Worship – Matthew 28:1-10
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
Words: Charles Wesley (1739)
Music: Lyra Davidica
Children’s Sermon
Responsive Prayer for Easter
Glory to you, O God: on this day you won victory over death, raising Jesus from the grave and giving us eternal life.
Glory to you, O Christ: for us and for our salvation you overcame death and opened the gate to everlasting life.
Glory to you, O Holy Spirit: you lead us into the truth.
Glory to you, O Blessed Trinity, now and forever.
O Christ, in your resurrection, the heavens and the earth rejoice.
Alleluia!
By your resurrection you broke open the gates of hell, and destroyed sin and death.
Keep us victorious over sin.
By your resurrection you raised the dead, and brought us from death to life.
Guide us in the way of eternal life.
By your resurrection you confounded your guards and executioners and filled the disciples with joy.
Give us joy in your service.
By your resurrection you proclaimed good news to the women and apostles, and brought salvation to the whole world.
Direct our lives as your new creation.
God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us.
Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
From the Book of Common Worship
Please take a few moments to pray for:
- Brad Paradee and Pam & Howard Deuso, who have COVID-19
- Donna Waguespack, our missionary in Mexico
- Healthcare workers
- Other personal concerns
Death in His Grave
Although the earth cried out for blood, Satisfied her hunger was;
Billows calmed on raging seas For the souls of men she craved.
Sun and moon from balcony Turned their head in disbelief;
Precious Love would taste the sting, Disfigured and disdained.
On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King.
Laid down in grief but awoke with the keys
Of hell on that day, the first born of the slain:
The Man Jesus Christ laid death in His grave.
So three days in darkness slept The Morning Son of righteousness;
But rose to shame the throes of death, And overturn His rule.
Now daughters and the sons of men Would pay not their dues again;
The debt of blood they owed was rent When the day rolled anew.
On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King.
Laid down in grief but awoke with the keys
Of hell on that day, the first born of the slain:
The Man Jesus Christ laid death in His grave.
He has cheated hell and seated us above the fall.
In desperate places He paid our wages One time once for all.
On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King.
Laid down in grief but awoke with the keys
Of hell on that day, the first born of the slain:
The Man Jesus Christ laid death in His grave.
Words and Music: John Mark McMillan
CCLI #2487144
Scripture Reading
John 11:1-37
11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God,who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Sermon – The Resurrection and the Life – Dr. Jason R. McConnell
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save;
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid, Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious Day, Up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine, Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death: This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand;
‘Til He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand;
‘Til He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Words and music: Stuart Townend & Keith Getty
© 2002 ThankYou Music
CCLI # 2487144