humor and the resurrection
Easter | John 20:1-18
There are a lot of things we associate with Easter. Like bunnies and eggs. Lilies and brunch. Birds and white dresses. But you know what we don’t ordinarily associate with Easter? Calisthenics. Footraces. Dudes running a marathon. And yet, that is half the story this morning as Peter and John race each other. And then, when they get to the finish line, there’s nothing there. The tomb is empty. Nobody to give them paper cups of water, no hydration station. Just some used linen cloth; which probably doesn’t even have good moisture wicking properties.
The most famous Easter story involves a footrace. Which has to be terrible in sandals. Can you imagine what that would do to the feet, the calves? People run barefoot, though.
This footrace is between Peter and an unnamed disciple. Now, the author, a person who calls himself John and tradition considers the brother of James, one of the disciples, seems to be implying that this unnamed disciples is actually himself. He is “the beloved” and favorite of Jesus’s. Which itself is another competition. The whole thing is ridiculous and macho. Total overcompensation… keep reading
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