Marching Orders

Marching Orders

In this year of Matthew’s Gospel, on Palm Sunday, we were told that the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will arise.’ Therefore, order the grave to be sealed until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people, ‘He’s been raised from the dead.’” But when Jesus said exactly this to his disciples earlier in this Gospel, what was their reaction? “Then Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him: ‘God forbid, Lord! This won’t happen to you.’” And when Jesus predicted his crucifixion, and resurrection again, just one chapter later, we are told, “They were heartbroken,” as if they could only hear crucifixion, but not resurrection.

Apparently, Jesus’s enemies understood him better than his friends. They knew what his game plan was. They didn’t believe he could pull it off. But they understood Jesus’ stated purpose better than those who proudly called them themselves his disciples. And of course, when their plans don’t work out, Jesus’ enemies have a fallback, at least according to Matthew, in what immediately follows our reading tonight:

“Now as the women were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. They met with the elders and decided to give a large sum of money to the soldiers. They told them, ‘Say that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole his body while you were sleeping. And if the governor hears about this, we will take care of it with him so you will have nothing to worry about.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. And this report has spread throughout all Judea to this very day.”

From this at least, we know that everybody agreed that the tomb was empty. But the empty tomb was not enough for those who rejected Jesus. And so it has been throughout the centuries. There has always been opposition to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Much of it has come from those outside the community of faith. Sadly, sometimes that opposition has come in the form of other Christians whose behavior has failed to look anything like Good News to those around them.

Here we are, 2,000 years later, we who call ourselves Jesus’ disciples. Do we understand Jesus any better than his first disciples did? Do we understand that, in some ways, the hard work has just begun? Do we understand that there will be opposition to our Good News? Do we understand that the powers of this world, be they spiritual, economic or political, will want to hold on to their power by convincing us that their lies are the truth? Do we truly believe that there is no power greater than the power of the God who gave back life to the dead?

Here in the dark are the committed, those of us who regularly come to church, who have come here on a Saturday night. Tomorrow, we will welcome those who need the Good News of resurrection, but may be unsure of joining us for the journey that begins tonight, the journey of the disciple, the student of Jesus Christ. But we are the ones who accept that we have been buried with Christ in the water of Baptism, and raised with him to a new life. And so tonight, we renew our Baptismal vows, together. We recommit ourselves to following Jesus Christ wherever he calls us. We recommit ourselves to following the Holy Spirit wherever it blows us. We recommit ourselves to each other, to a shared life of family in this thing called church. These Baptismal Vows are our marching orders.

Those who authored the 1979 prayer book probably assumed that churches would celebrate adult Baptisms at least as much as, if not more than, infant baptisms. So, we would have many opportunities to renew our Baptismal vows, instead of reciting the Nicene Creed. But on four Sundays, we can substitute the Baptismal Covenant for the Creed: Pentecost, All Saints Day, the First Sunday after Epiphany and Baptism of Our Lord, and the Easter Vigil. So, on this night, we have the opportunity to welcome the risen Jesus back to this world by promising him that we will do our best to share his risen life with each other and with those around us. March on.

April 4th, 2026

Easter Vigil

The Rev. David Kendrick