“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
(Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)
Pretend you do not live with the benefit of hindsight on the crucifixion story and remember what the first disciples must have seen and felt in the pre-dawn silence of that Sunday. It was the beginning of the first day of the week, the sun would rise, the birds would sing, the rest of the world would go about its business.
But your world had been shattered into a million tiny pieces.
“Very early Sunday morning, before sunrise, Mary Magdalene made her way to the tomb.“
Mary, drowning in sorrow and despair, went to the place they laid her Lord. Maybe she carried flowers, maybe she cried. But she went. She had nowhere else more important to go than to the tomb of Jesus.
“And when she arrived she discovered that the stone that sealed the entrance to the tomb was moved away! So she went running as fast as she could to go tell Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. She told them, “They’ve taken the Lord’s body from the tomb, and we don’t know where he is!”
How was the sealing stone moved from the tomb’s entrance? Why did she dare to look in a cave where a dead person was buried? Who was the “we” that didn’t know where he was?
“Then Peter and the other disciple jumped up and ran to the tomb to go see for themselves. They started out together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He didn’t enter the tomb, but peeked in, and saw only the linen cloths lying there. Then Peter came behind him and went right into the tomb. He too noticed the linen cloths lying there, but the burial cloth that had been on Jesus’ head had been rolled up and placed separate from the other cloths. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first went in, and after one look, he believed! For until then they hadn’t understood the Scriptures that prophesied that he was destined to rise from the dead. Puzzled, Peter and the other disciple then left and went back to their homes.
Peter and “the other disciple” went to see for themselves. They encountered a moved stone, a removed burial cloth, and no stench or evidence of death. They believed, but didn’t understand.
Sometimes, that’s how faith is – we believe, but we don’t understand.
“Mary arrived back at the tomb, broken and sobbing. She stooped to peer inside, and through her tears she saw two angels in dazzling white robes, sitting where Jesus’ body had been laid—one at the head and one at the feet! “Dear woman, why are you crying?” they asked. Mary answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him.” Then she turned around to leave, and there was Jesus standing in front of her, but she didn’t realize that it was him! He said to her, “Dear woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Mary answered, thinking he was only the gardener, “Sir, if you have taken his body somewhere else, tell me, and I will go and . . .” “Mary,” Jesus interrupted her. Turning to face him, she said, “Rabboni!” (Aramaic for “My teacher!”)
This is one of the few times angels meet humans and do not say, “Do not fear.” Maybe in her brokenness and weeping there was no fear. Even when she saw Jesus she couldn’t see him. His compassion for her couldn’t quite break through her sorrow until he spoke her name. Then she knew him.
“Jesus cautioned her, “Mary, don’t cling to me, for I haven’t yet ascended to God, my Father. And he’s not only my Father and God, but now he’s your Father and your God! Now go to my brothers and tell them what I’ve told you, that I am ascending to my Father—and your Father, to my God—and your God!” Then Mary Magdalene left to inform the disciples of her encounter with Jesus. “I have seen the Lord!” she told them. And she gave them his message.“
What do you think was the message Mary took to the other disciples? Obviously, she told them Jesus had appeared to her – ALIVE – and that miracle in itself was enough. But he gave her a message to share – that Father God was also Abba Father to those who believed. The God who created the universe – the God who is marked by his omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, holiness, and loving-kindness – intentionally sought out these first disciples and still seeks out us as disciples. Galatians 4:6 (VOICE) tells us that, “Because you are now part of God’s family, He sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts; and the Spirit calls out, “Abba, Father.” We can know God as Father because he has first loved us.
“That evening, the disciples gathered together, and because they were afraid of reprisals from the Jewish leaders, they had locked the doors. But suddenly Jesus appeared among them and said, “Peace to you!” Then he showed them the wounds of his hands and his side—they were overjoyed to see the Lord with their own eyes! Jesus repeated his greeting, “Peace to you!” And he told them, “Just as the Father has sent me, I’m now sending you.” Then, taking a deep breath, he blew on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Receive. Receive God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy. Receive God’s grace through Jesus Christ and the gift of Holy Spirit living within us. Receive the Good News of Great Joy that our Savior paid the price for humanity’s sinfulness – and each of our individual sins – so we could be free. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NIV)
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thank you for the gift of grace you offer us through Jesus Christ and for Holy Spirit who comes to live within us. Thank you that even when we don’t understand, we can still believe in you and have faith. Help us to live fully as your redeemed children, free indeed, and crying out to you, our Abba Father. We pray in the strong name of Christ, Amen!
(Scripture from John 20 TPT)