Mary Magdalene was very
dedicated to Jesus. She had seen in Jesus someone who was kind, honest; and
when Jesus taught … life seemed to make more sense. Jesus had generally
uplifted the status of women through the time in which he lived, sought to
release them from cultural constraints, and taught that they should be treated
with respect. Women like Mary Magdalene, and many others recorded in the
Gospels, loved Jesus for the acceptance, friendship and freedom he brought to
their lives. However, to their horror, Jesus had been crucified on a cross and
was now dead.
These women who had been so
devoted to Jesus … thought he was gone forever. In deep grief over their loss,
women followers of Jesus had wrapped his body with spices within linen cloths
(as was the burial custom). Jesus had talked about dying for his cause, dying
for the salvation of all humankind, dying to bring in the Kingdom of God, dying
to change the world – but this didn’t yet make any sense to them … how could
anyone kill such a good man?!
Now, on Sunday, Mary
Magdalene had returned to the tomb. This was at some personal risk and showed
courage, because she was attending the grave of a condemned criminal. She would
have been confused and upset enough already, but such feelings were intensified
when she saw that the stone from the front of the tomb had been removed … who
knows how!
Jesus had died because his
message was rejected by some very powerful people. A religious elite, combined
with Roman authoritarianism, rejected this Jesus … who was upsetting their
little apple-cart, and putting their particular agendas under the microscope.
Even though the poor were remaining poor, and the sick were remaining sick,
these powerful gate-keepers did not appreciate the way Jesus taught and the
change that he was championing. Humility and compassion were NOT words they
easily responded to! They preferred to keep the peace; but peace is not
really peace, if it is guarded by an iron hand!
So Jesus was executed on a
Roman cross; yet Jesus didn’t resist – because something big was being achieved
by all this. God decreed … that this was a sacrificial act of a ‘divine’ and
perfect servant, bringing forgiveness for sin for anyone who accepted this act
of mercy as something done for them. Many people here today have stood at the
foot of the cross and accepted Jesus as their Saviour, for he has lifted the
burden of sin off them and taken it upon himself. This cost Jesus his life. But
this was also a perfect sacrifice, and we know that God would have the last word
about all this. Jesus himself had said that death could NOT defeat God, and
that he would rise again!
So, with this in mind, we
should NOT be surprised that Mary, and the other women, and disciples like
Peter and John, found themselves looking at an empty tomb! Whereas they found
it hard to work all this out … at the time, as this was all new to them – over
the 20 centuries that have followed … we have come to understand how this makes
sense. The innocent One rose again! And how important is this for us right now!
When things seem to hit rock bottom, where our disappointment in life is
palpable, when we are hurting to the depths of our soul – things can turn
dramatically around.
In our lives today, our hurts
and fears can be relieved through new friendships, acts of kindness and
encouraging community. Back then, what happened for Jesus’ followers was
revolutionary. The One who they had seen die on a cross, and buried in a tomb …
was alive! Yet, Mary Magdalene didn’t know what to make of this empty tomb –
she was first worried that Jesus’ body had been moved (or perhaps stolen); and
this turn of events was all too much for her – she just stood there weeping.
And then when a man appeared
to her, Mary thought that this must be the gardener … tending to the various
grave-sites. She didn’t recognise Jesus … perhaps simply because she wasn’t
expecting this, possibly because of the tears engulfing her eyes, or maybe just
because of the dim dawn light. We can sometimes miss the obvious because we’re
just not ready for it! The reality of the best thing ever … has been
dimmed to our view!! Mary thought this gardener may be able to explain where
the body of Jesus had been taken, so therefore she made her enquiries.
And then, not a gardener, but
Jesus himself, said to her, “Mary”. Wow! Firstly, this man knew her name; and
not only did he know her name, but also, of great impact … was the way Jesus
said her name – “Mary”! Mary not only recognised Jesus’ voice, but also the
recent memories of their friendship came flooding back – their relationship was
immediately recaptured. Mary was overjoyed, her hurts began to be healed, and
even though she couldn’t understand everything of what was going on, she
instinctively replied, in full recognition, “Teacher”! Jesus was re-established
in her life.
One senses that in this
(one-word) response from Mary to Jesus, there is deep joy, worship and fresh
commitment. When all seemed completely lost, things turned around to the good
after all! All Mary’s unanswered questions were overwhelmed by this personal
relationship … seemingly lost forever … being re-established! We have to admit,
that life is often full of difficulties and deep challenges to our spirit.
Sometimes the hurt we have suffered has even made us walk away from what we
have treasured in the past. When Jesus had died, many of Jesus’ disciples had
felt their lives were done and dusted!
However, the reality of
Jesus’ resurrection means that nothing is too far gone – there remains hope for
the future. All seemed lost; but all of a sudden – God turns up! And that
future could be well and truly better than any recent or past trauma would
suggest. Jesus was dead, but now he is alive! All the garments of death and
burial that Jesus had worn … the linen wrappings and head covering … were now
thrown aside and left behind (unneeded anymore); and Jesus had walked out of
the tomb to reconnect with his disciples (before he re-joined God in heaven)!
Weeping now gave way to joy,
and joy will facilitate peace – God’s promises have been fulfilled!! Here is an
invitation to see if the resurrected Jesus could make a difference in your life
– how you think, how you feel (about yourself and others), how you relate, how
you live – Jesus can bring a completely new perspective on life. Even if you
have walked away from God (for whatever reason), here is an invitation to
explore what a resurrected Jesus might mean for you … in whatever space your
life is currently in. Mary was lost, but now she is found!
Billy Graham said that, “The
entire plan for the future has its key in the resurrection [of Jesus]”. So
Resurrection Sunday may be an opportunity to put past reservations aside, and
allow new possibilities to emerge. We can let old habits die, and be raised
into new spiritual endeavours. We can look beyond our hurts and engage with God
afresh. We can reject the voice of negativity, and replace this with a voice of
hope. The more we let ourselves be enveloped by the love of God, the
more our lives are renewed.
Easter Sunday is a day of
celebration, of worship and of commitment. In this beautiful setting, we can
easily see how God wants to transform all of us into being part of His new
creation. And, where things are not as they should be, we can
participate in the re-making of this world. This is where we all encourage one
another, together in community, toward the full potential and purpose God has
created each of us to experience and appreciate. Let us celebrate, let us
worship, and let us commit ourselves to the risen Jesus!
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