Mary Magdalene came announcing, “I have seen the Lord.”
John 20:18
He is risen. He is risen indeed.
For 2,000 years, the church has gathered to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. For 2 millennia, the people of God, with jubilant expressions that ring out like an antiphonal chorus, have said one to another, “He is risen.”
For a moment, join the Gospel of John as the words of our Lord’s resurrection paint the imagery of that first Easter morning on the canvas of souls made weary by a world in chaos. And, imagine that it was you who made that first walk to the tomb that morning.
Step into the story. . .
You had heard the Lord say, “in three days I will be raised,” when He spoke of His coming death. But, somehow the brutality of the Roman process of execution seemed too final. You saw the truth in His eyes during those final days and hours that beautifully summarized His love for you. You not once doubted His teachings nor His promises. Yet, somehow all seemed to have been hidden in the darkness of His death. As a proper mourner and a devout follower, you came to honor your Lord’s burial. You arrived, expecting a quiet morning of remembrance as the sun barely passed the horizon. You were accompanied by others who came prepared to honor the body and burial of the Lord. But you found yourself so lost in the grief and confusion that it was as if you were alone in your approach to the tomb.
As you made the turn on the path that led to the tomb, you saw it, and you were stunned: the stone had been taken away. You turned and ran to find the disciples. And as you approached Peter and John, your emotion came to a height, and all you could say was, “they have taken our Lord’s body” (John 20:1-2). Obviously, their state of mind was no different than yours, and they ran to the tomb. You then returned on the same path. These leaders of the disciples looked in the tomb and left, having drawn conclusions not too different from your own, for they had not fully understood all that Jesus had said (John 20:3-10). And, there you stood! Alone. At the entrance of the empty tomb. You then saw two angels in the very place where Jesus’ body was laid, and they announced, “He is not here”.
Not sure of what you had just experienced, you quickly turned, and you engaged someone who was standing right behind you. He asked what you were doing, and you described with great emotion the frustration of not knowing where the body of your Lord had been laid. And, then HE spoke your name! He spoke to you. You realized in that moment that it was Jesus, ALIVE! He had done just as He had said. And in the quietness of the morning, when you stood alone, He spoke to you. Your frustration, tears, grief, confusion, and heartache evaporated as quickly as the dew that morning when HE spoke your name. He then said to you, “go tell the others that I will ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:11-17).
Now, step out of the story. Step back into your world. If you have truly experienced Jesus (and by this, I mean that if you truly have placed your faith in Him, confessing your sin and your need for Him, receiving His forgiveness and His new life for you), then you have seen Jesus. You perhaps know all the facts of His life, death, and resurrection, but having placed your faith in Him and having been saved, you have seen Him. Like Mary, you now know without any doubt that He is alive. He IS ALIVE.
Biblical history teaches that many people saw Jesus after that encounter with Mary Magdalene. Many saw Him and spoke with Him, even sat and fellowshipped with Him, before His ascension (over 500 people witnessed Jesus’ post resurrection appearances in just 40 days).
From that moment to this very second, the celebration of His resurrection continues worldwide. He is alive. HE IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE! And, He rose again for you, so that you will have life eternal, abundant, and overflowing.
Back to the story, Mary came announcing, “I have seen the Lord.” Today, our world has become encased with a common fear, a common threat, and a common illness. People are seeking hope like never before. And, many are held in the grip of the fear of this present moment instead of being blessed by this present morning. Today, do your part. Arise from the grip of this present moment of fear and uncertainty and allow this present morning to quicken your faith and reawaken your hope. Begin today with a renewed commitment to the perpetual announcement of the follower of Christ: “I have seen the Lord.”
Be blessed as you live in the reality of our resurrected Lord!
