“Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” John 20:1-2
Imagine the shock and awe. Shock that Jesus’ body was missing and awe at who could have taken it. It never occurred to Mary that the body moved on it’s own accord. And why would it? Never before or since has someone been raised from the dead after suffering an incredible and public death.
But in once sense, maybe she should have expected it. It’s not as if he didn’t speak about his suffering, death and resurrection. He made numerous references to destroying the temple (now we know this was his body he was referring to) and raising it again in three days. So maybe Mary, or someone, should have expected an empty tomb. But she was just as surprised as we would have been as she proclaimed to Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.”
I love the image though of Mary on Sunday morning, at first light going to the tomb. The Sabbath had ended the night before. And at the first possible moment, she surely would not have gone to the tomb Saturday night, she went to minister to the body of Jesus. She also gets kudos for being the first one there! Where were the disciples? Why didn’t they show up? The fact that it was Mary, being a woman, says much about her and God’s reception of her as an instrument of his grace.
Just as Mary went to greet the body of Jesus after a very difficult night, we can greet the risen Lord. He is here and he is near. Be like Mary who goes to Jesus, dead or alive, present or absent, and remain faithful in your offerings of love and affection to the Christ.
“O Lord God, the resurrection narrative is perhaps the best the world has known. It’s recorded in thousands of manuscripts of the Bible, never changing, also the same. It’s written so we might learn lessons of love from a God who never gives up on his people. We love you Lord and praise your name! Come now, Lord Jesus, renew my heart for your sake. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen