John 20:1-16
It was early in the morning of the first day of the week. Mary of Magdala and two other women made their way to the tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. They would finish the sad work they had begun just a few days earlier – preparing the body of Jesus for final burial. Little did they know they were about to witness an event that would change the world forever. This would be the ultimate victory, triumph over evil and death.
Read with us the words in the gospel of John as we prepare for Resurrection Sunday.
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala arrived at the tomb very early in the morning, while it was still dark, and noticed that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. At this, she ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid Him.”
Peter and the other disciple set off at once for the tomb, the two of them running together. The other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb. He stooped and looked inside and saw the linen cloths lying there but did not go in himself.
Hard on his heels came Simon Peter who went straight into the tomb. He noticed the linen cloths were lying there. The handkerchief which had been round Jesus head was not lying with the linen cloths but was rolled up by itself, a little ways apart. Then the other disciple who was the first to arrive came inside as well, saw what had happened and believed. They did not yet understand the scripture that said He must rise from the dead. So the disciples went back again to their homes.
But Mary stood just outside the tomb, and she was crying. And as she cried, she looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white who sat, one at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had lain.
The angels spoke to her. “Why are you crying” they asked. “Because they have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have laid Him.!” she said.
With these words she turned and saw Jesus standing there, without realizing that it was Jesus. “Why are you crying?” said Jesus to her. “Who are you looking for?”
She, supposing that He was the gardener, said “Oh sir, if you have carried Him away, please tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her ”Mary!” At this, she turned right around and said to Him, in Hebrew, “Master.”
In this personal encounter, we understand the meaning of the resurrection. Jesus calls our names and we realize that we, too, can be resurrected by the power of His sacrifice. He assures us,
”Where I am, there you may be also.”
May the promise of the resurrection and the knowledge of our inclusion in the life it provides bring you joy and hope.
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