04/29/2024 – Our Lord Lives!
John 20: 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the crown of His ministry, and the crown of our faith. Without our belief in His resurrection, our faith is incomplete. The disciples were taught, they were shaped in their character, they were taught the resurrection, and the Lord had in fact risen from the dead! But their faith was incomplete and it was vain without the conviction of the resurrection of Christ.
Mary Magdalene got up very early and went to the tomb. She was there because she loves Jesus. She believed believe, and even called Him Lord; but she was also convinced that the Lord was dead and that the empty tomb could only be explained by someone taking the body away.
Mary Magdalene was weeping, even though the Lord was alive, even though angels were at the tomb, the victory has been won. The angels asked the question: woman, why are you crying? We will have many reasons to cry in this life, and there is a time to cry. But we have an overwhelming reason to celebrate: The Lord Jesus has defeated death…He lives forever and He has already ensured everlasting life for us, for our family and for all who are children of God. Creation has been saved!
Mary Magdalene saw the evidence but jumped to the wrong conclusion. Our ideas are shaped by our perception. She sees the empty tomb and jumps to the conclusion that someone has stolen the body of our Lord. She reaches this conclusion even though the Lord had repeatedly said what He would do and when He would do it. We must apply this lesson to our lives. So many times, we think God is doing nothing! Even when we see evidence of the work of God and make the wrong assumption. Most of the work of God we miss or misjudge. While we are sleeping, while we are doubting, He is at work. While the disciples were planning an exit strategy, He was at work. Thank God for Jesus Christ who never stops building His church and the kingdom of God! We need to stop jumping to conclusions. Let your conclusion be guided by the word of God.
The resurrection of the Lord proves beyond the shadow of any doubt that God will complete His purpose against all odds and regardless of the opposition, with or without the support and belief from anyone.