Three days ago, the day an innocent Man died, Jesus hung His in death, but not in defeat! On the first day of the week, a few women with spices nestled in their baskets hurried to the tomb. It was so early the sunflowers along the dusty road still had their heads bowed, but the women did not notice. They were on a mission!
As they approached the tomb, Mary Magdalene gasped! “The stone has been rolled away!” They clasped each other’s hands as they crept into the tomb. They stared in disbelief. “There’s no body,” Joann said, in a hushed voice. “What could this mean?”
Before either of the other women could answer, two men in dazzling, white garments stood by them. Light filled the tomb overcoming the darkness. The terrified women fell to their knees with their faces to the ground.
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?” one angel asked. “He is not here, but is risen.” “Did you not know the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day arise again?” the other angel asked. His question did not solicit an answer.
The women stood with their eyes to the ground. Yes, the women remembered the words of Jesus. But they didn’t understand them then, and they certainly could not comprehend them now. The two angels disappeared as mysteriously as they appeared, and early morning streaks of sunlight filtered into the tomb. “We must go tell His disciples,” Mary, the mother of James, said, with eyes wide with wonderment what all this could mean.
They fled from the tomb and ran back to Jerusalem to find Peter and the other disciples. In breathless gasps, the women recounted their experience at the tomb, but were met with skepticism.
Suddenly Peter bolted out the door followed by John. The two men ran to the tomb. John outran Peter and arrived first. He stooped down and looked into the semi-lit tomb, but he did not go in. Peter came and charged into the tomb. He stared at the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around Jesus’ head was folded neatly in a place by itself.
John entered. He studied the place where Jesus’ body had been. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized in that instant, that Jesus had indeed been raised from the dead! What victory! That truth sank deep into his soul. Peter stood there, stunned.
Peter shifted his stance in awe and in exilerating hope that Jesus really was raised from the dead. “He said he would,” John said. The two men, filled with rising joy and excitement, hurried back to their homes.
Mary Magdalene came back to the tomb. As she sobbed, she reached her hand against the cold stone of the tomb as though to steady herself from her own grief and bewilderment. As she cried, she stooped down and peered into the empty tomb.
“Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for? ” a voice said, behind her.
Mary glanced over her shoulder at a man, and supposing him to be the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, please tell me where you have laid Him.”
He said, “Mary.”
She recognized His voice. She felt like her heart was about to burst through her chest and her knees would buckle. Jesus is alive! He has risen just as He said! And He called me by name!”
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life.”
She fell at His feet and clung to Him. “Do not cling to Me for I have not ascended to My Father. Go to My brethren and tell them I will meet them in Galilee.
Not wanting to let go of Jesus, but knowing she must, she ran back to tell the disciples. “He is risen! Jesus will meet you in Galilee!”
He is risen, indeed! Rejoice and be glad. The Savior lives and reigns. He has the victory over sin, the penalty for sin, death, and evil. He trampled over death with death.