Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. – John 20:15-18
Mary couldn’t sleep. She woke up every hour looking for a hint of sunrise. You know the feeling. You hear the ticking of the clock, the hum of the refrigerator, and even the beating of your own heart. You’ve experienced the sudden loss of someone you love. The mind races as you try to make sense of what has happened to you. You cannot rest and there is no peace.
Mary went to the cemetery, and the scriptures tell us that she came away believing that Jesus was alive. However, it was not the evidence of Easter that convinced her of Jesus’ resurrection. She remained unconvinced by the empty tomb, the angels, and even the appearance of Jesus himself (after all, she guessed that he was the gardener). Rather, Mary was moved to faith by an experience of Easter.
It came to her when Jesus said her name, “Mary.” Immediately, her eyes of faith were opened and she believed. Jesus said the word she needed to hear the most when he said her name, and she could not contain her joy as she held onto him. At that moment, Mary realized that there are some things we don’t understand about this world and God is at work in our lives.
Mary’s experience of Easter is the inspiration for one of my favorite hymns:
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses;
And he walks with me and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
I invite you to let Easter happen to you today. Come to the tomb with the disciples. Do not stop and merely consider the evidence. Go all the way. Experience the power of Easter.
Prayer: Gracious Lord, this is a day of celebration. Death has lost its sting. The grave has no victory. Through Jesus Christ we have access to life. Open our eyes and help us to glimpse your glory this day. Amen.
Bill Britt
