Made for More Part 4 (Celebration Preview
Go tell others
Read John 20:11-18
Poor, poor Mary. Jesus was buried in a hurry because the Sabbath would start at sundown and no good Jew could work or touch a dead body on the Sabbath. But because he was buried in a hurry, no one honored him with the traditional funeral rites, such as pouring oil over him and laying spices in among the grave clothes. These small acts of kindness simply showed respect and were the least Mary could offer to the miracle-working teacher who had set her free from demon possession. But she had to wait until the Sabbath ended.
Sunday morning, she arose early, before dark, and with a heavy basket of spices in hand, she headed to the tomb. As she walked, did she wonder how she would roll away the heavy stone, or if the guards would even let her near the tomb? But when she arrived, the guards were gone, the stone rolled away from the entrance, and the tomb…….. was empty. Mary began to cry uncontrollably. She assumed someone had taken his body. Was it taken by the Romans or the Jews, wanting to disgrace Jesus even more by leaving his corpse by the roadside to be pecked at by vultures? Or perhaps Joseph of Arimathea changed his mind and ordered it moved out of the brand-new rock-cut tomb he had cut for his family at great expense?
Can you imagine what Mary must have felt in this moment?
Suddenly she saw a man moving around; he must be a gardener or caretaker to be here so early. Maybe he was the one who moved her Lord. She asked him to tell her where he had moved the body. But the man instead spoke her name, “Mary.”
In John 10:2-3, Jesus had told the disciples that he was the good shepherd, and that he would call his sheep by name, and they would know his voice. When Jesus called Mary by name, she knew his voice and instantly recognized him. She cried out and embraced him, filled with joy, wonder, and worship. Here was the same Jesus whom she saw crucified, whose heart was pierced by a Roman javelin, sealed in a guarded grave for three days, now standing before her alive and well.
Can you imagine what Mary must have felt at this moment? How do you feel about Jesus’ resurrection?
I wonder when the dots began to connect for Mary. Jesus had raised others, and he had taught that they were made for more than the grave. Jesus had taught that in him all would live forever. And now here he was, living beyond the grave. Did this mean, could this possibly mean- that death was defeated? Could this mean that the grave held no power over her or anyone else? That is not just good news; that is the best news!
Jesus, recognizing this moment, tells her…”Go, tell the others.”
When our grief, fear, and unbelief give way to faith in Jesus as the grave-conquering Savior, what does that mean for the rest of our lives? Who do you know who is still living in fear and hopelessness? Who do you need to tell?
What does it mean to live like you are made for more than the grave?
Pick one thing from this list to do today.
- Tell someone about Jesus.
- Tell someone about Jesus.
- Tell someone about Jesus.
- Tell someone about Jesus.
- Tell someone about Jesus.
- Tell someone about Jesus.
- Tell someone about Jesus.
- Tell someone about Jesus.