According to Jim and Jamie Dutcher, filmmakers known for their knowledge of wolves, when happy, wolves wag their tails and romp about. But after the death of a pack member, they grieve for weeks. They visit the place where the pack member died, showing grief by their drooping tails and mournful howls.
Griefis a powerful emotion we’ve all experienced, particularly at the death of a loved one or of a treasured hope. Mary Magdaleneexperienced it. She’d traveled with and helped support Jesus and His disciples (Luke 8:1–3). But His cruel death on a cross separated them. The only thing left for Mary to do for Jesus was to finish anointing His body for burial—a task the Sabbath had interrupted.
But imagine how Mary felt when she found not a lifeless, broken body but a living Savior! Though she hadn’t at first recognized the man standing before her, when He spoke her name, she knew who He was—Jesus! Instantly, grief turned to joy. Mary now had joyful news to share: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18).
Jesus entered our dark world to bring freedom and life. His resurrection is a celebration of the fact that He accomplished what He set out to do. Like Mary, we can celebrate Christ’s resurrection and share the good news that He’s alive!Alleluia!!
11Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13They 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.”14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15He 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.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
INSIGHT
When have you experienced a time when your sadness turned to joy?
How will you share the news of Christ’s resurrection this week?
The name Mary is the English rendering of the Greek Maria or Mariam(from the Hebrew Miriam) and was one of the most common female names in New Testament times. The first Mary we meet is the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16). Other women bearing this name include Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1–12:8; Luke 10:38–41); Mary, the mother of James (Mark 15:40); Mary, the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12); Mary, the wife of Clopas (John 19:25); Mary of Rome (Romans 16:6); and Mary Magdalene, who is featured in John 20:11–18. All the gospel writers place this Mary at Jesus’ death or resurrection or both (Matthew 27:56–61; 28:1–10; Mark 15:40, 47; 16:1; Luke 24:10; John 20:1, 18).
PRAYER
Jesus, I celebrate Your resurrection and the new life I can experience in You. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
