The World Upside Down - Jesus is Risen!

 

Mary Magdelene woke early on the first day of the week. She had hardly slept since Jesus died on the cross. Her eyes were still red from the tears which still came all too quickly at the memory of his broken body.

This morning was the earliest time that she and the other women could go to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with spices and oils. He was buried so quickly on the eve of the Sabbath that there had been no time to properly care for his body.

It was still dark as she hurried down the rocky path to the tomb with her box of spices and oils. She had no idea how she would get into the tomb. She could only hope that the Temple guards would have mercy on her and roll the stone away so she could enter where his body was lain.

She trembled with both anticipation and dread at the thought of seeing his body again.

When she came to the tomb she was astonished to see the stone was gone and the guards were nowhere to be seen. Had the other women beat her to the tomb? As she kneeled before the tomb she saw it was empty. Jesus' body was gone.

Then she felt the presence of someone standing behind her. She assumed it was the gardener who took care of the tomb grounds. She asked him if he knew where Jesus' body was - did someone take it?

Then the man said her name, "Mary."

At that moment she knew it was Jesus and wanted to embrace his feet, but he wouldn't let her.

There are so many other things about Jesus' resurrection that could be pondered, but this little moment has always been important to me.

When Jesus was born, his birth announcement was not given to kings or the important people. Angels announced his birth first to shepherds, the lowliest of the low.

Now his resurrection is first revealed to a woman - a second class citizen far below the men of her day in class or consideration.

I don't think this announcement to a woman was coincidental or a nice accident of history. I believe it was an intentional honor that God has given to all women.

The world has truly been turned upside down and will never be the same again.

The resurrection of Jesus is what brought me to a place of accepting him as my Lord and Savior. I was faced with choosing to believe the resurrection was real or to reject it. I chose to believe and my life has been turned upside down. I will never be the same.

Jesus is risen! Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!