On the first day of the week after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and some of the other women followers of Christ went to the tomb of Jesus. It was still before sunrise as they approached the tomb. Can we stop here a moment? Why do you think they were there, and why did they rouse themselves before sunrise? At the very least, do we not see the devotion, love and dedication of these women for Jesus? The eleven apostles were not there so what drove these women to Jesus’ grave?
As they approached the grave, they encountered an Angel who told them the one for whom they searched was not there. Love and devotion drove them to the tomb in the pre-dawn hours. I marvel at these devotees and ask myself, “Where would I have been? With them?” Probably not. And yet, there is something uncomfortable in this event. It’s in these words, “He has risen, just as He said.”
These women were disciples of Christ. They had followed him from the beginning, listening to his teachings. Although Jesus had told them he must die, be buried and then he would arise, their only explanation for why his body was not in the grave was that someone must have stolen the body. Where was their belief in his words?
Before we look at them too harshly, put yourself in their shoes. The Jews had awaited the Messiah for a long time but then, when he came, he was nothing like what they expected. Then he began talking about leaving but that he would return, and that he would raise himself up after three days. They had seen him raise Lazarus from the dead, but they also watched him die. It must have been inconceivable to them that he would die. Every time they had a foothold for their beliefs, something new would happen which would dumbfound them again. It must have been like riding an emotional and mental roller coaster.
However, no matter how perplexing the situation and events around Jesus became, these women were steadfast. That is what I admire so greatly. They didn’t always understand what was going on around them. They didn’t always understand what he taught. They believed him to be the Messiah and yet they watched him die. It must have been confounding but, nonetheless, there they were in the predawn hours at his grave.
We don’t always understand. We don’t have to. One might accuse these believers of not having faith in the resurrection, but they were there, at his grave. We might question their faith but not their faithfulness.
Faithfulness has its reward. Jesus appeared to them. Mary has been criticized and condemned by centuries of people, but she was the one Jesus appeared to. She was the first one to see the risen Christ. It wasn’t Peter. It wasn’t John.
The lesson of this story is not only that Jesus is alive, but that he is active and wants to be a part of our lives. These women’s devotion led to a personal encounter with the resurrected Lord. You can have his touch too. That is the point. They didn’t even understand that he had arisen. They must have been disappointed that the one they believed to be the Messiah had been defeated, especially in such a gruesome, public way. And yet, they held to their belief even when they didn’t understand. They served him with all their heart and saw their hope and joy confirmed.
Jesus is the good news. He is alive, risen from the grave. He is Lord and we have hope.