Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.
11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”
13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.”
The disciples went back home. Mary Magdalene stayed behind even when Peter and John left the tomb. She wanted to find out what had happened to Jesus. ... she stood outside the tomb weeping. Sometimes seeing is believing. And she was still searching! If she could only see Him or know where He was taken. While she was still crying, she looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white ... sitting there ... waiting. They were waiting for Mary, obviously.
If you had been one of the angels sitting inside the tomb, waiting, this is probably what you would have seen:
Slowly, a robe appears ... flowing in the breeze as the person gets closer and closer ... trying to get a glimpse of the Master inside the tomb. Ever so slowly a figure is appearing in view. Ah, it's a woman! With her face covered with tears and her eyes red from crying, she leans forward and looks inside the tomb. Now! Now! Now is the time to speak to her. Here is the one we are to give a message from the Master. Here is the one we are to console. Finally, here is one who is waiting and longing to know more and struggling with grief because she can't find her Master. Here is one who is in the deep throes of grief, feeling utter despair because she can't find Jesus.
I love the first words directed to Mary. Why are you crying? The angel's first concern was all about the tears streaming down the face of a woman who was searching for Jesus. They could have said a thousand different things to this lady. But, the love and compassion from the Father flowed through them to this distraught woman. Why are you crying?
I must admire the honesty of Mary as she answered the angel: "They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him."
Mary didn't react at seeing the angels. She was looking for Jesus. She was not enthralled with two angels in glistening white robes. Neither was she moved at being in the presence of two angelic beings ... her focus was still on finding Jesus!! Mary carried on a conversation with angels but her words only expressed her grief and her search ... for she came to anoint the body of Jesus and He wasn't there!!
The angel spoke to the women: There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed...and go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.
After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.
Jesus spoke to her. Again notice the first words spoken to Mary: Woman, why do you weep? Such compassion! Tears really are a language God understands! Then Jesus asks another question: Who are you looking for? This is Jesus! He knew the answer! But, He is locked in a conversation with a woman who loved Him with all of her heart. A woman who is at a loss because of the death and burial of her Master and now she is not able to anoint His body with spices! Mary didn't recognize the one speaking to her and she said, If you would only tell me where you put him, I can go there and care for him. Her reasoning says that this must be the gardener and he has taken the body of Jesus and placed Him somewhere else.
At this time Jesus looked at Mary and said one word, Mary.
She turned to face the man talking to her and instantly (she recognized that voice), she knew ... this is Jesus. This is the One she is searching for. Mary looked at Him and said, Rabboni! Teacher!
So this is how it ends. She's instructed by her Master, her very alive Master, to not cling to Him but to go and tell the brethren to go into Galilee, and there they will see Him.
This was her message to everyone she met, I saw the Master! She was looking for His body, but in her searching ... she found a resurrected Jesus. She was looking for One in the grave, but she found One still on a mission.
Mary's encounter with Jesus after his resurrection gave access to a world where death no longer had dominion.
His resurrection proved that He was divine.
His resurrection proved that He was the Son of God.
His resurrection proved that He was the One with power to forgive sin.
His resurrection proved that He has power over death.
His resurrection proved that He defeated God's enemy.
It is Sunday and I saw Him!
Because it is Sunday, Jesus can live in you.
Because it is Sunday, you can be healed.
Because it is Sunday, you can be delivered from depression.
Because it is Sunday, you can be free from all bondage and addictions.
Because it is Sunday, you can live expecting His return.
On this Easter Sunday can you say as Mary, I Saw Him?
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