“Whom Are We Seeking?!”

With the confusion and alarm of the empty tomb, all Mary Magdalene can do is weep!  Her first take on the empty tomb did not bring comfort.  It could only mean that a grave robber, for his own profit, had hastily taken the body of Jesus.  Her blurry, tear-reddened eyes are blind to Jesus.  She assumed that he could only be the gardener.

She entered the territory of death with no hope of finding a resurrected Jesus.  She knew that the jaws of death, once closed, do not relinquish their prey.  She came hoping only to do that which she was unable to do Good Friday at sundown: anoint the body of Jesus to lessen the stench of death.

Only as Jesus calls her by name does she recognize Him.  Only then does her grief turn to joy.  She held onto Him and would not let Him go until Jesus encouraged her that she must.  He has come for all and had to complete His mission by the ascension so the Holy Spirit would bring Jesus’ presence at once to all who believe.  Our loving God has brought Jesus from the dead, who, by His own blood, has purchased and won Mary and of us to be His own and receive the profit of His work.

We don’t seek Him in an ancient burial ground with a thief’s profit in mind.  With gifted faith in our hearts we seek Him exactly where He has promised to be, this Easter and the whole year through – in His Word and in His Supper.  In the midst of death we have life – now and forever!  Alleluia, Christ is risen…!!

Pastor Craig