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Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 339

Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; John 20 "RETURNING TO THE EMPTY TOMB"

Day 339 – Luke 24

Text: Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; John 20

RETURNING TO THE EMPTY TOMB

Mary Magdalene returned to the empty tomb. Her friends had claimed that they had met with angels who told them that Jesus was risen from the dead! How she too would have liked to believe that.

Her heart was heavy as she walked back to the Garden Tomb. She could not find a solution that would bring comfort to her grieving soul. Thus she stood outside the Tomb and wept her heart out.

John continued with his story of weeping Mary Magdalene.

“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping,
and as she wept she stooped down and looked
into the tomb.
And she saw two angels in white sitting,
One at the head and the other at the feet,
Where the body of Jesus had lain.”
John 20:11-12

As Mary wept copiously, she would from time to time look lovingly at the tomb where the Body of Jesus had been laid. That was natural. She remembered where they had placed the head of Jesus, and where His feet lay. That was so clearly fixed in her mind.

CONVERSATION WITH THE ANGELS OF THE LORD

As Mary looked into the Tomb again, she thought she saw two people. One sat “at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.” But could that be? Who would be in the Tomb? Tears continued to flow until the angels spoke to her.

“Woman, why are you weeping?”
John 20:13

The voice of the men who spoke to her sounded kind and gentle. Perhaps, they could help her find the Body of Jesus. Who these men were did not matter to Mary. Perhaps they were just kind gardeners attending to the Garden.

Mary replied,

“Because they have taken away my Lord,
and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
John 20:13

Her answer was deeply moving. Did the angels understand the depth of what a grieving human heart felt? Mary grieved because she believed that some people had taken away the body of her Lord! How could anyone do such an unthinkable deed? They had already hurt Him so much when He was alive, how could they desecrate His body now that He was dead? The angels were silent as they heard these tender words wrung from a broken and devastated heart.

THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE RISEN SAVIOUR

Since there was no further response from the two men, she looked away from the Tomb. She did not express any surprise when she saw another man standing near by. She carried on weeping. The grief felt was so deep and intense. The tears had to come. They were her only source of relief from the sorrow that sought to overwhelm her.

John went on to describe a beautiful and tender moment, when Mary was given the privilege of being the first disciple to see the Risen Saviour.

“Now when she had said this, she turned around
and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know
that it was Jesus.”
John 20:14

Such was the depth of Mary’s grief, that she didn’t recognize Jesus! She didn’t care if the two people inside the Tomb were angels. She had only one thought in her mind. She wanted to know where Jesus was! She did not think that the Person standing next to her could have been her Lord and thus she just did not recognize Him at first!

Once again she heard similar words,

“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you seeking?’ “
John 20:15

Who was this Person who asked her such a question? Had she not already give her answer to two others who spoke to her just a moment ago? Mary did not even turn around to see the Person who spoke to her. John wrote,

“She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him,
‘Sir, if You have carried Him away,
tell me where You have laid Him,
and I will take Him away.’ “
John 20:15

The reply from the Gardener was swift and simple. He knew exactly what to say to Mary. Had He not delivered her from the demons? Had He not taught her God’s Word?

“Jesus said to her,
‘Mary!’ “
John 20:16

Jesus must have called her name before. She must have noticed the special way in which her Teacher had called her. Nobody else had that voice. She flew into the arms of Jesus! Her Master was alive! It was true! He had risen from the dead!

John recorded the special words that Jesus said to her! What astonishing words these were!

“He turned and said to her,
‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet
ascended; but go to My brethren and say to them,
“I am ascending to My Father and your Father,
and to My God and your God.” ‘ “
John 20:17

We can almost imagine Jesus ascending to Heaven to present Himself to His Father. He had successfully done all that His Father had entrusted Him to do. As He was ascending, He knew that the deep sorrow that Mary Magdalene sustained needed His special attention.

Whereas the angels were able to minister to the other women, Mary needed Jesus, and nobody else would do. He understood that fully, for had He not put on flesh Himself? He understood things that angels could only guess at.

Gently and lovingly, Jesus came to Mary Magdalene and honoured her greatly as the first person to whom He appeared!

ANOTHER REPORT CONCERNING THE RISEN SAVIOUR

Once again, Mary made her way back to the Disciples. They had kept in touch with each other. They must have somehow got together during the last few days. Mary hurried to these Disciples and this time she was able to confirm that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead!

“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples
that she had seen the Lord, and that she had spoken
these things to her.”
John 20:18

She had had great doubts about the resurrection of her Lord, but no more! Jesus had not expressed anger or disappointment in her, despite her doubt! He had instead spoken to her about He was going to His God… and His Father. She was never going to forget what He said…

“My Father… and your Father
My God… and your God…”
John 20:17

If only she had a greater trust in the Lord… her God… her Father! Surely she would have been able to walk through her vale of tears without that feeling of despair. Her inadequate knowledge of the Father and her less than perfect trust had caused this terrible bout of sorrow. She had not learned from Jesus’ example of full trust in God.

JESUS CAME TO SHOW US THE FATHER

Jesus came to earth for many reasons. One of them was to reveal to us who His Father. John wrote about this in his Gospel.

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,
who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
John 1:18