“He is not here; He has risen!”

Luke 24:6

Somebody asked me, “Mary, ‘why are you up so early” (Jn. 20:1)?

How could I sleep when the body of my Master lies in the tomb without proper care? Our leaders did injustice to Him and pressed for His death in the court of the Gentile Governor Pilate (19:15). The same people he fed and healed shouted in unison for His blood, “Crucify Him!”

“What has he done”, I shouted.

But they took my Jesus away and whipped Him till he bled all over His limp body. My heart sank when I saw Him. Yet, they forced him to carry His Cross and paraded Him through the streets to Golgotha (17). Each time He fell under the weight of the cross, they laughed and scorned.

I cried, “Can somebody help Him, please?”

How glad I was when Simon from Cyrene helped Him with the cross (Lk. 23:26). May God bless him!

On Calvary, they crucified Jesus (33). In anguish of soul, I shouted each time they drove those nails through His hands and feet.

 “Stop it, please! He has done nothing wrong”, I said. But they did not listen. There, between two criminals, Jesus hung.

“Why are you doing this to Him? He is not a criminal…”

But, O, the grace of God! Even in that condition, He forgave His tormentors (34). Stretched to the limits and dehydrated, Jesus declared victory and died (Jn. 19:28-30). I wept uncontrollably; wondering how I could get His body for proper burial. But, thank God who takes care of the details of His eternal plan! Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Him in a new tomb (38-42).

 That’s why I am up at sunrise – to embalm the body of my Master. But I had the shock of my life. The stone had been removed from the entrance of the cave (20:1).

“Where have they taken my Lord”, I asked.

I approached a man I thought was the gardener and asked where he had carried the body of my Master (15). And, Jehovah be praised!

The voice I cherish so much – that which I thought I will never hear again – called my name, “Mary” (16).

It was so gentle and mild. I turned, and cried, “Rabboni!”  

I held on to Him and would not let go (17). With tears of joy, I said, “No one is going to take you away from me again, Lord”.

But, calmly, He told me not to be selfish, but to go and share the Good News with His disciples, that death could not hold him captive. Jesus has risen!

 So, ask me again why I am up so early, and I will say with joy, it’s because I went to preserve a dead body, but found an empty tomb. Death could not keep Him captive. My Lord Jesus has triumphed over death and hades.

He is risen, Hallelujah!

Rejoice with me then, O people. Declare the Good News to all who will believe, that my Savior lives, and because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Halleluiah, Jesus has risen!

Happy Easter!