“Come and see… The tomb is empty!”
What would you do, if you were Mary Magdalene and saw Jesus – your only Hope, true Saviour and your all in all – is gone and is not in the tomb? An empty tomb might sound very disappointing or hopeless. Each time I read the passages on ‘the empty tomb,’ I always ask myself, ‘what would I do if I was Mary Magdalene?’ Well, I know what I’d do. I’d definitely be so worried and maybe heart broken. Even though Jesus mentioned the resurrection many times, I’d still be trying to find out where Jesus is NOW, who and how he’s been taken, and definitely be grieving for the loss of Rabboni (the Aramaic word for my teacher) – just as what Mary did.
I’m such a worrier and a fixer. I always want to be in control and fix everything, i.e. when I’m on the bus, I sit upstairs on the front seats, so that I can be in control (in my mind) and that I can see everyone and everything, and where I’m heading to (so silly – I know). It is really hard when you don’t know what God has in store for you, and people keep asking you that famous question of ‘do you know what you’re doing next?’ The answer is most of the times 'no, I don't.'
However, the empty tomb is a sign of an eternal and living hope. A hope that never fails. The Hope that is risen.
You may be a last year and soon-to-be-graduated student. You may feel super excited to finish uni and you already have a plan for after uni, or on the contrary, sad to finish uni, confused as you don’t know what your next step is, worried and anxious for not knowing what your calling is now. It’s absolutely ok to feel like that. It’s ok not to know what tomorrow brings, because God knows. God knows your concerns, he knows the plan and timing for everything. Trust the timing of your life, God's plans for your life.
Today is Easter Sunday. 'The third Day' on which Jesus rose from the dead and defeated the dead as he promised. Today is the day that we all remember that there’s always hope in everything. Death or an empty tomb is not the end and there’s more to come. AND we celebrate!
“Mary said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ ... ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’
Jesus is calling you today specifically by your name to remember instead what your real mission is: ‘Go’ and ‘tell’.
Firstly, today, take some time to celebrate and embrace the season you’re in – the empty tomb, as “tomorrow will worry about itself.” Be present and enjoy walking with Jesus. It’s because of him and his death on the cross that our relationship with God (our first love) is restored.
Secondly, take some time to think 'who could you tell about the Good News of Jesus today?' 'Who needs to hear the Good News today?' The Good News was meant to be shared!
HAPPY EASTER, friends!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A1-18&version=NIVUK
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6&version=NIVUK
