Happy Easter!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then 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.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

I have often wondered what it would have been like to live when Jesus did. To see his kindness, his power, his love. To hear of his desire to free people from the things that bind them. But the most amazing interaction I can imagine would be to see Jesus first after his resurrection. And the fact that he appeared to the two “Marys” first is not insignificant to me.

These women loved him as a brother, as a teacher, and as Lord. They were faithful to care for his body when it was buried, so it makes sense that they would see him first after he rose from the dead.

But before they see Jesus, they experience the violent earthquake and they see the angel. The implication here may be that the arrival of the angel actually caused an earthquake. And this angel was radiant and white as snow.

The angel had an important message for these women. He said, “Do not be afraid.” This was needed due to the powerful appearance of the angel, and that one angel rolled away the stone from the tomb. He instructed them to go ahead to Galilee to wait for Jesus.

Then on the way back, Jesus himself appeared to them. And told them to have the disciples meet him. It is as if Jesus couldn’t wait that long to greet these two women!

One last thing impacts me: the women were afraid, yet filled with joy! I think this is also a state of mind I find myself in when God does something in life “bigger than me”. He transcends time and space to show his glory and love. And he did this in raising Jesus from the dead to bring new life to our souls.

So today, if your life is full of heartache and challenge, if you have seen hardship and pain, if you are tired of trying to run this life with an “in the moment” perspective, Jesus can help.

He sees all of time at once and has power over all creation. He is truly operating at a high and deep perspective in life. And since he died for our sins and rose again, he is able to save you and me. He is able to rescue us from the entrapments of this world and free us to love much more that we could have without him!

Lord, you rise in light and truth, and you reveal yourself to me in spite of my sin and weaknesses. I receive your new birth today, and I am so grateful for the new life your Spirit brings into my heart!