The Risen Savior

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
(NIV)

Can you imagine how Mary Magdalene felt as she saw Jesus risen from the dead, what an honor it must have been for her, to be the first to see the risen Messiah.

I can't even begin to imagine the thoughts going through Mary Magdalene's mind, but I am sure she felt at that moment the good Lord found favor with her but more than that I am sure she was humbled. Who was she to have the Risen Christ revealed to her? What it must be to see the nail pierced hands of our Savior, and to know that he died for humanity, suffered a death unlike no other. Who else but Jesus would walk through hell for us who are but sinners?

Matthew 28:1-10

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 can only imagine what those who saw Jesus risen that Sunday must have thought, the joy they must have felt, and the realization that they had truly been following the Lord. I know there were moments of doubt and betrayal amongst some, but Jesus used the imperfect then just as he does today.

Jesus suffered death, the cross, even Hell, and became the ultimate lamb sacrificed, the symbol of God's great love, no longer did perfect lambs have to be slaughtered, because the perfect lamb was sacrificed on that cross, and he rose on the third day: What an amazing gift, the Risen Savior…

Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

The time to grieve is now over, let us rejoice, rejoice in a Saviors unconditional love…