REFLECTIONS

Easter Morning

Early in the morning while it was still dark Mary Magdalen made her way to the tomb. Fresh on her mind, Jesus’ grand entry into Jerusalem to cheering crowds and shouts of Hosanna; and turning over the tables of the money changers in the temple for daring to turn his house of prayer into a den of robbers.

Mary stepped cautiously in the dawning to remember especially how Jesus humbly reduced himself to wash his disciples’ feet, saying to them, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Then in the upper room, the meal of bread and wine—his body and blood shed for them; “Do this in remembrance of me until I come again.” And then prayers to his Father at Gethsemane before Judas led the soldiers to arrest him. The true horror began then.

A rigged trial, a crown of thorns punctured his head, scourge wounds sliced his back, spit disgraced his face, nails pierced his hands, before a final gasp cried out, “It is finished.” The only dignity afforded him was the unused tomb sealed by a large round stone too heavy for one man to roll away.

Only it was rolled away! The tomb empty!

Stunned by the scene, Mary Magdalen peered into the tomb and saw two angels. They asked, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this she turned away.

Then another voice asked—maybe the gardener, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him,” she anguished as she turned away grabbing her face into her hands.

“Mary,” he said to her tenderly. And she recognized him.  Joy filled her spirit.

Jesus has risen!

He has risen indeed!

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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