April 4, 2010 - Christ is Risen!

From "The Message" - John, chapter 20

"Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put him."

"Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sittting ther, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus' body had been laid. They said to her, "Woman, why do you weep?"

"They took my Master," she said, "and I don't know here they put him." After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn't recognize him.

Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?"

She, thinking that was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him."

Jesus said, "Mary."

Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" meaning "Teacher!"

Jesus said, "Don't cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, "I ascend to my Faither and your Father, my God and your God."

Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciple: "I saw the Master!" And she told them everything he said to her."

The Word of the Lord.

I love the story of Christ's Resurrection! Out of dispair and hopelessness comes the ultimate gift. So much has been written on the Resurrection by people more knowledgeable theologically than I, so I won't even try to compete with those more learned than I. I can only share, as the twelve-step programs say, my "experience, strength, and hope."

Before I met Christ, I mean really met Him, I was lost. I was searching. I had made my own religion, but something was missing. Oh, I knew about Jesus, of course, but I didn't know
Him. Then Jesus came to me in a dream, and my life was transformed. I once was dead, and now I live!

I do find it interesting that Mary didn't recogize Jesus, whom she had spent so much time with, until He called her name after His sacrifice. Me, too. Maybe it's that way with all believers. When Jesus has called your name, and you recognize Him for Who He IS, your life changes forever.

So, on this Easter Sunday, I give praise and honor and glory to the One who pulled me out of the muck and mire, dispair and hopelessness of my human existance, and lifted me on my feet, and instilled in me a Living Hope, and the gift of true Life.

Christ is Risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!!!