Can It Be?

Daylight is less than an hour away. Mary of Magdala can sit still no longer. She has to do something. What she wants is to talk to the body. Tell Him goodbye. She walks through the darkness, carrying embalming spices. Intent on properly preparing Him for burial.

But there’s a problem.

The body is gone.

She pokes her head inside the tomb. To her surprise, two angels sit at either end of where the body had lain. One of them speaks: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:5-6)

Somewhere in that fog, Mary remembered His words. (Luke 24:8) The words He is risen ramble about her brain. She mouths the words. Trying to connect the meaning. Then she voices them out loud. Little more than a whisper. “He is risen.”

About then it hits her.

Mary hikes up her dress and bolts back to town. Knees and elbows pumping like pistons. Caught between belief and unbelief, hope and despair, and unadulterated rage, she flings open the door and tells the disciples everything she has seen and heard.

Peter and John race outside the city. John, evidently the faster runner, arrives first. He stoops down, sees the folded linen but, afraid to enter, stops short. Peter arrives next. Peter’s eyes fall to the face cloth that had been around the dead Man’s head. Now it lies neatly folded in a place by itself. Why would the soldiers take the time to do that?

They return to their homes.

Mary stands for a moment weeping outside the tomb.

When she stoops to walk in, the angels have returned. She tries to flag down Peter and John, but it’s too late. They ask her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” The unspoken impression being, “We already told you He’s not here.”

Unable to make sense of any of this, she cries, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” (John 20:13) My Lord. Even now, Mary’s proclamation is that Jesus is Lord. An amazing declaration given that nothing in her circumstances agrees with her.

Mary turns and bumps into the gardener. Finally, someone normal she can speak to. His voice is calm. Soothing. Like water. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

Controlling her grief, she says, “Sir,” and points at the tomb. Her finger is shaking. Tears and snot are pouring off her face. “If You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” (John 20:15)

Then, in what is certainly the single greatest moment in Mary’s life, the man cracks a smile. He speaks, and Jesus uncloaks His divinity. “Mary!” (John 20:16) And in that single word, the voice and person of Jesus has returned.

He is alive!

Mary had watched Him pray the prayer of a dying man: “Into Your hand I commit my spirit.” (Psalm 31:5) Then she watched Him push up on His nail-pierced hands and do just that.

But now He’s not. Jesus is alive. Speaking. And Mary knows it. She just heard His voice. Saw the light in His eyes. Felt the warmth of His skin.

He spoke to her. She felt His breath on her face. This changes everything.

Respond

“He is alive,” what does that mean for you and to you?

How does the resurrection of Jesus impact your daily life?

Prayer

Precious Jesus, I want to live each day of my life honoring You and sharing Your gift of salvation with others.