Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. (John 20:1)
How long did she stand outside that empty tomb, weeping and confused? Eventually, she noticed someone standing behind her and the morning silence was interrupted with a question. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She supposed him to be the gardener. “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” In that moment, the resurrection and the life made himself known by speaking her name. “Mary.”
She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (20:16-17)
On the morning of that first day of the week, the best news ever exploded in every direction. But it was so much more than “Jesus is risen.” His resurrection opened the door for all to the most important relationship imaginable. Listen again, carefully, to what Jesus told Mary:
“Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Jesus’ greatest task was finished. The sacrifice for the sin of the world had been offered. Death itself had proven to be no match. Now, it was time to spread the news. Jesus’ Father can be “my Father.” Jesus’ God can be “your God.” That’s what the apostle Thomas came face to face with and readily confessed eight days later: “My Lord and my God!” (20:28). In fact, that’s why The Gospel of John exists:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (20:30-31)
So let’s do more today than acknowledge what happened two thousand years ago. Let’s do more than even celebrate Jesus’ resurrection as the greatest event in human history. Let’s take the news that has reverberated from that garden for centuries and make it as personal as Thomas did. “My Lord and my God.” Jesus is risen, and the door to restored relationship with the Author of Life has been opened through his resurrection.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom 5:10-11)
The gospel path from resurrection to reconciliation to relationship. Life in his name.
Happy Lord’s day.