She Saw That The Stone Had Been Removed - John 20:1

On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. John 20:1 CSB

Believers love the Lord. And those who love Him seek Him. Even when it seems all hope is lost.

Here, we have Mary Magdalene (not Mary, the mother of Jesus). And it is clear that she loves Jesus. She is seeking Him on the worst weekend of her life.

As I read John 20 (and please read the full chapter), I can sense a faint light of hopefulness even as she knows that He is dead. Maybe just being near his crucified body will bring comfort to her grieving soul. Or maybe even in her grief she is beginning to process some of what He said about rising again.

She is certainly not expecting to find him risen. Imagine then, what joy to have Him say her name!

For me, how many times, I have thought the Lord was done with me. How could He love a man like me? I even acted like He was dead. I certainly did not have the faith of Mary. I wallowed. I complained. I ran.

And yet, He drew me back. He drew me to the same place as Mary: the empty tomb. And to remembering His risen life and His presence.

The empty tomb reminds me that He is alive, and I matter to Him today. He is working on me, and His Holy Spirit is right here with me, speaking truth to me.

The empty tomb is the hope for every child of God, for if He were not raised, all is sham, no hope.

The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 (CSB), “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” And then he goes on to say that if He hasn’t been raised, we are to be pitied more than anyone.

But see, He did rise. He appeared to over 500 people after He was crucified. He forgave Peter who had denied Him in His hour of need. He told Thomas to put his hands in Jesus’s hands and feet.

He nailed my sins to that same old rugged cross, and I trust him for that.

Now, I can do the work He has set before me. And the Holy Spirit empowers me to do it by His grace.

Lord, I know you died and rose again to save me from destruction. You have all power. You called me. I am not pitied. I am your child and I’m going to live with you forever. Thank you for saving me and all of your children. May I delight in you today. Blessed be the name of the Lord.