Apr. 8, 2012

Luke 24:1-8

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead! He is not here; he is risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.

Imagine Mary Magdalene, one of the women, sharing her story. Maybe these would be her words:

He changed my life. Jesus, that is. Not once, but twice. The first time was when he removed seven demons from me. Others thought I was controlling. But he knew otherwise. He healed and gave me a second chance. People thought I was crazy for following Him around the countryside and for giving Him and the disciple’s money to live on. It seemed like such a small gift considering Jesus had given me my life back.

When his mother insisted on watching him die on that awful cross, I felt compelled to be there with her. Watching Jesus die was terrible for me. How Mary was able to stand there and not die herself is beyond me.

The men didn’t have much time to get Him off the cross and into the tomb before the Sabbath began. I and the other women knew which garden tomb Jesus’ body was laid in. We decided to go back early Sunday morning and finish preparing his body.

As the sun rose on the way to the garden, we wondered how we would move the huge stone rolled covering the tomb entrance. Much to our surprise, the stone had already been moved and we could go in. But his body was gone. We were stunned, shocked, the overwhelming grief back. We had to watch Him die … and now someone had taken His body? It was almost too much.

Before we left the tomb, two angels appeared. Their bright rays and light frightened us. Afraid, we bowed down. When they spoke, they asked why we were looking for a dead man. They told us Jesus was alive, that he had risen from the dead! We remembered his words, how he had predicted this to happen.

Once again, Jesus changed my life. I pray that through my witnessing and telling you about these things, your life will be changed too. For he is risen, Jesus is risen indeed!

As Jesus changed Mary’s life, I pray that he will change your life.

Let us pray: He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! You ask me how I know he lives. He lives within my heart. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne