Jesus’ Resurrection

He is Alive! (John 20)

It was a dark and sorrowful Friday evening when Jesus’ body was laid in a tomb in a garden. The next day, the Sabbath, brought a pause to all activity as the disciples and followers of Jesus mourned His death. They could not bear the thought of their beloved Teacher lying cold in the tomb. “Once the Sabbath is over, we’ll take sweet-smelling spices to anoint His body,” the women agreed.

Mary Magdalene could not sleep that night. As soon as the darkness began to lift, she, along with some other women, made their way to the garden where Jesus was buried. As they approached the tomb, they were horrified to find that the large stone that had sealed the entrance was rolled away. Someone had moved it! The grave had been tampered with, and Jesus’ body was gone. Fearing that His body had been stolen, the women rushed back to tell Peter and John what had happened.

Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb to see for themselves. John, being younger, arrived first and stopped at the entrance. He looked inside and saw the linen wrappings lying neatly on the shelf, but no body. As the pieces of Jesus’ teachings clicked into place, John realized that Jesus had risen from the dead. Peter soon arrived, and without hesitation, entered the tomb. He too saw the clothes lying undisturbed, but he was bewildered, not understanding the full significance of what had happened. After a moment, they both left, perplexed and silent.

But Mary Magdalene stayed behind, tears coursing down her cheeks as she stood outside the tomb, still mourning. She looked inside one more time and saw two shining angels sitting where Jesus’ body had been. “Why are you crying?” they asked her, but she still did not understand. As she turned to leave, she sensed someone behind her. It was a man, whom she thought must be the gardener.

“Why are you crying?” He asked.

“Because my Lord’s body is gone,” she replied. “Have you taken it?”

Then the stranger spoke her name: “Mary!”

In that moment, Mary’s heart recognized the voice she knew so well. It was Jesus! She turned around in amazement and exclaimed, “Rabboni!”—meaning “Teacher!”

Jesus smiled and said, “Go and tell my disciples that I have risen and that I am on my way to my Father, and their Father, to my God, and their God.”

Filled with joy and no longer weeping, Mary ran back through the morning sunshine to the disciples. She could hardly contain her excitement as she burst in upon them, announcing, “He is alive! He is really alive!”