Can you imagine?

Jesus was dead.

John had been there with Jesus’ mother, Mary. He’d watched every painful minute. Looking around the crowd, he saw faces, some familiar. Here and there was someone Jesus had healed, some with looks of fear, and some with looks that reflected the anguish on his own. Over there were the religious leaders, mocking him. Nearby, the guards were gambling to see who would get his talit, his prayer shawl, that seamless garment John had seen on Jesus for as long as he had known him. John knew he would never forget the look of compassion on Jesus’ face when He cried out from the cross, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do,” or the look of trust in His eyes when he gave John the responsibility to care for His mother. Or the look of pain.

The depth of Mary’s grief was greater than any could imagine. She remembered the angel Gabriel, telling her about the miracle she would experience. The pain of telling Joseph and him not believing her at first, but then the joy when he understood. The shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the flight to Egypt. All these things she pondered, even as she watched the babe become a boy, and the boy become a man. She knew better than anyone who He was. But now he was dead. A mother’s grief screamed as her heart was ripped. She’d lost her husband years ago, and now this.

Mary Magdalene knew freedom because of Jesus. Demons that had haunted her for years were gone now at His command. No man had ever shown her the reality of God’s love for her, except Him. Even now, with Him in that tomb, something in her wrestled with wanting to demonstrate how much that had meant in her life. How much HE had meant. Tears just weren’t enough.

Mary of Bethany heard what Jesus had said about rising from the grave in three days. She could still smell a bit of the spikenard on her hair after pouring it out on Jesus and wiping his feet with it. Oh Jesus! She had seen Him raise her brother Lazarus from the grave after four days. It was now three since He died. Her heart yearned to see Him again, and in her heart she kept hearing the echoes of what He said to Martha: “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

And Peter? Bold, brash, jump-right-in-there Peter was quiet these days. Once that rooster crowed the third time, everything Peter thought he was, everything he thought he could do, everything he thought he WOULD do, died. He wasn’t sure who he was anymore. And when Jesus died, the only One who could help him was gone.

No one had slept much since THAT day, and now it was nearly dawn, three days later.

Jesus had been buried so quickly, they had not been able to prepare his body properly. Now that the Sabbath was over, it was time to take care of the grim task. Several of the women were to gather at the tomb, hoping that the guards would let them in. THEY certainly couldn’t move that stone. Mary Magdalene had not been there since Jesus had been laid carefully in the niche and the massive stone rolled in front of the opening. She knew she had to be there first, so she could have time to weep privately before the others arrived.

What she found was NOT what she expected. The stone was rolled away, and… HE WASN’T THERE!!! Two men in white asked who she was seeking. She told them her Lord, that someone had taken Him away. She turned around, startled to find someone standing behind her. He asked the same thing. “Why are you crying? Who are you seeking?”

Still weeping, she said, “Sir, if you’ve moved Him, please tell me where He is. I’ll take him away.”

Silence, then one word: “Mary.”

At the sound of Him saying her name, her eyes opened wide with astonishment. “JESUS!!!!!”

He sent her to tell the disciples. Some, like Thomas, didn’t believe her at first. Others, like Peter, ran as fast as they could to the tomb to see for themselves.

Could it be? Could He REALLY be ALIVE???

Before long, Jesus appeared to the disciples. The stone that had sealed away their hopes and dreams, rolled away to bring new life. The hopelessness of death, replaced with resurrection power. The sacrifice of the eternal Lamb of God, accepted and demonstrated in His victory over death.

Even this day, there are those whose hearts have been sealed as surely as that tomb, with a stone that is just as unmovable without help. There are those who only go to church on Easter and Christmas, whose knowledge of Him has never moved from their heads to their hearts. There are those who think they know Him, but whose definition of knowing is a handshake rather than intimacy with the One who is coming back for His Bride.

This day, Lord, we ask that you roll away the stones in our friends, families and loved ones’ lives, and let your resurrection power flood in. Resurrect them, Lord, to a right relationship with you. Fill their lives with a passion for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that they never knew existed. Cause them to do more than pray a short prayer; cause them to make a covenant commitment to the King, one that will change their lives. Bring revival to their hearts, Lord. Bring revival to OUR hearts as well. Roll away the stone in us, that we will know and walk in your resurrection power each and every day of our lives, bringing light to those we encounter. I just bless you Lord. This day especially, be glorified.

In the name of Jesus, Yeshua, the Resurrected One, AMEN!

Happy Resurrection Day!