"After The Sunrise"

After the Sunrise

Mark 16:2 (NKJV)
“Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.”

It was just after sunrise when the women, Mary, the mother of James, Mary Magdalene and Salome, gathered up their oils and spices to anoint Jesus’ body.  As they walked to the tomb they were still grieving over the death of Jesus.  Their whole world was turned upside down. Their Lord had been taken from them in an extremely brutal way and the picture of it hadn’t faded from their minds.

They were frightened because they knew the Roman soldiers were there guarding the tomb and you never knew what they would do.  Would they show a little compassion for the women by rolling back the stone so they could go in, or would the soldiers chase them away? 

When they reached to tomb, they were terrified because the stone had been rolled away and the soldiers were all gone.  They talked among themselves, wondering if they should go in.  Mary Magdalene finally said that she would go first. After living the life she had, there wasn’t much she was afraid of.   She hoped the open entry way to the tomb let enough light in so she could see where Jesus lay.

The other two women followed as she slowly entered the tomb.  A bright light filled the inside and they saw a young man in a white robe sitting on the right and they all cried out in fear.  But he quickly called out, “Don’t be afraid.”  They were so terrified they couldn’t have ran if they wanted to. The light that filled the tomb was emanating from the man sitting there. They were never sure if there was more than one angel because their eyes were almost blinded by the light.   They realized that it must be an angel sent from God. Salome was so terrified that she ran out of the tomb and left the other two women there.

The angel continued speaking and said to them, “I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified, but he has risen and is not here.”  He pointed to where Jesus’ body had been laid, “Now, go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of them into Galilee.”  Then the angel disappeared.  The women were so frightened that they ran from the tomb and headed back to their homes. They agreed they would tell no one because they were sure no one would believe them.

Back in her home Mary Magdalene, still shaken, remembered that the angel told them to tell the disciples and the more she thought about it decided she had better go back to the tomb to make sure it was all real.  When she arrived at the tomb, she became overcome be grief and bowed down, she began to weep.  She noticed that someone had come close to her and she thought it was the gardener.  He asked her why she was crying and without looking up she answered, “They have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they took him.”

Then she looked up and there stood Jesus.  She didn’t even recognize him until he spoke to her. “Mary.” Her eyes were opened and she knew it was Jesus.  As she reached toward him he spoke, “Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”  Then he disappeared.

Then, Mary understanding it was the Lord and that he had risen from the dead, ran and told the disciples what he said regarding them.

This experience the women had on that first Easter morning would never be forgotten by them, nor by us who have come along 2000 years later.  Perhaps I have not heard his voice audibly, or seen him physically, but every Easter morning, I can still see him standing in the garden with the open tomb in the background.   He is standing there holding out his nail-pierced hands waiting for you to recognize him as your Lord and Savior, who died for you.  

Come Lord Jesus!