A Rolling Stone

Mary was overcome with grief. She had watched in horror as Jesus, the one who had brought her brother back from the dead, now hung on a cross, suffering the brutal pain of crucifixion. She had seen Jesus perform countless miracles, and He had been such a source of hope and life for her family. Now, all of those hopes seemed dashed. How could the one who had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead be dying before her eyes? She felt confusion and despair.

As evening fell, marking the beginning of the Sabbath, Mary would have been left in a state of sorrow, awaiting the Sabbath to pass. But even in this mourning, there must have been a deep and abiding love for Jesus, a love that carried with it the hope that somehow, God’s plan would unfold in a way she could not yet understand.

Then, early on the morning of Sunday, Mary went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body; perhaps even to seek some kind of closure or perhaps just to be near Him in His death. When she arrived, she was shocked to find the tomb empty. The stone had been rolled away. Her first thought was that someone had taken His body.

But the most astounding moment was yet to come.

As Mary lingered by the tomb, weeping, she turned and saw someone standing there. Thinking it was the gardener, she asked where Jesus' body had been taken. Then came the voice, "Mary." In that single word, she immediately recognized the risen Jesus, standing before her in a way that only He could.

The pain, confusion, and grief she had felt just hours before were suddenly replaced by overwhelming joy. Jesus was alive! She had seen Him die, but now He stood before her, resurrected, just as He had promised. In that moment, all of the confusion from Friday turned into the most powerful revelation of hope and victory over death.

Jesus instructed Mary to go and tell the disciples that He had risen, and that He was ascending to His Father. Mary, now filled with joy and certainty, went to proclaim the incredible news: "I have seen the Lord!"

That Sunday morning for Mary was a powerful confirmation of who Jesus was. It was not just a story she heard, it was the living, breathing, miraculous reality of Jesus’ victory over death!

Jesus had kept His promises. It was a personal resurrection, not just for the world, but for her as well. In this moment, death and grief were swallowed up in victory, and the full depth of Jesus' love and power was revealed.

Mary's encounter with the risen Christ reminds me that, even in the deepest sorrow, God's power to bring new life is always at work in my life! It also reminds me that what seems like an end is often the beginning of something far greater than we can imagine!

Through the resurrection of Jesus, we are offered the hope of transformation, the assurance that God's promises are never broken, and life for eternity. Does it get any better than that?

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'" Revelation 21:3-4 ESV

by Jeanette Stark - Friday, April 18, 2025