The Empty Tomb and a Beautiful Exchange
John 20:11-16
‘Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).’
It might be hard to imagine the rollercoaster of emotions that Jesus’ disciples, friends and family have been on. Their beloved Jesus has been beaten, mocked, crucified and laid to rest in a tomb. Seemingly, death has claimed its victory, the darkest day in history.
So Mary goes to the tomb and she arrives to discover that Jesus isn’t there. This passage in John’s Gospel speaks to me of two things: the empty tomb and a beautiful exchange.
Firstly, the empty tomb; a symbol that death has been defeated and that Jesus is victorious. Death no longer has victory and death no longer has a sting (1 Corinthians 15). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, eternal life and relationship with God has been won.
Secondly, the beautiful exchange between Mary and Jesus. In a moment, Mary knows who Jesus is. The depth of their relationship is revealed in just one word- her name. Her friend, her king, the one who knows her and sees her and reveals Himself to her. A beautiful moment where the light comes on again, hope is stirred and God has done the impossible.
On Easter Sunday especially, we celebrate the empty tomb and a beautiful exchange. We celebrate the victory of Jesus and the beautiful exchange which extends to each one of us today. We are not just spectators to an event in history, but we are invited into a relationship with Jesus, to be known and seen and loved by Him, just as Mary was.
Today, I pray that light would shine and that hope would be stirred in your heart. I pray that you would know depth of relationship with Jesus and that your faith would rise, knowing that God can do the impossible.
Today and every day, we say ‘hail, king Jesus.’
‘Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).’
It might be hard to imagine the rollercoaster of emotions that Jesus’ disciples, friends and family have been on. Their beloved Jesus has been beaten, mocked, crucified and laid to rest in a tomb. Seemingly, death has claimed its victory, the darkest day in history.
So Mary goes to the tomb and she arrives to discover that Jesus isn’t there. This passage in John’s Gospel speaks to me of two things: the empty tomb and a beautiful exchange.
Firstly, the empty tomb; a symbol that death has been defeated and that Jesus is victorious. Death no longer has victory and death no longer has a sting (1 Corinthians 15). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, eternal life and relationship with God has been won.
Secondly, the beautiful exchange between Mary and Jesus. In a moment, Mary knows who Jesus is. The depth of their relationship is revealed in just one word- her name. Her friend, her king, the one who knows her and sees her and reveals Himself to her. A beautiful moment where the light comes on again, hope is stirred and God has done the impossible.
On Easter Sunday especially, we celebrate the empty tomb and a beautiful exchange. We celebrate the victory of Jesus and the beautiful exchange which extends to each one of us today. We are not just spectators to an event in history, but we are invited into a relationship with Jesus, to be known and seen and loved by Him, just as Mary was.
Today, I pray that light would shine and that hope would be stirred in your heart. I pray that you would know depth of relationship with Jesus and that your faith would rise, knowing that God can do the impossible.
Today and every day, we say ‘hail, king Jesus.’
- Susie Raybould
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