What a Sunday!
Again, just a reminder to listen to He’s Alive by either Dolly Parton or Don Francisco. Awesome song by Don Francisco, and my favorite rendition is Dolly’s, but both are powerful
Matthew 28:1-8 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb. And behold, there was an earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. . . .But the angel answered the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. . .
Mark 16:2-7 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away–for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. . . .”
Mark 16:12-13 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either
Luke 24:13-35 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. . . Jesus appeared to them in another form, and did not recognize Him until they were breaking bread.
Luke 24:36-43 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit . . . So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.
Luke 24:44-47 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.-, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
John 20:1-9 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”. . . For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
John 20:11-18 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feel, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, what are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me. for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and said to them ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'”
John 20:19-23 Jesus appeared to the ten disciples in a locked room. Thomas was missing from the group and Judas had already committed suicide. As He appeared, He said, “Peace be with you.” In the midst of their fear, their grief, their guilt, yet sharing a bond that had lasted over three years, they had to be stunned. He showed them His hands and feet. After speaking peace over them again, He breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit
It was early Sunday morning when Mary arrived at the place they had seen Joseph of Arimathea wrap and lay Jesus, the Romans had closed the huge stone. The women were grieving–so hurt, empty, confused and lost. He had been so easy to love, and to show His love to all others. And now, senselessly, He had been killed. That did not make sense, did it? To anyone. Those vicious Pharisees and other religious pompous people had caused the people to have a herd mentality; they had stirred them up, caused confusion, and the more shouting and denials of His innocence had incensed the crowd further. But Mary had experienced for herself the freeing of demons from within. They had harangued and beaten her with their vicious cries, emotional scars, and filled her with a hate so she did not know who she was until He had come and freed her. He loved her; with her rancid past and all, Mary knew He loved her.
As they hurried along, they wondered how the stone would be removed. But hadn’t they seen Him do miracles, maybe His Father would move the stone for them since they were going to be caring for His Son for burial. As they approached, they could see the stone had already been removed. Hurrying forward–with trepidation, with possible joy, with their minds and hearts full of questions, fear and horror that He had been stolen. Mary Magdalene fled to where the disciples were staying, while the other left.
Fearful, full of remorse, and I am sure all filled with some guilt–as they had all fled, leaving Him alone when the soldiers and Judas had appeared and arrested Him. Yet, they couldn’t believe her. Yes, she was Mary, but still one didn’t believe a woman–a woman could not even give testimony. Peter, always, the first to raise his hand, rashly volunteer, pledging his full allegiance, had three times denied knowing Him, and now Mary stood there saying she had seen. They knew they had seen Him die miserably on that cross, John had stood right at the foot of the cross, doing his best to console Jesus’ mother. But some spark of hope had John gasping, then running for the door, with Peter following. For a few moments they ran together, but John, always quicker, sped on ahead. He reached the tomb, the stone was indeed pushed away and the opening stood like a dark gaping hole. Now John waited for Peter to catch up, and they entered. The linens Joseph had wrapped around Jesus lay on the slab of rock; for John, through his grief, it was like an epiphany–he realized Jesus had risen, just as He had told them. For Peter, it added to his guilt and loss. He had messed up, he had not protected His Lord and friend, had in fact denied Him, and now He was gone, probably stolen by those vicious Roman soldiers.
Although, the bible does not say, I wonder if Mary hurried after the two disciples to learn what they thought and felt when they saw the tomb. Maybe some of her questions and concerns would be answered. We don’t know if she was able to hear the two disciples with their mixed reactions talking–there still had to be some uncertainty between the two as they began walking back toward where the group was staying. I think Mary lingered, when she bent forward, she saw two angels–was she startled, apprehensive, confused? When she turned away she saw Jesus, although she did not recognize Him, thinking He was the gardener. And gently, He said her name, and her eyes were opened and she recognized Him.
She dashed to hug and hold Him, but He warned her not to as He had not yet risen, but instructed her to go and tell the apostles–and Peter– that He was rising to see His Father–their Father–and to be with His God, and their God. And He would meet them in Galilee.
Later that same afternoon, He met up with two followers, not either the closest of the twelve/now eleven, who were walking to Emmaus, and talking about the shocking events of Thursday evening, the early morning visit of Pharisees and many in the crowd yelling for Jesus’ death. They did not recognize Jesus, so Jesus began explaining to them how the Scriptures and all that had been prophesized about Him had to come to pass. And they still did not recognize. They invited Him to join them for the evening meal, and as He broke the bread, then they knew. But Jesus was gone. They immediately left to return to Jerusalem and the disciples and share their good news with them.
About the time the two men were hustling back to Jerusalem to tell of spending a walk and discussion with Jesus, Jesus appeared in the locked room where His disciples were grieving, some feeling guilty, some betrayed–after all they had believed He was there to rescue them, and now He was dead–and probably those nasty Roman soldiers had taken the body and hidden it. They all felt defeated, afraid, and just miserable. So He appeared, shocking them, and said, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet; it is I myself.” I am sure they kept staring, maybe asking questions, trying to understand how He was here and alive–yet they were not fully grasping it. He asked for a bit of fish and bread, and as He spent time with them, talking with them, they believed. I don’t think they fully understood, but they believed.
Oh my Lord, You sacrificed for me, such a sinful, selfish wretch. . . and have continued to walk with me, guide me, and love me. You are my rock for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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