As I’m sitting here this morning it’s not yet dawn. The early morning sky is still dark – stars and the moon give light but there is no glow of dawn.
I put myself with the women who are preparing to go to the tomb. They are anxiously waiting. This is the one last act of love they can do for the Messiah, their friend.
As they place the cloth and the spices needed for burial in a basket there are muffled sobs. Tears still flow freely, only to be wiped away with the brush of the hand. The apostles, Peter and John are there also.
Now, it’s while it’s still dark they are off to tend to the Master’s body. On the way they discuss how they will move the stone away from the opening. I’m not sure if they knew the religious leaders had stationed soldiers at the tomb or not.
“It was the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene came to the grave early in the morning while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been pushed away from the grave. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and the other follower whom Jesus loved. She said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the grave. We do not know where they have put Him.’ 3 Then Peter and the other follower went to the grave.” John 20:1-3 NLV
What they had expected to find that morning wasn’t there. Jesus’ body was gone! Had it been stolen? Peter and John left, leaving Mary alone at the tomb with her grief. Everything she expected to do that morning was no longer valid – her last act of love was incomplete.
She sobs!
Then she tells her heartbreaking story to the angels. “He’s been taken away and I don’t know where they have taken Him”. She also repeats it to the man standing in the garden.
What happens next shakes me to my core every time I read it.
“She said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have taken Jesus from here, tell me where you have put Him. I will take Him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned around and said to Him, ‘Teacher!'” John 20:15-16 NLV
Jesus called her by name. And when she heard him said it, she knew immediately he was Jesus!
No longer was she experiencing unfulfilled expectations – no, she was filled with a living hope.
“Mary Magdalene went to the followers and told them, ‘I saw the Lord!'” John 20:18 ERV
In our time of heartache, when all our great expectations have fallen away, we will hear the voice of the Savior, speaking out our name.
There’s no need to stand crying at a tomb of empty dreams. We have a living Savior who calls us by name!