He is not here: for he is risen...

I hope everyone had an incredible Easter yesterday. I have always loved the Easter story, but the last 2 years, it is more personal and real to me; it is more than just a "story" to be told each Spring. It has become part of of the foundation on which I live my life. Yesterday I found my heart and mind wandering to the garden where sweet Mary Magdalene had made her way in the early morning hours to attend to the Savior's body a final time. Upon seeing the stone rolled back and the tomb empty, angels appeared to the women and told them to :"Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:5-6).

Even this peace-filled, gentle invitation and glorious proclamation by a heavenly messenger could not ease the absolute grief she felt in losing the Savior, a loss only heightened by the discovery that the Savior's body was no longer there. She ran to tell Simon Peter and the other disciples that the Savior was no longer in the tomb. The grief she experienced overshadowed the angels incredible proclamation, and the sweet declaration fell not on deaf ears, but grieving ears. After Simon Peter left, Mary mournfully sat outside the tomb entrance weeping. As she stared into the tomb, she again saw angels, who asked her why she was weeping?

Her grief stricken response: "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him". Sweet Mary who sat at the feet of the Savior on numerous occasions, who was a dear friend of the Savior, her heart broken and shattered in a way that only those who have experienced the loss of a close loved one could know. Sweet Mary who most likely heard the Savior as he spoke to His disciples of His Crucifixion and Resurrection beforehand.“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matthew 16:21). “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2). Sweet Mary who heard the promise that He would love again...

Again, sweet Mary heard the question, "Woman, why weepest thou?", this time from the Savior. Once again, grief overshadowed recognition and the joyful exclamation of the Saviors living presence. I have such a profound love, respect, and appreciation for Mary Magdalene and her deep grief and anguish, a love only increased as I have experience my own loss. This beautiful grief was necessary and I am grateful John chose to include this in his account and not minimize grief (as is often done), for without it the next word would have far less meaning and significance. As the Savior spoke the word, "Mary", Mary's grief was instantly gone, and her heart made whole as the Savior's word pierced her heart. We too can be made whole through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Because of Him, the overwhelming feelings of loss, grief, or heartache we all feel at some point in our lives can fade away into joyful and loving proclamation of "Rabboni" Master. Though there is sadness from the temporary separation from my sweetheart, my heart joyfully exclaims praise and adoration for MY Savior who atoned for MY heartache, sorrow, and sin. For the two most important words ever proclaimed are: "He Lives!". Because he lives, I was able to joyfully walk away from my sweetheart's grave hearing the phrase, "Why seek ye living among the dead?" because He lives, we will live again too. Because HE LIVES, there are no true ending, only everlasting beginnings. May we always joyful proclaim in praise and adoration "Rabboni"! Master!