This Easter Sunday, I read the account of Mary Magdalene’s visit to Jesus’ tomb. The pain of her heartbreak was made more intense when she didn’t find Jesus in the tomb. Instead, two angels–messengers of God – questioned why she was weeping. Overcome with grief, she explained her Loss.
“…they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
But Jesus was standing nearby.
So overcome with grief, Mary did not recognize Him.
When he called her name, “Mary,” everything changed.
She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). John 20:11-16 (AMP)
What struck me was that Jesus called Mary by her name and that she knew right away that Jesus was speaking to her.
During my reflections, I remembered times when, like Mary Magdalene, I kept mulling over the pain, guilt, and shame of my shortcomings and sins.
As with the empty tomb, God seemed to be absent.
Just like Mary, I am reassured that God, in His unlimited grace, knows me and calls me by my name, inviting me to embrace the finished work of the crucifixion.
The empty tomb is a metaphor for God’s redemptive love that keeps no record of my shortcomings and sins.
I can live with the confident assurance that God holds nothing against me.
Through Christ’s death, love is completed and perfected in me. I can live my life like Christ. A life filled with loving motives, intentions, and actions towards God and my neighbours.
My Easter reflections brought me back to a Bible quote that a dear friend and spiritual mentor reminded me frequently: “As Christ was in the world, so are we.”
The full verse is from 1 John 4:17 (AMP)
“In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.”
Alleluia!
Christ in me, the hope of glory. That’s why glory matters.
Glory Matters 