“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to their homes.

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹² and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).” John 20:1-16

It was a great trial to Mary, that the body was gone.  Many might even be offended that it is Mary to whom the Lord appears.  Why Mary?  Why not the disciples….you know, those who fled under the heat of the interrogation, who will soon be hiding behind closed doors, who have denied their teacher to others.  It is an honor to be called into the service of Christ, and yet not be a pastor, or priest, or deaconess.  There are many things that we all can do – and they do not have to be of the immensity nor the difficulty of those like the disciples; others are needed to be more willing to take pains, and run hazards, in doing good works. We must do our best, not envying those who can do better, nor despising those who do as well as they can, though they be “outsiders.”  The disciple whom Jesus loved in a special manner, and who therefore in a special manner loved Jesus, was foremost – yet we do not know much that he did, except to love the Lord.

Pastor Dave