Matthew, Mark, and Luke and John all wrote about what happened at the tomb on Easter morning. If the account from John’s gospel was made into a movie, the camera would be focused solely on the woman from whom Jesus had cast out 7 demons. Her name was Mary Magdalene.

Mary’s life had been dramatically changed when Jesus freed her from those demons. As she spent time with Jesus and His followers, she had watched Jesus feed thousands with a few loaves and fish. She had witnessed people being physically healed and had seen expressions go from despair to joy as people’s hopeless circumstances changed at His word. Hearts had gone from stone-hard to soft-as-flesh when the love of God was revealed through His Son. Jesus had said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God!” And as she witnessed miracle after miracle testify to that truth, Jesus’ words had been planted as seeds of hope in her heart. Where Mary Magdalene had once looked at unfortunate people’s lot in life as hopeless situations, now, after experiencing her own deliverance, she saw them as situations that Jesus could change! 

Jesus had given her hope. He had become her hope, and now…He had died.

The women went to the tomb that day to mourn Jesus’ death as they prepared his body to rest forever.They had watched Him be mocked, laughed at and spat upon as the soldiers crucified Him. He had been betrayed and scorned in life, but now in death He would be honored. Though she’d done this before, many times, this time the wound of grief was much deeper. Today in addition to preparing Jesus for burial, the hope He had given her would be left in the tomb with Him.

But then….

John 20: 11-16 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary replied, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni” (which means Teacher).

Mary Magdalene had just spoken to the One she’d gone to prepare for burial! She’d seen her Lord! And in that moment, her hope was once again alive! 

There’s an old Gaither song that says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow…” and it’s true! Jesus is alive, so hope lives!