04/05/2015
The Glorious Resurrection Day…Mary Magdalene
I am Mary Magdalene, and I could not bear to look as they took Jesus off the cross. His lifeless body lay on the ground waiting for Joseph of Arimathaea to get permission from Pilate to bury Christ’s body. Then Joseph and Nicodemus – both friends of Jesus and both members of the Sanhedrin – took His tortured body and quickly prepared it for burial and put Him in Joseph’s sepulcher. The Jewish Sabbath was fast approaching, so they hurried to bury Him late Friday afternoon before the Sabbath began at sundown. I shall never forget the deep depression I felt as they rolled the stone across the opening of the sepulcher to entomb my Lord and Savior!
As we hurried home, I - and the other woman who were at the crucifixion - vowed that we would bring proper spices and ointments on the first day of the week to better prepare the body of Jesus for burial. And while this small task gave us some meaningful hope of service, the depression and loneliness of that Friday night and all day Saturday were more than I could endure! Time seemed to stand still. Finally Sunday morning arrived. We left our homes before daylight. While we didn’t know how we would remove the heavy stone from the door of the sepulcher, we were determined to accomplish our mission! To our great surprise, not only was the stone rolled away, but an angel told us that Jesus “is not here, for He is risen, as He said.”
“Not here?,” I thought. “Not Here?…THEN WHERE?” my mind demanded!!! The angel told us to go tell His disciples. So – reluctantly – off we ran to tell them. We saw Peter and John and told them that “they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him!”
I followed Peter and John as they ran to the sepulcher. John got there first, but waited for Peter before entering the burial chamber. While the linen grave clothes and napkin were there, Jesus was not! I began to weep…uncontrollably weep! My grieving, aching heart could take it no longer. Once Peter and John left, I ventured into the empty tomb to look for myself. Two angels greeted me with, “Woman, why weepest thou?” I replied, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” I continued to sob as I left the sepulcher. Through my tears I noticed another person in the garden. As I was wiping away the tears from my eyes and face, this man asked me: “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” Thinking he was the caretaker of the garden, I replied, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” Still trying to control my emotions, I heard him speak my name: “Mary.” That voice…that tender tone…I had heard and loved it before! I quickly turned…it was my Lord! He lives!!! The anguish and sorrow of my soul were now replaced with unspeakable joy and rejoicing! I exclaimed, “Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” My first impulse was to rush over, kneel down and hold Him around his legs forever! But He gently said, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
Oh…how I did NOT want to go! But I did want the apostles to know that Jesus was alive! I finally left…running to find Peter and John again. Then I had this thought: was I the first mortal to see and converse with the resurrected Messiah? Did He appeared to me first?…not to His mother, nor to the apostles, nor to the Jewish or Roman leaders…but first to me? How Humbling!!!
As I was rushing on my way to find the apostles, a follower of Jesus stopped me. She could see the great joy in my countenance. Confused she asked me, “Mary - what think ye of Christ?” Great emotions of eternal gratitude welled up inside me as I said; “He lives, all glory to His Name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh sweet, the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!”
My dear friends…the resurrected Lord appeared to many others between His resurrection and ascension into heaven. After Mary Magdalene, He appeared to other women; to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; to Peter near Jerusalem; to ten of the apostles; then a week later to the eleven apostles – including Thomas; to five hundred brethren in Galilee; to James – the Lord’s half-brother; and then to the eleven apostles as He ascended into heaven. After His ascension He appeared to over 2,500 of the righteous saints on the Americas as recorded in the Book of Mormon. In our day, the Risen Lord and His Father have appeared to the fourteen year-old boy, Joseph Smith, to usher in the restoration prior to the Savior’s Second Coming.
“What think ye of Christ?” This question that Christ asked nearly two thousand years ago is still valid today. Take time today to read the words to the hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” May each of us bear this testimony evermore “at all times, and in all things, and in all places that (we) may be in,” is the prayer of my heart this Easter Day, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
References: Matthew 27:55 – 28:10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18; Jesus The Christ, pgs. 678-683 and Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; 1st Corinthians 15:6-7; 3rd Nephi 11; Joseph Smith 1 – History; Jesus The Christ pg. 619; Mosiah 18:9; LDS Hymn #136.