"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one 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 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus...Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”
- John 20: 11-16
Waking up early, she was unstoppable in her search for the One Whom her soul loved. Mary – the one who had once been filled with all sorts of unspeakable evil – lingered at His empty tomb that first Easter Sunday morning, overwhelmed with grief at the seeming loss of Her Savior's presence, unable to comprehend that even though it appeared that He was forever gone, He was always right there (and would shortly show Himself in answer to her diligent search). Although the other seekers had come and gone, not staying to search with her, she stood fast in her pursuit, stooping into the grave to look just one more time. In the loss of such a love, how could she not? Even the reward of seeing angelic beings at that moment wouldn't console her as she wept of her confusion. Majestic as they were, arguably the most glorious of all creation, still they were not enough.
All souls are born to know that nothing in all creation will satisfy except the Creator.
And then He spoke her name.
Her spirit within her leaped with recognition of her Shepherd's voice, just as He had said (“and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” - Jn. 10:4). Instantly, she knew it was Him, for “Christ's way of making Himself known to His people is by His word, His word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular” (Matthew Henry). His voice called her up out of the pit of despair, just as it does to all who – after finally dropping their false comforters - diligently seek to know Him. Her soul couldn't help but respond, My Great Master! - the One Whom she had unswervingly sought, knowing without Whom she was destitute.
This same Jesus is here with you, calling you to Him today. Even though the darkness in our lives may blind us from seeing Him for a season, we must press on to know Him. He is our only hope, the one true source of salvation, both from our sins in this life and the certain punishment they require in the life to come.
This Easter morning, may we fall at the feet of Jesus, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Heb. 1:3). He is the only One Who, even though He holds everything together and sees all people for who they are, loves us with such an unfathomable love that He would come down and die for us, forever paying the price for our sins and clearing the pathway to God – our souls' True Home.
And even more than that, He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us constantly. He has not left us, as Mary feared and as we sometimes feel. Often, the clouds of darkness that blind our eyes from seeing Him are the very necessary instruments of grace that will be used to humble, grow and ultimately stir in us an even greater love for our King.
And although we will most certainly fail Him - just as every disciple since that first Easter has done - His unfailing love will always seek to restore, comfort and strengthen us (although He could've called the first disciples “my betrayers”, He mercifully chose to call them “my brothers” - Jn. 20:17).
As Mary did, may we be unstoppable in our search for the Living Christ. May we hear His voice, turn to Him and let Him be our Great Master today and every day while we have breath. There is nothing in all creation that compares.
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