Easter Tuesday

John 20:10-18

Mary Magdalene doesn't understand that Jesus has risen until He speaks to her directly. To her the empty tomb means that someone has stolen His body. After all the humiliation and pain they put Him through, why would they steal His body too? Now Mary and the His other friends and followers won't have a burial place to honor Him and remember Him. Then when she first sees Jesus she doesn't recognize Him. He has changed significantly. She just saw Him two days ago; she was with Him in His final moments (Jn 19:25). It's not the crucifixion that has made Him unrecognizable because she's already seen its effects on Him. His resurrection makes Him so different that she doesn't know it's Him until He speaks her name. Then her sorrow turns to joy, defeat becomes victory, pain transforms into exultation. Our savior has risen! He has changed and that change means new life for us! We can see the difference immediately; such a great difference that Mary didn't even recognize Him as the same person at first. Yet that difference is what opens the door to Heaven for us and brings us new life and new hope. We have been crucified with Christ so that now we can live! (Rom 6:5,8)