Empty and Full

Mary Magdalene pressed a hand against her aching heart. “How do I still

have tears left in me?” She had been mourning for three days, along with

others who were Jesus’s friends, followers, and family, but the realization

was still sinking in: he was actually gone. It was dawn on the third day,

and Mary couldn’t wrap her mind around ither heart was empty, and so was

the tomb. She couldn’t even anoint his body for burial; someone had taken

it away.

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“I don’t understand,” Mary wept, “You were strong enough to cast the seven

demons out of meyou set me free. Why did you have to die? Why didn’t you

put a stop to that crucifixion? Where are you now?” Mary clutched at the

cold stone of the tomb to steady her shaking knees. She bent to peer into

its emptiness once more.

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Mary gasped. The tomb wasn’t empty! Two angels dressed in brilliant white

were sitting where Jesus’s body had been, one of them perched by the cloth

that had been wrapped around her Lord’s head. This angel was swinging his

feet and smiling, the other was gazing at Mary with compassion. His voice

carried over to her, soft and musical. Why are you crying?

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They have taken my Lord! A sob stuck in Mary’s throat. I don’t know

where he is The unspoken words echoed in her heart, “Everything is

empty without Him.”

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Exhausted with grief, she turned back to the tomb’s opening to take a deep

breath, and there was a man standing before her. His eyes radiated warmth

and kindness, which only made Mary cry harder. Then he asked, Who are you

looking for?

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“This must be the gardener,” Mary thought. “Maybe he knows where my Jesus

is!” Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where, and I will get him!

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Mary. That one wordher namespoken soft as a spring rain falling on hard

ground Mary knew only one voice could speak her name in such a way. She

looked up at him. Teacher!

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Sorrow fled from her soul like the breaking of dawnher Lord, her Jesus,

was alive! He had driven the seven demons out of her tortured body, and now

He had conquered death itself. All that once ached empty inside her was now

fullfull to overflowing. Savannah Coleman

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This story is how one author imagined what it was like for Mary Magdalene

on Easter morning. Read John 20:1-18. What sticks out to you about Mary’s

encounter with Jesus?

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Today, Christians around the world are celebrating Jesus’s resurrection

from the dead! Why can remembering the empty tomb fill us with joy?

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Jesus willingly died for us so that we could be God’s people and have life

to the full (John 10:10)a life of freedom and forgiveness. Jesus shed

His own blood on the cross for us, covering our sins and making the way for

us to have a restored relationship with the living God (Romans 10:9-10).

This is what makes our story different from every other religion: we serve

a God who gave up His own life for ours, and He is alive! If you’ve already

put your trust in Jesus, who is someone you could share this good news

with? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person now, asking God to

help them know the truth of His love for them. If you’re not sure about

trusting in Jesus, that’s okayGod doesn’t rush us, and He invites us to

ask questions and wrestle with Him. What questions do you have about Jesus?

Who is a trusted Christian you’d feel comfortable bringing these questions

to? (You can also read more about Jesus on our “Know Jesus” page.)

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I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am

the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:10b-11 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Luke 8:1-Luke 8:3; John 10:1-John 10:18; John 20:1-John 20:18