Her eyes opened, still swollen from endless tears over the past two days. Had she even slept at all? Asleep or awake, both seemed like a nightmare; eyes open or closed, she still saw Him hanging there. Her Lord, the promised Messiah. The One foretold from generation to generation, yet now dead and buried in a tomb.
Mary’s Story
Mary Magdalene’s mind had gone over and over the events of the last week--the last three years, really. Her life radically changed when she met Jesus! In an instant, He healed her from multiple demons, setting her free from bondage. He healed her mentally, spiritually and physically. She had never felt so whole. Jesus did what few others had done--He saw her. He looked at her and saw into her very soul. He included her, inviting her and other women to sit at His feet and learn from Him.
No other Rabbi would allow a woman to learn the Torah, yet Jesus taught them, explaining both old passages and new teachings from His own heart. Yes, He had changed her life and she would never be the same, no matter what happened. She was His follower, His disciple, and she would spend her life telling others about Jesus and His love, power and grace.
It was now early morning, before dawn after the Sabbath, and she could finally meet the other women at the tomb to anoint His body with spices. She left her house and crept along in the dark. She had to see Him and honor Him, no matter how painful it would be. She owed Him her very life; she would do anything for Jesus.
As she walked, she turned over memories that plagued her. Hadn’t He brought dead people back to life? Didn’t He say It is necessary for the Son of Man to be persecuted, die and on the third day rise again? Was it possible for Him to bring His own life back from the grave? She let hope instantly die. She had seen what the soldiers did to Jesus with her own eyes. She had stood at the foot of the cross and watched Him breathe His last.
But wait… what was up ahead? Her eyes blurred with tears, she must be seeing things. The huge stone was rolled away from the tomb. Someone had opened the grave; someone had taken her Lord! She ran forward for a better look. It was true--the tomb was empty. She raced back to tell the other disciples. The men outran her, took one look at the empty tomb and ran away. Exhausted, she fell to her knees as she felt waves of grief and her body shook.
Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder and heard the voice she would never ever forget. “Mary,'' He said.
“My Teacher!” she replied, as joy filled her heart. She clung to the Man who had conquered the grave, the Man who was the Savior of the world. Then, with purpose, she went quickly to proclaim the news.
In that moment, Mary became the first evangelist to experience the risen Lord and to testify that “He has risen indeed”. Her story is powerful and her relationship with Jesus is beautiful. You can read the Bible’s record of her encounters with Jesus in Matthew 27-28, Mark 15-16, Luke 8 and 24, John 19-20.
I can’t help seeing our own stories in Mary’s.
Our Story
Jesus has freed us all from darkness. The rule of sin, bondage and shame are gone under the authority of Jesus. Just as Mary’s demons had to flee, so does anything in our lives that stands against the goodness of God. Ask the Lord to help you believe and experience His healing power over sin. (John 8:36)
Jesus has invited us to be His disciples. There is no “boys club” when it comes to studying scripture and learning from Jesus. Just as He invited women to be among those He taught, He longs to teach us still today, yet even more intimately as the Holy Spirit lives in us and guides us to truth. (Luke 8:1-3)
Jesus has called us to go and tell. Just as Mary ran to tell the others about the risen Lord, God has given each of us the privilege of sharing the Good News wherever our feet take us. (Matthew 28:19)
His miracle overshadows our mourning. No matter how dark the night or deep the grief. His mercies are new every morning. His death and resurrection forever conquered any evil and ultimate victory belongs to Him. (Romans 8:37-38)
This is a story worth telling. This is a truth the world needs to hear. May we follow our sister, Mary, as we spread the news of Jesus whenever we can.
Meet the Author!
Heather McAnear is a wife, mom, author and speaker with a passion for sharing God's truth to help women understand their uniquely beautiful design and how to use it for God's glory! In fact, Heather hosts the Uniquely Beautiful Stories podcast on iTunes in hopes do just that! She loves teaching young married couples with her husband, time with her three teen-aged children, traveling, enjoying good chocolate and long conversations in coffee shops. CRBC has been her church home for more than two decades and serving on the Women's Ministry team has been one of her greatest joys!