Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed! John 20:11-18 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. (Here is the realized picture of the two carved, golden cherubim who protected the mercy seat of God's chosen dwelling place in the Old Testament tabernacle. Seated atop the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, they faced each other with their wings folded upward toward heavenward in praise to point our view upward toward God in praise and submission to Him. Their eyes were cast downward gazing on the mercy seat whereon was sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice, a picture of where God's gaze rests when He addresses our sin. Even now as Mary enters this holy place, two angels stand guard over the place Jesus' Body had lain, the ultimate and final Mercy Seat, one at His Head and one at His Feet, guarding the spot where His Body had been placed and from Whom the blood sacrifice was given, the Body where God Himself through Jesus Christ dwelt. The stance of the cherubim teaches us an important lesson, to lift up our hands heavenward in praise to Him while our gaze remains intent and steadfast on His sacrificial provision.) They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put Him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. (Distracted, frantic, and desperate with fear and grief, even the appearance of angels doesn't faze Mary. How often does distraction blind us to the very presence of heavenly hosts around us as we ourselves entertain angels unaware. Mary even fails to recognize Jesus through her tears and agony, the very One she is seeking, the very One for Whom she longs. In our trials, we so often fail to see Jesus standing right before us revealing Himself to us, waiting for us to focus on Him instead of the circumstances.) He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking He was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher"). (Already knowing the answers to His questions to Mary, Jesus engages her in dialogue to redirect her focus. He always desires for us to put into words what is on our heart. Finally, when Jesus speaks her name, the fog of her despair and grief lifts as she realizes she is standing in Jesus' very presence. Today, He still tenderly asks us the question as a warm and loving invitation to tell Him about our deepest hurt and our deepest needs. He still stands before us today calling us by name to focus on Him instead of the hopelessness and fear of circumstances we face.) Jesus said, "Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.'" (Perhaps He is admonishing her that He is no longer the same, that He is now the Holy Presence of God Himself. Perhaps He is reminding her that His ascension is still some time away and that she will have additional time to see Him. Perhaps He is reminding her that His resurrected presence impels her to step beyond herself and into His greater calling, but the real treasure here is that Jesus gives this solemn and joyous mission to a woman of that day. He still extends that same calling and mission to us to go tell others that He has risen and ascended into Heaven.) Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that He had said these things to her. (With what incredulous joy they must have received her news. Our testimony today is the same as Mary's. We can confidently affirm that He has risen from the grave, that we have seen the Lord, and that He now lives in us through His Holy Spirit!) Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!
