"go and tell my friends that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
John 20 The dawn after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene went early in the morning to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid to rest. As she turned a corner and the tomb came into view, Mary stopped dead in her tracks. The huge stone door was rolled aside. Mary Magdalene turned around immediately and ran to the disciples. “Peter, John!” Mary gasped. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they moved him!” Peter and John leaped up without a word and ran as fast as they could to the tomb. John reached the sepulcher first, looking through the open door. It was empty. The burial clothes were there, but no body. John couldn’t bring himself to enter the empty tomb. Peter had caught up and went straight into the tomb. He saw the burial cloths, then noticed the napkin used to cover the face was folded neatly near the head of the tomb. Peter left the tomb, putting an arm around John. Seeing the tomb was empty, but not knowing where the body could be, the two returned home slowly. Mary Magdalene had followed them back to the tomb, but didn’t leave with them. She stood at the door of the sepulcher, quietly crying. Looking through the door, she suddenly saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where the Master’s body had been. “Woman, why are you crying?” asked one of the angels. “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have moved him,” she said, tears trickling down her cheeks despite her amazement at seeing the angels. She turned from the door to dry her tears and saw a Man. “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” He said. Vision blurred by tears that wouldn’t stop, Mary barely glanced at the Man, thinking He was the gardener. “Sir, if you have taken Him from here, tell me where you have put His body,” said Mary. “I will take Him.” “Mary,” said the Master gently, taking a few steps towards her. When she heard Him say her name, she immediately recognized His voice. She snapped her head in His direction and said, “Rabboni! Master!” As she ran to embrace Him, He gently stopped her with a signal of His hand. “Don’t touch me right now. I haven’t gone to my Father yet. But go and tell my friends that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Tears of happiness replaced the tears of bitter sorrow, and Mary Magdalene parted from the resurrected Savior with an obedient smile, rushing to tell the disciples the good news.
