John 20:1-2
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. And so she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid Him.
Can you imagine how Mary must have felt when she arrived at the tomb that morning to anoint Jesus’ body with burial oil, only to find His body wasn’t there? In the past week, she had seen her Lord praised as King (John 12:12-15), arrested in the garden (John 18:1-12), and crucified on the cross (John 19:16-30). It’s true, only a week earlier Jesus was being praised as King. Now, the least Mary could do, was go to the tomb and anoint her Lord’s lifeless body with perfumes and oil. There was only one problem; His body was not in the tomb.
She did not yet understand that the Lord had risen from the dead. I cannot imagine the awful thoughts that must have been going through her head. She assumed that someone, somehow, had stolen His body and hid it from her. First He was disrespected in His death, and now she thought, He would be disrespected in His burial.
God convicted me as I continued to read Mary’s response. Mary did not stay at the tomb and cry. Mary did not go home and try to forget about what she had seen. The Bible says that she ran! She ran to Peter and John and said, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him!” Mary’s passion for the Lord overflowed every inch of her body. Who did they think they were to take the Lord out of the tomb!
Look around you today. Where is Christ in our society? Where is Christ in our schools, or our workplaces? Where is Christ in our homes? Other religions and organizations are constantly trying to “take Christ out of the tomb.” The main difference between Christianity and every other religion is that they “take Christ out of the tomb.” They downplay the resurrection of Christ, or deny it all together. The apostle Paul says, “…and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (1 Cor. 15:17).
If you have accepted Christ as your savior, I challenge you to not act apathetic about the way society has chosen to treat your Lord and Savior. I challenge you to take a stand in your homes for Christ and His morals! I challenge you to take a stand at your schools, and your workplaces! Are we so ungrateful to Christ for dying on the cross that we cannot even stand up for Him when others denounce His name? I pray not.
You know the most amazing thing? If you begin to find the same passion that Mary found that morning, I am positive that you will find the same answer that Mary found in verse 14. Our Lord and Savior was not taken from the tomb, but rather, He was risen from the tomb. You and everyone around you will come to know the power of the resurrected King.
I challenge you to stand firm for what you believe in.