In the twentieth chapter of the book of John, the apostle of love documented the visit of Mary Magdalene to the tomb of Jesus on the first day of the week. During her visit to the tomb, she made some instructive remarks that call for deep reflection. However, before touching on the remarks she made when she saw that Jesus’ tomb was empty, I will love to touch on her expectations while coming to the grave.
Mary Magdalene’s Expectation
She expected to meet her Lord lying in the grave. She wanted to weep and anoint the body of Jesus Christ. She must have planned to continue to visit the tomb daily until she dies. Mary Magdalene will not be the first to do this in the bible. A woman called Rizpah was the concubine of King Saul. After the death of Saul and the two sons, she had for Saul. She placed their corpses in the open and sun-dried them on a rock for about three months. Not only that, she was with the corpse at night, too; both night and day, she prevented the birds and wild animals from feeding on the remains of her dead. What as strange way to morn.
II Samuel 20:10
Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.
Mary Magdalene’s Observation and Conclusion
Mary could have mourned the death of her Lord in the same manner. Unfortunately, her observation did not align with her expectation when she got to the tomb. Based on her observation, she deduced that the enemy of Jesus had come to steal his body. Mary Magdalene must have wondered why the people were so cruel to Jesus despite his good deeds.
Mary Magdalene concluded that the hands that arrested and crucified Jesus were responsible for the disappearance of his body in the grave. She knew not that the hand of men was no longer in charge. It was the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead.
Many believers make similar conclusions when their expectations are not met. The closest thing we say is that the devil has come again. Forgetting the hand of God is now in charge of our lives. So why should you give credit to the devil by referring to the defeat you have experienced in the past? We need to change our outlook and deductions. Although, as humans, the logical part of us adds events and patterns to explain the causes of those events.
Some of us go as far as to say the wickedness of my fathers’ house has not turned back; no wonder I lost the Job. But, of course, that job loss, delayed marriage, or any other unpleasant situation is from the devil. Still, the hand of God has taken over, and resurrection is taking place in Jesus’ name.
Gal 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Romans 6:3-4
Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Always remember that if the same Christ that the enemy could not stop from rising from the dead is living in you, the hand of the enemy cannot stop you.
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