WHEN MARY VISITED, JESUS HAD GONE FROM THE GRAVE

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Matthew 28:6

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”

Jesus Christ, having completed His work on the cross, said “It is finished!” He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The horrors He faced are unimaginable. This Son had never been separated from His Father until He hanged on the cross. As we can see, He was not even expected to have died at the time He did. The soldiers had come to break His legs, with the other two thieves’ so they could die and be buried as their bodies could not be left hanging on the cross till the following day. But Jesus was  found dead already. He had been separated and forsaken by His Father- obviously because of our sins which He was bearing and could therefore not be joined with God whose eyes cannot behold sin- and His death was facilitated by that separation! 

Then Joseph of Arimathae, one of the disciples of Jesus, went secretly to seek permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus for burial. With Nicodemus, Joseph took the body of Jesus and bound Him according to the jewish burial custom. Close to the place He was crucified in Golgotha was a garden that had a grave that no man had ever been laid. And because the sabbath was drawing on apace, they hastened the interment, took the most opportune  place and laid Him there. Mary with the other women saw the grave and how He was laid and returned home to prepare spices for embalming. Now, the chief priests and the Pharisees having heard Jesus, while He was yet alive, saying that three days after His death He will rise again, went to Pilate to receive orders to not only put some guards at the grave of Jesus but also put a seal on the stone covering it so His disciples, as they supposed, would not come and steal His body away to claim He had truly risen again. So was the grave made secure.  

First thing on the first day of the week, Mary came to the grave, while it was still dark, to see the body of her Master. And she saw the stone already taken away from the grave, although it was extremely large. But we read in Matthew 28:2-5 how a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. Entering into the tomb, Mary could not find the body of her Master. She, supposing the body of Jesus had been stolen, ran and came to inform  Simon Peter and John the beloved. They all returned to the grave, Peter and John saw the grave empty and believed her report but returned home confused since none of them understood yet that the scripture says He must rise again. But there is something worthy of note in the grave . We read in John 20:6-7

“And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.”

The careful arrangement of the materials used for His covering did not suggest that the body of Jesus had been stolen, or hurriedly carried away. Jesus having resurrected, had Himself unbound and, probably, tidily folded the materials, and keeping them in their place walked out of the grave alive. 

But Mary, being left alone, stood outside the tomb, weeping. Although her eyes were filled with tears, she could see two angels sitting where Jesus was laid. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” And when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know that it was Jesus. And Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”  But Mary supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” And Jesus said to her, “Mary!” As soon as she heard her name, she turned and said to Jesus in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher)” (John 20:12-16). Mary who was expecting to meet Jesus lying dead in the grave rather met Him alive outside the grave. Jesus had risen from the grave! 

Contained in the words of Jesus to Mary is a great message and blessing: 

"Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’" (John 20:17). Jesus, Who had always been found calling His disciples ‘friends’ was heard here calling them a more intimate name which was only possible because He had risen. We now see, also from other passages of the Bible, that  the resurrection of Jesus procured us some blessings some of which are listed below:

1. God is now our Father and we are His children (John 20:17).

2. We are now the brethren of Jesus, having the same Father with Him (Hebrews 2:11). 

3. We have now obtained redemption and forgiveness because Jesus would be going to the presence of the Father to present His own blood for us (Hebrews 9:12).

4. We are now justified because He was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). 

5. We are no longer in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). 

6. A way has been paved into the Holy of Holies, by Jesus as our Forerunner, so we can also have access into the presence of the Father (Hebrews 6:20).

7. Authority over every power of the devil including death and hades (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:19). 

8. Possibility and assurance of our resurrection at the last day (1 Corinthians 15:20).