April 20, 2025 homily on Isaiah 65:17-25 and John 20:1-18 by Pastor Galen on Easter Sunday
“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.” — John 20:1
Early on Easter Morning
This week I found myself wondering, why did Mary Magdalene get up early on that first Easter morning, while it was still dark?
In my experience, there are generally two reasons why I might wake up early (before I need to get up).
- The first reason is when I’m excited to start the day. Maybe I’m getting ready to go on a fun trip, and I can’t sleep because I’m so excited. (If you’re a child, maybe you got up early today because you were excited to go on an Easter Egg hunt, or because you were excited to see what the Easter Bunny may have brought you!)
- But the other reason why I might get up early is when I’m anxious or worried about something. I find myself tossing and turning in my bed, and I just can’t sleep, so I figure I might as well get out of bed and do something productive.
Mary Goes to the Tomb
For Mary Magdalene, I think it was a combination of both of these factors that caused her to get up early on that first day of the week, while it was still dark, and to go to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid. She was eager to show her affection and devotion to Christ. She couldn’t go to the tomb on Saturday, since it was the Sabbath, and so she got up at the earliest opportunity, early on Sunday morning, and made her way to the tomb.
But Mary was also distraught by the events of the previous 3 days, and no doubt she was having trouble sleeping anyway. On Thursday evening of that week, Jesus — her teacher, her friend — the one who had freed her and saved her from the demons that had plagued her — had been arrested and taken away. He had been falsely accused and sentenced to death for crimes he didn’t commit, and then he was crucified on a cross. And all of that took place within a matter of 24 hours. For Mary, and for the other disciples, it must have felt like their world had been turned upside-down overnight.
And so early on that Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary went to the tomb, in the stillness and quietness of the morning.
Mary Finds the Tomb is Empty
When she arrived at the tomb, she noticed that the stone that had sealed the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away. Her first thought was not that Jesus had risen, but that someone had disturbed his grave and moved his body.
She ran and told two of Jesus’ disciples, who came to see for themselves. They saw that not only had the stone been rolled away, but also that the linens that had been used to wrap Jesus’ body were folded neatly and lying in the tomb. This was confusing to say the least. If someone had stolen his body, why would they have left the graveclothes behind?
John tells us that when they saw the empty tomb for themselves, they “believed” Mary’s report that the tomb was empty. They didn’t yet know that he had risen from the dead. And so they left and went home, confused and bewildered about what must have happened to Jesus’ body.
But Mary stayed at the tomb, and began to weep. The word “weeping” here describes wailing, not just shedding a single tear. I imagine Mary perhaps even convulsing, as all of the pent-up pain, anger, and frustration of the past few days welled up within her and poured out over into sobs of grief. On top of all of the horrible events that had happened that week, now someone had moved the body and she couldn’t even pay her last respects.
As she was weeping, she looked inside the tomb, and when she did, she saw two men, dressed in white, sitting on the bench where Jesus’ body had been laid. They asked her why she was crying, and she cried out, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him!”
She turned around and ran into someone whom she assumed to be the gardener. He too asked her why she was weeping, and who she was looking for, and she answered, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away”! (John 20:15b).
Mary Weeps at the Tomb
It’s no surprise that Mary didn’t recognize Jesus at first amidst all of her tears and grief. I think we all have trouble seeing and recognizing Jesus when we’re in despair. When we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, when we’ve experienced loss or sorrow or grief, we ask ourselves, where is God in this? Why did God allow this to happen?
Certainly, Mary had good reason to be angry at the events that had taken place. And certainly there is much in our world to mourn and grieve about as well. Many here in our community are experiencing mental or physical health issues, and we wonder where is God in this? Some are experiencing joblessness or financial insecurity, and we wonder why God doesn’t hear and answer our prayers?
But just as the risen Christ was there in the garden with Mary, even when she didn’t recognize him, so too Jesus is with us as well, even in the midst of our loss or sorrow or grief.
Just as Mary came to the tomb in grief and anger, unsure of where Jesus was, we too can bring all our feelings and emotions to God. Even when Mary didn’t recognize Jesus, he still heard her cries—and in the same way, Jesus hears the cries of our hearts, even when we can’t see or sense his presence. As we cry out to him, we can trust that he will reveal himself to us at the right time, just as he did to Mary.
Mary Recognizes The Risen Lord
Indeed, it was when Jesus said her name, “Mary!” that Mary immediately recognized Jesus for who he was. She knew then that Jesus was not dead. His body was not in the tomb, because he was alive! The stone had been rolled away because he had risen! And here he was, calling out her name!
Mary recognized Jesus when he called her by name, and she responded with “Rabbouni!” which means “my teacher”! Mary was able to see and recognize the risen Christ because of the many hours she had sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to his teachings, and internalizing them for herself. Indeed, she must have heard him say her name many times before. For Mary, Jesus was not just a teacher. He was her teacher.
I’m reminded here of John 10:3, in which Jesus describes a shepherd who calls his sheep by name, and the “sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:4).
And Jesus responded to Mary by instructing her to go and tell the disciples, “’I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” (John 20:17).
Isn’t that beautiful? Jesus said that he was ascending to his Father and to “our Father”. To his God and to “our God.” Mary Magdalene, and the disciples, and you and me, if we are followers of Jesus — we’re included in that statement! Jesus is our teacher, and he ascended to our Father, and to our God!
Jesus is Alive!
The best part of this, of course, is that Jesus is alive! Jesus’s body wasn’t stolen or moved to another place. Jesus’s body was no longer in the grave because he had risen! In rising out of the grave, Jesus defeated death and hell and the grave. All of the forces of evil had conspired together to try to defeat him, but God raised Jesus from the dead, proving once and for all that goodness is stronger than evil, that love is stronger than hatred, and that justice will win in the end.
And indeed, Christ’s resurrection is a harbinger of what is to come, when Jesus returns to make everything new. Isaiah foretold of a new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no more death or sorrow or calamity, and where all will be peace and joy. And we have confidence that this is true, because the Bible tells us that “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11b). Because Jesus is alive, we too can have the hope and confidence and assurance of eternal life.
This is why we proclaim the Good News on Easter morning that Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed!
Listening and Recognizing the Voice of Our Good Shepherd
But here in Jesus’ interaction with Mary, we see yet another aspect of this Good News — and that is that Jesus is not just the risen Savior of the world, but he is also our Savior. Our redeemer. Our shepherd.
You and me, each and every one of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus, and who have listened to and internalized his teachings — we who are disciples of Christ — we have been adopted into the family of God! God is our Father. Christ is our brother. And like Mary, the risen Lord knows each of us by name, and calls out to us, as a shepherd calls each of his sheep by name. Our teacher, our savior, our shepherd, calls us by name, inviting us to believe that he has risen, he is alive, and to go and tell others this good news.
And so this morning, may we go to the tomb, bringing our worries and concerns. Even when our eyes are blurred by sorrows and our hearts are full of questions, we can go to the tomb. Because it is there that we encounter the Risen Christ.
And when he calls us by name—when we hear his voice breaking through the noise of our worries and the weight of the world—may we respond with recognition and joy: Rabbouni! My teacher! My Savior!
Friends, Jesus is alive. And because he lives, we too have life. Not just someday in heaven, but right here, right now—a new life of hope, of peace, of purpose. A life where we are known by name, and sent out in love.
So may we go from this place like Mary did—no longer burdened by fear, but filled with the good news:
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Hampden United Methodist Church 