The Stone Has Been Rolled Away

Recently, I've been meditating on the Easter Story, as it is presented in each of the four Gospels. The Lord kept impressing Mary Magdalene in my heart; so I revisited the scriptural references about this woman many of us can relate to.

Mary Magdalene. The Gospel of Luke tells us she was delivered of seven demons by Jesus. She found forgiveness, restoration and value in Him. She is mentioned at least twelve times in the four Gospels.

In Matthew, Mark and John she is mentioned by name as being one of his followers. Luke 23 refers to "the women of Galilee who accompanied Him" as being at the crucifixion. We find Mary M. was definitely there watching as her Yeshua was beaten unjustly, falsely accused, mocked, rejected and crucified for the sins of all mankind. She was there when He cried out, "It is finished." He completed His task - bearing in His body our sins, our rejection, hurt, accusations, injustice and so much more. - bringing us victory over all these things through Him.

BUT, the best was yet to come...

Early, on the morning of the Third Day (the first day of the week), Mary went with the other women to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. As they were walking, Mark 16:1-7 tells us they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" Then, "Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large."

Matthew 28:8-10 tells us: "And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report this to the disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and take word to my brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."

HE HAD CONQUERED DEATH AND THE GRAVE!!!

Mary had known what she had been delivered from. Now she fully saw Who she had been delivered "to".  This caused her, when she saw her Risen Savior, to fall down, cling to Him and worship Him.

The Gospels further record that the women obeyed Him in taking word to the Disciples of His resurrection.  They were the first to behold the Risen Savior! What an honor He gave them...gave to Mary Magdalene - despite her past.

May our hearts and eyes be open, not just at Easter, but everyday, to Who it is Who has delivered us, and what He has delivered us to:  everlasing life and victory over all sin and death for all who believe in Him. May we remember what (sin) and who (ourselves) He has delivered us from; what He continues to do each day as we seek Him (victory is already ours in EVERY situation - not even death will separate us from Him. Romans 8:31-39)

HE IS the RISEN SAVIOR in Whom Victory is already ours. What GREAT JOY!!! NO STONE IS TOO BIG FOR HIM TO MOVE, we just need to look up.

May we take joy and have hope in these truths and may our hearts be wholly surrendered in worship at His feet, clinging to Him. It will drive us to gladly obey Him when He tells us, "Go deliver this word."

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified". Isaiah 61:1-3

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise To spring up before all the nations." Isaiah 61: 10-11

By Coleen Jejeran, Missionary to Romania