Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (NIV) John 20:18
On Friday afternoon, around 3:00PM, Jesus died and was buried. Now, it is just after sunrise on Sunday. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bring spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. On their way to the tomb and they ask each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Little did they know, there had been a violent earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven and rolled back the stone of the tomb.
When the women arrive at the tomb, they look up, they see that the stone had been rolled away. But when they enter the tomb, they do not find the body of Jesus. The angel says to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.'”
Mary Magdalene stands outside the tomb crying. “As she wept. . .she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. ‘Woman,’ he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher) (John 20:10-16).
Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead proves He is from God and that every claim He had made during His lifetime is true. The resurrection shows His uniqueness and authenticates His claims to be God. His resurrection identifies Christ as the one and only Savior of mankind. Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that all men, all women, and all children can find forgiveness for their sins, experience peace with God, and live eternally with Him. Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ?
