Have you suffered any shocks lately? Any appalling disappoint-ments? Any awful griefs or bereavements? How did you react to these tragedies? Were you in tears and distress? Are you still? Did you doubt whether God is still in charge – or hears your prayers?

We can’t begin to understand how Jesus’ friends – unless we too have suffered blows like that. But if we have – if we’re still in distress – you will understand how these men and women felt.

What could you have said to them – that would make any sense of their experience? Might you have said, You’ve just been celebrating Passover – God’s victory over the Egyptians – his triumphant setting his people free from slavery – how can you doubt his promise of help and victory? Would your hearers have believed you? I don’t think so.

What Mary and the others lacked was real trust in a victorious Lord, who in all things works for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28) What have I learnt from this event, as John tells it to us, that can restore our trust in God?

1. Why are you crying? Were the angels – was Jesus – insensitive to Mary’s distress? No, I don’t believe it. But they had to tell her how Inappropriate crying was – that day of all days. Mary’s final words are, I have seen the Lord!

His one word, Mary! had changed everything. She had learned the truth – that Jesus is alive! That he’d returned from the dead. It changes my understanding of death. It is not the end, but the beginning of eternal life in all its reality. For those who follow Jesus there is no loss in death – but glorious gain. As we live out that truth – we can spend our lives freely in his service. Because, if we are faithful, a Crown of Life awaits us! (Rev 2:10) – a crown that lasts forever (1 Cor 9:25; 2 Tim 4:8)

2. Don’t hold on to me! I’ve yet to return to my Father. Was Jesus saying, Don’t cling to me – don’t look back to how things were in the past – look forward to something better! ? Yes…but I think he was saying rather, Don’t hold me back! I’m returning to my Father. I‘ve won through to victory – and now a throne awaits me. (Dan 7:14; Mt 19:28; Heb 12:2; Rev 3:21; 5:6)

All authority in heaven and on earth will be mine. (Matt 28:18) You can trust me for the future, however dark the earthly scene may appear. (John 14:1; 16:33) I’m going to send you my Spirit to enable you to overcome (John 20:22; Acts 1:5) Commit yourselves to me – I’m the victorious King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 17:14). A throne awaits me. I shall not be absent, but present with you by my Spirit, until I come again! (Matt 28:20b)

3. Go instead – tell this to my brothers! Your joy is not just for yourself – you are to share it with others. I’m sharing my victory over sin and death – over all the powers of the enemy – with you, my people, my brothers and sisters.

Because I want to share that joy – which is mine – with more and more people. So that they too may trust me, commit their lives to me, and enter my joy. So that they too can become my brothers and sisters. Will you bear witness to my being alive? Will you live in love and service to me – and to others?

There is a lost world of men and women, dying without hope. Will you go? Will you tell them where true hope, true joy and true purpose are to be found? A lost World awaits you! As the Father sent me, I’m sending you. (Matt 28:19; Luke 19:10; 24:47-49; John 3:17-18; 17:18-21)

Will you trust the risen Lord Jesus – today and every day – until he comes again? Amen