Empty Grave: A Three-Day Devotional With Ted Barrett and Zach Williams Sample

Day 2

Another person in this story worth examining is Mary Magdalene.

There has been much written about her, but let's stick to what we read in the Gospels.

Mary traveled with Jesus, she had seven demons cast from her by Jesus, she was a witness to His crucifixion, and she was present at His burial.

Mary was listed as one who traveled with Jesus. I believe she was an outcast, the demons that possessed her may have caused some bizarre behavior that made her undesirable to be around. Jesus gave her dignity, more than that, He gave her acceptance, companionship, and friendship. To Mary, Jesus was a hero. He intervened in her broken life and made her whole. She watched as they beat Him, mocked Him, scourged Him, and killed Him. The greatest injustice ever played out, and Mary was an eyewitness. Suddenly, the only man who gave her a reason to live was gone. Mary sat by His tomb alone, sobbing. It is written that the rest of the disciples fled, even those who were at the cross returned to their homes. Mary was lost, alone, and afraid. I'm not even sure if she had a home at this point. She may have sold all of her possessions to travel with Jesus and be close to him. Now the man she believed in was gone. How could she carry on? What would become of her?

She peers into the tomb, two angels were seated and Jesus' body was gone. The angels ask Mary why she is crying. Mary, showing no fear, replies in desperation, "They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they put Him!" Mary turns and sees who she thinks is the gardener, who asks her who she is looking for. Mary, growing tired of the questioning, replies, "Sir, if you have taken Him away tell me where you put Him and I will go get Him!" Jesus replies, "Mary," He tells her to go tell the others that He is alive! Mary does just that and goes from desperation and misery to unspeakable joy! The rest of her time on earth must have been spent telling anyone who would listen of this great man who rescued her from a life of misery, beat death, and ascended to be with His Father.

When I hear Zach sing about wiping away those tears, I think of Mary who stood up and saw an empty grave. The joy of seeing Jesus traded her sorrow for joy and gave her freedom! Freedom from her sin and shame! Jesus tells her to wipe away those tears, child, go and tell the news. Mary mistook Jesus for the gardener. She wasn't completely wrong, Jesus was sent by His Father to restore the garden to us!

What started in the garden... Was finished in the tomb