What would Easter have been like the very first time? I think that it would be a time of great perplexity. We hear in John’s gospel that Mary of Magdala was the first to find the tomb empty. She ran to spread the news, but I think her message was not of belief—but rather a message of concern for someone had potentially stolen the Body of Christ. The 
gospel of John ends with disbelief and confusion—the disciples did not understand what had happened. Yet, there was one “beloved” disciple that did understand and believe. It is in the early followers felt the same way! We should not lose sight of the notion that we live by faith, and seek understanding. We should almost create a sense of a blending of Christmas and Easter—in the sense that Easter morning, and the resurrection should become our North Star; the guiding light by which we should live our lives. The death of Jesus was not the end, He was raised to new life. His destiny is in fact OUR destiny, the new life that is created through Him will be shared with all those that seek Him. We should let Christ in, so that we may open ourselves to the unexpected ways that God will work in our lives.
Thoughts/Questions to reflect on:
–Psalm—We hear, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.” God in fact does exalt the lowly and humbles those that are exalted. How are you living this in your daily life?
–Today we “feast with joy in the Lord”. How are you keeping the Easter feast in your family?
–When the disciples finally entered the tomb, they “saw and believed.” What has been your journey into belief?
Nothing can keep us from God. Death is not even powerful enough to accomplish this. The stone on the tomb was not removed by an act of human hand, it was divine—it is God’s LOVE that does this. Today we come face-to-face with this empty tomb, but NOTHING will or could ever separate us from the LOVE of God in Christ. There exists NO BARRIER to the LOVE of God! Remember that and celebrate in JOY the Risen Lord Jesus Christ!
Dr. Lawrence V. McCrobie 