Jesus said to her,
“Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father;
but go to My brethren, and say to them,
‘I ascend to My Father and to you Father,
and My God and your God.’”
John 20:17
On the first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene walked through the Garden of Gethsemane, saddened by the death of Christ and the end of her relationship with Him. But at her journey’s end, she found a risen Savior. While she rested in His warm embrace, Jesus gave her a mission. “Go to the brethren,” He commanded, “and proclaim the resurrection.”
Mary left the comfort and safety of His arms and began her missional journey. “They won’t believe me,” she must have thought as she carried the gospel message to the brethren. “How do I convince them Jesus is alive and exactly who He claimed to be – God in human form?” But somewhere, perhaps in the power of the relationship He forged with her over three years, she found the courage for the journey. The certainty of Christ’s presence, the sound of His loving voice, and the memory of His gentle touch guided her along the way.
This Easter morning, our congregation will walk through Gethsemane and mark the fiftieth day of our missional journey. The walk has been inspirational and challenging, convicting and thought-provoking. As Easter approaches, my walk is tinged with growing sadness as I anticipate the end of our corporate journey.
I know the risen Savior waits outside the empty tomb to embrace me and remind me of the mission He’s prepared. “Go,” He will tell me on Easter morning. “Proclaim the resurrection.” But, I’m frightened by His command. I don’t want to take the gospel into the world. The mission is too big for me, the gospel message is foreign to the lost, too unbelievable for them to accept. Outside Christ’s warm embrace, I am doomed to failure.
My steps falter. Only the assurance of a risen Savior gives me courage for the journey. The certainty of His presence, the sound of His loving voice, and memory of His gentle touch guides my steps. Through the power of my relationship with Jesus, I will complete my mission by forging new relationships with those who don’t yet know Him. The strength of those relationships will carry us through the garden, past the empty tomb, and into the presence of the living God who died and rose again.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
