Sunday, April 20 ~ Easter Sunday

~~John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciples, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at his feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he said these things to her.

~~Mary Magdalene needed some time alone. She walked down to the garden where the tomb of Jesus was located. Mary had been healed of seven demons by Jesus and she became his close friend and disciple. While others had been afraid of Mary at her worst, Jesus was drawn to her. His love changed her — forever.
What she discovered changed everything forever. The tomb was empty and Jesus spoke to her in a state of resurrection. She could only utter one powerful word,
“Rabbouni,” which meant “teacher.”
When I was a fifth grader at Lynn Camp Elementary in Knox County, my teacher was Mr. Harpe. Male teachers were as rare as hens’ teeth. He was funny, wise and engaging. He believed in us, that we could learn more than others thought we could learn. He taught us the bones and muscles of the body. That was 51 years ago and just two months ago, I asked a former classmate if he was still living. It has occurred to me that I might call him some day.
That is the power of a good teacher. We never forget them and their imprint on our lives is immeasurable. They change us. Mr. Harpe changed me.
Jesus changed Mary. We can’t even imagine how much he changed her life. But we know the change was profound from that one comment, “Rabbouni.”
Now, we know that even death cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
He is risen.
Alleluia!!
Jeff W. Bell