“Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her” (John 20:18).
Once Mary Magdalene met the resurrected Lord He sent her to His disciples. Her message was uncomplicated and it is still the heart of Christianity. She said simply, “I have seen the Lord.” Jesus is alive! The word “seen” is in the perfect tense and it means that she not only saw Him, but that event would have a continuing effect on her life. She was not just sharing information about Him, but was reporting on a personal encounter with Him. That’s what every believer can do.
It is the Resurrection that sets Christianity apart from every other world religion. Other major religions have tombs that commemorate their founders. You can search for “tomb of Confucius” on your computer and find a picture of his tomb in China. He died in 479 B.C. When Buddha’s remains were cremated in north India around 486 BC, eight relics survived. One of them, a tooth, is still treasured. It was placed in the custody of Sri Lanka in A.D. 310. Today it is guarded in the Isurumuniya Monastery that still stands.
There is no relic of Jesus. His tomb stands empty. Because He broke the power of death, death has no hold on those who believe in Him. One of my personal heroes is David Cartledge. He is buried in Brisbane, Australia. I saw his wife, Marie, after his death and told her that I would love to visit David’s grave. She said something I’ve never forgotten. “You’ll find he’s not there.” Thank God for Easter and its message of Jesus’ power over death!
