“So when you have repented…”
Luke 22:32
The Adventures of Peter - Last Days begins with "Steps of Redemption -1" posted on this blog.
Mary Magdalene rose before dawn, determined to tend to Jesus’ body—regardless of the guards that protected and the stone that sealed—in the tomb that He was laid.1 As she prepared her bag with the spices that Mary the mother of James, Salome, and she had bought and made the night before,2 she was reminded of the overwhelming feeling of freedom when Jesus delivered her from the bondage of sin and the evil spirits that tormented her.3 From that point, she chose to commit her life to following Him wherever He went, and she did even to the cross4 on which He cried out with a loud voice to His Father, saying, “My God … My God … why have you forsaken me?”5 The agony of that moment pierced her heart as she saw this Man, the Son of God, sacrificing His life so that she could have life, freed from the slavery of sin.6
Mary Magdalene rose before dawn, determined to tend to Jesus’ body—regardless of the guards that protected and the stone that sealed—in the tomb that He was laid.1 As she prepared her bag with the spices that Mary the mother of James, Salome, and she had bought and made the night before,2 she was reminded of the overwhelming feeling of freedom when Jesus delivered her from the bondage of sin and the evil spirits that tormented her.3 From that point, she chose to commit her life to following Him wherever He went, and she did even to the cross4 on which He cried out with a loud voice to His Father, saying, “My God … My God … why have you forsaken me?”5 The agony of that moment pierced her heart as she saw this Man, the Son of God, sacrificing His life so that she could have life, freed from the slavery of sin.6
When she heard His words, “I thirst,” her heart yearned to refresh Him and tend to His needs. She held the spices close to her heart now, knowing that she would be seeing Him in His tomb where she had left Him two nights before.7 From her doorway, she looked out on the morning, still dark,8 her bag in hand, and made her way up the street to the place she agreed to meet the other women before dawn to arrive at the garden at sunrise undetected by anyone else.9
As they approached the garden where the tomb laid ahead of them, she felt the ground tremble and looking up she saw the brightest magnificence of white light that she had ever seen, radiating from the direction of the tomb’s entrance. Mary was drawn to the light with impulsive anticipation, while the other women held back, fearful of what they might encounter. As she approached the clearing before the tomb, she saw the guards laying scattered about, appearing dead.10
Looking up to the grave’s entrance, she clearly saw that the stone had been rolled away,11 and the source of light was from within. Mary crept into the tomb and was alarmed to find a young man clothed in a white robe, its radiance as white as snow, sitting on the right side.12 She was amazed to see Jesus missing from the place where she had last seen Him laid, as were the other women that followed her in.
The young man said to them, “Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!”13
Raised from the dead? Pondered Mary, still in awe of the scene she was absorbing. Her mind did not consciously register the impact this truth would have for all mankind, but the emphasis with which the young man stated Peter’s name brought back her focus on his message. You will see Him there … in Galilee … Peter! I must find Peter and tell him the Lord wants to see him also!
Suddenly, one of the women took her by the arm pulling her back as the others beckoned her to come out. They left quickly and fled from the tomb, fearful of telling anyone what they had seen.14 But Mary ran ahead of them, anxious to tell Peter.
Since the night in which Peter had denied knowing Jesus after His arrest, this band of Brothers and Sisters reached out with an acceptance of Peter as he truly was, without pretense, without the façade of a mighty warrior, a man who could love, unconditionally, without first being loved. Their compassion for Peter baffled his mind and shifted his heart, for it was his strength and domineering presence, Peter thought, that bought their respect. But respect must be freely given, and when Peter’s friends saw how the events, which affected them all so deeply, had humbled the character of their leader, they began to treat him as one of their kind, full of imperfection, wavering faith, and doubt.15 Mary Magdalene came to Peter first, full of worry and concern that someone had taken Jesus from the tomb.16 Peter and John returned to the tomb and confirmed what Mary had seen, that the body of their Lord was in fact gone.17 Peter and John, mystified by this turn of events,18 went their separate ways to their homes,19 each moved to be alone and pray, hoping to comprehend the meaning of what they had witnessed.
Praise to Our Father for the words He has given me.
Copyright © 2004, 2005 Stellar Rhema Ministry, by Jeff Cambridge
References
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
All references, unless otherwise noted, are from The Holy Bible, New King James Version copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. References noted with NIV are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1978 New York International Bible Society.
1. Matthew 27:66
2. Mark 16:1
3. Mark 16:9, Luke 8:2
4. Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25
5. Matthew 27:46
6. Romans 6:5-11
7. Matthew 27:61
8. John 20:1
9. Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1
10. Matthew 28:4
11. Mark 16:4
12. Mark 16:5
13. Mark 16:6-7 (italics added)
14. Mark 16:8
15. Mark 16:11,13, Luke 24:11
16. John 20:2
17. John 20:6,7
18. Luke 24:12, John 20:9
19. John 20:10
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