“His Final Steps…Led to His First Steps”
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Mary had already taken many steps that Sunday morning. While it was still dark, she was on her way to the tomb of Jesus. When she noticed the stone rolled away from the tomb, she ran. Her running steps brought her to Peter and John in whom she confided, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they put him.” Even more steps brought her back near the tomb again. And that was where she stood, just outside the tomb, weeping.
Mary had taken many steps with Jesus prior to that Sunday morning. She was not, as some have invented the story, a wife or partner of Jesus. She was as the Bible describes her, a woman who had supported the ministry of Jesus. She could never forget how Jesus had helped her, had rescued her. Seven demons had controlled her before Jesus exorcised them and freed her. She loved Jesus because Jesus first loved and supported and helped her. And she heard his teaching, and she witnessed much of his ministry. And she knew that he was exactly who he claimed to be, the Lord and Savior, the promised Messiah. In the days leading up to that Sunday morning, she had witnessed many of Jesus’ steps, and they were not what she had anticipated at all. His steps took him to an upper room with his disciples, to the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer, to a Jewish trial followed by a Roman trial. His steps took him to a hill called the place of the skull, to a cross, and to his death. And then he was placed in the tomb near which Mary stood. That was where he ended up after his final steps were concluded. So that was where Mary expected to find him on that early Sunday morning.
But she didn’t find him there. No matter how long she wept outside the tomb and no matter how many times she glanced inside, she still did not see Jesus. Her life had been torn apart by his death. She wanted what so many grieving loved ones want. She wanted closure. She wanted to have her moment of mourning after which she could try her best to go on with her life. But as far as she could tell, someone was intent on stopping her. Someone had moved the body. Jesus’ final steps had led to that tomb. It was no mistake. She was in the right place, but everything was wrong.
Mary was so confused and so saddened that she didn’t even notice what was going on around her. When she looked into the tomb and saw angels, it barely even registered for her. Unless they were going to tell her where Jesus was, Mary wasn’t interested in what they were doing sitting in the tomb where Jesus had been. She didn’t even recognize Jesus when he walked up to her. It must be the gardener, she thought. Maybe he would know where they put Jesus.
But what does Mary’s Sunday morning experience have to do with you? You are not here with tears streaming down your face, though maybe you are hiding those emotions. You are not trying to figure out whether or not Jesus is in the tomb. But maybe you are, at least at times, more like Mary than you realize. Perhaps you know on some scale the uncertainty and the sadness and the confusion that Mary was experiencing. Certainly pain and suffering show up in your life at times. It could be the medical issue that keeps you from doing what you want to do, and it just doesn’t get better. It could be the loss of a loved one. It could be worry about finances. It could be concern about a friendship or another relationship. Whatever the specific issue, doesn’t it feel at times as though you just don’t know where to turn and you just don’t know what to do?
Maybe those times also make you question whether you deserve it. Your conscience surely knows. You know that you haven’t been the friend you have wished others would be for you. You’ve judged people without really knowing what they’ve been going through. You have been as much part of the problem as you have been part of the solution. And here’s what sin does: it hides Jesus from our eyes so thoroughly that he might as well still be in the tomb. Sin makes us forget where we should turn. We might as well say it along with Mary: I don’t know where Jesus is. I don’t know where they have put him.
But in that sort of confusion and sadness, Jesus steps to Mary, and he calls her by name. She realizes in a moment that he is alive and standing before her. Everything, absolutely everything is renewed. All of the
darkness lifts. Her teacher is with her. Her friend is beside her. And even better, her Lord and Savior not only died for her sins, he has risen to life again so that he can come to her with all his gifts and with all his love and with every one of his promises.
And Jesus does the same for us. He renews everything. He reassures us that he has removed every speck of guilt. He has taken on himself every ounce of punishment that our sins deserved. And he steps into our lives with his love and mercy and compassion and grace. Holy Scripture takes us to the empty tomb to show us Jesus alive. It is as if he has stepped right up to us and said our names. Sorrow? Trouble? Jesus says, “In this world you are going to have trouble. But be courageous! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In every moment of doubt or despair or uncertainty, we have Jesus. He died for us, and now he is alive again. That is exactly what he had promised. Mary should have known it just as Peter and John should have known it. The Scriptures foretold it. Jesus promised it. His final steps, the ones that led to the cross and to the tomb were never going to be truly final. No, his final steps led to his first steps, his first steps on the other side of death, on the other side of the tomb. And where did those steps lead? Directly to Mary in her need. And since they led to Mary in her need, those first steps also lead to everyone like her in their needs. His first steps that follow on his final steps take away all our tears and confusion and uncertainty. And his first steps after his final steps give us direction and purpose.
Jesus told Mary, “Go…and tell.” Jesus wanted Mary to relay his promise, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father—to my God and your God.” That means that everything was done. What Jesus had come to earth to do was accomplished. He had lived the perfect life we needed and died the innocent death that freed us from our sins. And he rose to life to destroy death and bring life and immortality. He would return to his heavenly Father as the victor, as the winner, as the Living One who had completed the job at hand, the task of rescuing sinners from their sins.
And Mary couldn’t wait to tell. Her Sunday steps continued as she found the disciples and announced to them, “I have seen the Lord!”
Here’s the Easter task Jesus has given to us. You have seen the Lord, now go and tell. You have become convinced that Jesus died for your sins and is alive again. Go and tell. You have come to the empty tomb and heard the voice of the Living One. You know that he has ascended to his heavenly Father who is also your heavenly Father. God is your God through his Son Jesus Christ. Go and tell.
Parents, tell your children. Raise them up to know the good news and to know that this news is more important than any other news. Raise them up to know and to love seeing Jesus in the pages of his holy Word and in the worship gatherings of his people. Raise them up to cherish the sacrament of his body and blood and the fellowship with his people.
Go and tell. Share it with your neighbors. This is bigger than the weather. It is more valuable and longlasting than politics or stock tips. It is more precious than the pictures of your children or grandchildren. You have something better than small talk to share. Tell them that you have seen the Lord. Invite them to see him with you.
Go and tell. Reach out with your prayers and your offerings to places you cannot walk yourself so that people you will not meet this side of heaven can also see the Lord and hear his Word and marvel at his resurrection.
Mary had taken many steps already that Sunday morning. She had taken many steps throughout her life. But the most important steps were the ones her Savior took for her. Your life has been and will be full of many steps as well, but the same is true. The most important steps for you are the ones Jesus took. His final steps to the cross and to the tomb led to his first steps beyond death and outside of the tomb. And because they did, one day your final steps on earth will lead to your first steps in heaven. That’s what takes away doubt and confusion. That’s what gives purpose and direction. You have good news to know and good news to share.
The Text: John 20:11–18 (EHV)
11But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, weeping. As she wept, she bent over, looking into the tomb.
12She saw two angels in white clothes sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She told them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
14After she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.
15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”
Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you carried him off, tell me where you laid him, and I will get him.”
16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned and replied in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”(which means, “Teacher”).
17Jesus told her, “Do not continue to cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father—to my God and your God.’ ”
18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” She also told them the things he said to her.