Jesus was dead—or so they thought. Mary Magdalene and the other women had witnessed the horrific act of crucifixion from the foot of the cross. Who could possibly survive a Roman execution? In modern times, we try to downplay its brutality with the gold crosses we wear as jewelry. In reality, it was anything but pretty. Certainly, the women who arrived at the tomb early on Sunday encountered an Easter morning surprise.
When they saw the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body gone, the women didn’t expect to find him alive. Scripture tells us that their first reaction was that someone took his body from the tomb. In her grief, Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus but thought he was a gardener. Through tear filled eyes, she asked the risen Jesus, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” (John 20:15 NIV)
On many occasions, Jesus forewarned the disciples that He must die then be resurrected in three days. The women likely were present during those difficult discussions. Yet, it was beyond their human understanding to comprehend what Jesus was truly telling them. So, on that first Sunday after the crucifixion, Mary and the other women expected to anoint Jesus’ body for burial as was their custom, not to greet their resurrected Lord. Their expectations didn’t match reality and they encountered an Easter morning surprise.
Maybe their expectations were too short sighted. Perhaps ours are too.
When we pray, do we expect God to answer? Do we listen to His promptings to join Him in His work by responding to the prayers of others?
In the Christian and Jewish religious traditions, prayers close with the word Amen. However, this is not simply a farewell sign off meaning “the end” or “good-bye”. It translates into “truly” or “so be it.” Amen is an expression of strong agreement. Often, we say it too lightly—without expectation of real results. We misunderstand the power of even a small amount of faith.
If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea.”
The words of Jesus from Luke 17:6 NIV
The best way I’ve found to increase my faith (and thus my expectations) is to look back. When I view my life through a rear-view mirror, I see all the prayers God has answered—how He has cared for me through terrible ordeals. Has He responded to every request with an absolute ‘yes’? Certainly not. There are many prayers I am thankful God did not grant. In retrospect, I recognize that He could see better what I needed than I could see myself.
However, my heart still aches when I ponder over the painful ‘no’s’ in my life—the fervent prayers that God did not answer the way I wanted. Why didn’t He choose to heal my sister from cancer? This question doesn’t change my ultimate trust in God’s plan, but it does confirm my lack of understanding.
Before His crucifixion, Jesus revealed the immediate future to his disciples but they, like me, didn’t understand how death could possibly fit into God’s plan. Even so, their short-sighted expectations didn’t change the reality of the empty tomb on Easter. It was only by looking back that the disciples understood the truth in all that Jesus had told them.
In the same way, Jesus has promised that someday in the future He will return to carry us to Heaven where we’ll live with Him forever. Do we take Jesus at His word? Will we choose to believe Him even though we lack understanding as to how and when this will occur?
If not, we’re in for another Easter morning surprise. Any day now we’ll see Jesus coming in the clouds to take us home. Are we waiting expectantly?
*photos courtesy of Canva
