An Easter Message

By Rhonda Westfall

"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre…
"But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain.
"And they say unto her, 'Woman, why weepest thou?' She saith unto them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.'

"And when she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus
standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

"Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman, why weepest thou?' She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, 'Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast taken Him, and I will take Him away.'

"Jesus saith unto her, 'Mary.' She turned herself, and saith unto Him, 'Rabbi,' which is to say, Master." John 20: 1, 11-16. King James Bible

Each of the four Gospel writers portrays a slightly different version of that first Easter Sunday morning - my favorite is the one printed above.

It's the beautiful, personal message in that one spoken word, "Mary," and the equally poignant single-word response, "Master," that captures the essence of Easter for me.

He called her by name - softly, gently, lovingly.
And, she knew at once who the speaker was - her reply is one of absolute joy and happiness.

In the end, faith is really a simple thing. It's a personal response to
a personal Savior.

Rebirth, Renewal, Rejoicing - it's the message of Easter.
May it enter into all our hearts today.