Happy Ending

A Reflection on the Gospel for April 4th, 2021:
The Solemnity of Easter Sunday

---

​John
20.1-9 (shorter)
(For the longer version, see the print edition of Living with Christ.)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
​

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Imagine yourself in this scene. You are walking to the tomb of Jesus, your beloved teacher and friend. Your heart is still raw from watching Him be tortured and killed just a few days before. You are beside yourself with grief and you are about to pay your last respects at His grave. You approach the tomb and see that the stone that blocked the entrance has been removed and the body of Jesus is gone. 

It’s gone! How can that be?

You run as fast as you can to tell the others and then you all run back to the tomb together. You arrive out of breath and still in shock. What you saw really is true! Jesus is gone. 

If we stop here in the story, what are the emotions we feel? Shock, unbelief, fear? How can this be? I don’t understand what is happening. Nothing makes sense. But as we continue to the end of this scripture passage, things begin to gain clarity. The angels give us a few clues and then Jesus Himself appears to assure us that He has not been moved by some grave robber, but He has risen from the dead! Alleluia!

So often in my life I try to make sense of things without knowing the whole story. I try to create a happy ending in the middle of the chapter. This tends to cause confusion for me and when situations arise that are out of my control, I ask, “How can this be happening? I don’t understand what good can come out of this.” But what I really need to do is trust that God has a plan for my story and the happy ending is coming. When the turns and twists of my life leave me in shock, fear, and disbelief, I can remember that He is risen and because of that, I can trust that I will be risen with Him someday too. That’s the happy ending. 

Alleluia!



​
Maxine Brown
​

---