At the time of year leading up to Easter our minds are drawn to thoughts of Jesus' death on the cross on our behalf. If we are believers we may wonder if we have the faith where if we were in the situation of His disciples whether we would be found at the foot of the cross or deserting an apparently sinking ship!

At the time of Jesus' death on the cross the bible tells us of those people who were close to him which had stayed by His side.

They were -
'The disciple Jesus loved',
Mary, Jesus' mother,
His mother's sister, Salome
Mary, the wife of Cleopas
and Mary Magdalene.

It's interesting to look at these people and see how their lives were impacted by Jesus.

The fourth person we can look at is Mary magdelene. She had a number of demons removed from her and became one of Jesus' staunchest supporters.

She was one of those important women who shared in, provided money to support Jesus' ministry, and assisted Jesus in His fulfilling of that ministry.

After His death and burial Jesus had been placed in a borrowed tomb and guards placed outside, so no-one expected anything much to be happening until after the weekend. Mary M. went to the tomb location on Sunday morning to help put spices on the body, but the tomb was empty!

Mary M. told Peter and another disciple what she saw and they confirmed this, but she was left crying wondering what had happened to Jesus' body. We can follow the incident in the book of 'John', Chapter 20, verses 11-18...

Joh 20:11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

18 (So) Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

We can note a few things in this passage.
1. Mary Magdelene seems to be the first disciple/follower of Jesus to be given an audience with the risen Christ.
2. She is the first to discover that the risen Christ is not spirit but can be touched and felt.
3. She is the first evangelist commissioned by Jesus to tell the good news of His ressurection!

So a now jubilant Mary Magdelene went back to the other disciples and told them what Jesus had said to her; and give them the good news that He was alive and that she had seen Him!

Later all the disciples saw the risen Jesus for themselves and in accordance to His word they received the promise of 'power' through Holy Spirit to fulfill the mission He had for them, and we have that same promise of 'dunamis' power as disciples today!

Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high.

For believers Jesus has come to live in us and guides us through Holy Spirit within us. With this living hope inside us, we as Jesus' disciples endued with the power of God, can show unbelievers the love of Jesus and how for those who put faith in Him, they will gain everlasting life through the only one who is, the way, the truth and the life - that is Jesus Christ!

It's interesting though that the first person to whom Jesus gave a revelation of His resurected life for His followers, was a woman. Jesus turned the world upside-down during His life and after His death and resurection! Women were treated equally in His ministry and have an equal share with men in kingdom benefits and the kingdom of God!

Best wishes for Grace and The Peace of Jesus.

Attlee.