The gospel accounts of the Resurrection are all the more powerful for not being a neatly packaged narrative. They tell the story as it was: confused, fearful disciples who were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead (despite His many predictions!), faithful women who were nonetheless weighed down with worry (how on earth were they going to move that stone away?!), erratic behaviour, joy mingled with doubt and uncertainty. As we read the Easter story, we can’t help but reflect that this is often how we are too. Doubt, fear, uncertainty and worry are mingled with faith, joy, hope and security in so many aspects of our lives.
In John 20:1-18, we see three followers (Peter and John, and Mary Magdalene) learn of the stupendous news of Jesus’s resurrection. Mary is heartbroken to find the tomb empty, believing that someone has stolen the body of her Lord. She certainly doesn’t see the empty tomb as a proof of resurretion, and even though Peter and John see and believe, they return home without that belief apparently filtering through to their behaviour in any way. Even when Mary subsequently encounters two angels and Jesus Himself, she is not reassured, taking Jesus to be the gardener or caretaker. It takes the personal touch – Jesus calling her by name – before she realises who He is.
Jesus appeared to groups of people after the resurrection (see 1 Cor 15:6), but many of the gospel narratives focus on the individual approach: Jesus speaking to Mary, Jesus speaking restoration to Peter, Jesus walking with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus taking the time to come back to reassure Thomas of His resurrection. There is much encouragement for us in realising that Jesus cares about the strugglers and the stragglers! We can also be reassured that God knows each one of us by name and is able to speak to us with that personal touch which makes all the difference. When Jesus speaks our name, He deals with doubt and despair, with the shame of sin and the weight of condemnation. He provides a real and living encounter with a real and living Saviour.
Easter Sunday reminds us that we serve a risen Saviour who is on the loose and who knows our name! Don’t settle for anything less than that personal encounter with Jesus.
