I have imagined the reactions and thought processes of those people involved in the Good Friday and Easter narrative.
I hope that it will assist you to meditate on these events with fresh thoughts.
It
was such a privilege to hear the Master say that those who had been forgiven
much would love Him much. I know the truth of this because He had released me
from so much sin (by delivering me from demons) and I couldn’t have enough love
in my heart for Him.
I
decided from that moment on that I would follow Him wherever He went and
minister to Him as I knew that I would receive more from Him than I could
possibly give.
When
Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, I decided to go there as
well in the company of the other women. I thought that it would be a joyous
occasion when my people would realise that the Promised One had finally arrived
to free them. Instead, it went all wrong, not according to my plans at all,
when the religious leaders arrested Him at night, away from the crowds, and
proceeded to bring trumped up charges. Couldn’t they see that Jesus had been
sent from God? Self-preservation and anger had blinded their eyes from adoring
Him.
As
the horrendous moment arrived, I realised that they were not going to back out
of having my Lord judicially murdered. I was resolved to follow Him all the way
to the cross. He had given me release from my past life, I wanted to give Him
support in His hour of release.
I
stood with the other women and John as the bloodied body of my Master was
hoisted onto the cross. It was supposed to the warming temperatures of spring,
but there was the distinct chill of death especially when the skies became
unusually dark at midday when the sun disappeared.
We
were not far away from Him, so we heard His every word, but even I was
surprised by the strong affirmation that ‘It is finished!’ – instead of
despairing, it was the declaration that His life’s mission had been accomplished.
We
did not really grasp what that meant so, on the day after the Sabbath, I went
with other women to His tomb to undertake the final act of reverence. However,
when we got there, two shining ones told us Jesus’ body was no longer there as
the living are not to be found among the dead.
The
others rushed back to tell the disciples, but I decided to remain in the
graveyard trying to make sense of it all. I thought I saw the gardener and
asked Him where they had removed the body to. His soft voice just replied:
‘Mary.’ I knew then that my Teacher had really risen, and I fell down before
Him in worship.
I
am so grateful that the Master who had changed my life’s purpose has also
changed my eternal hope to be with Him forever.
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