From Weeping to Wowing: The Unexpected Joy of Easter Morning

From Weeping to Wowing: The Unexpected Joy of Easter Morning
It's Sunday morning. The air is still, perhaps carrying the faint scent of damp earth and the lingering quiet of the Sabbath. But this Sunday is different. Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb, her heart heavy with grief, only to find a scene that defies comprehension: the massive stone sealing the entrance has been rolled away.
Matthew's account gives us a glimpse into the supernatural power behind this event. A violent earthquake, an angel descending with a brilliance that mirrored lightning – these were the forces that moved the immovable. The guards, tasked with ensuring the tomb remained undisturbed, were paralyzed by fear, becoming "like dead men."
Interestingly, Mary doesn't mention seeing these terrified guards. This suggests they had already fled, rushing to report the unbelievable events to the chief priests – a report that would lead to a desperate attempt to silence the truth with bribes. All Mary saw was the undeniable evidence: the tomb was open, and the body was gone.
Driven by panic and sorrow, Mary races to find Peter and John, delivering the devastating news: "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him" (John 20:2).
Peter and John, spurred by Mary's frantic words, run to the tomb themselves. What they find inside adds another layer to the mystery. The linen cloths that had enveloped Jesus' body are still there, retaining their shape, as if the body had simply passed through them. The headcloth is neatly folded, separate from the rest.
This detail speaks volumes. This wasn't the work of grave robbers in a hurry. Why would anyone meticulously unwrap a body just to steal it? The undisturbed burial garments point to something far more profound: a resurrection. Seeing this, John, the beloved disciple, believed. As John himself tells us, "For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead" (John 20:9). The full understanding of Jesus' promises was yet to dawn on them.
Their initial reaction, going back to their own homes, wasn't necessarily an act of disbelief, but perhaps one of being overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. They hadn't yet received the Holy Spirit, the one who would fully illuminate their understanding. In that moment of confusion and fear of potential repercussions, going home was the only logical step they could think of.
But Mary couldn't leave. She remained outside the tomb, weeping. The Greek word used to describe her weeping paints a vivid picture of deep, unrestrained sorrow – sobbing, wailing aloud, gasping for breath, her body shaking with tremors, her face contorted with grief, and her eyes red with tears.
As she wept, she stooped down and looked again into the tomb. This time, she saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus' body had lain. Their gentle question, "Woman, why are you weeping?" stands in stark contrast to the fear the guards had experienced. Angels, often messengers of comfort and good news, typically begin their communication with reassurance. Here, their question suggests Mary's distress was so overwhelming that she wasn't even startled by their presence. Perhaps her vision was blurred by tears, or her focus was entirely consumed by her loss.
Then, turning away, Mary sees someone standing there. Still blinded by her grief and perhaps by the unfamiliar form of Jesus' resurrected body, she doesn't recognize Him. His compassionate question echoes the angels': "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Mistaking Him for the gardener, she pleads, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Her devotion is palpable, even in her despair.
Why didn't she recognize Him? Her tears certainly played a part. But the scriptures also suggest that Jesus' resurrected form was different, requiring Him to identify Himself on each occasion. This was no longer the mortal body that had endured the cross; this was a glorious, eternal body, untouched by death and decay. And perhaps, in her certainty of His death, Mary simply wasn't expecting to see Him alive.
Then, Jesus speaks a single word: "Mary!"
In that instant, everything changes. She recognizes His voice, the voice that calls His own sheep by name (John 10:3). Her weeping turns to wonder, her sorrow to overwhelming joy. "Rabboni!" she exclaims – Teacher!
Jesus' next words, however, bring a gentle reminder: "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God’" 1  (John 20:17). He has a mission for her, a message to deliver to His disciples.  
And Mary obeys. "Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her" (John 20:18). She goes and tells, just as Jesus commanded.
This, in essence, is the story of Easter Sunday: a journey from weeping to wowing. Mary experienced it firsthand, but she almost missed it. Her blurred vision, her preoccupation with the missing physical body, nearly prevented her from recognizing the resurrected Lord standing right before her.
Warren Wiersbe's words resonate deeply: "We must be honest with ourselves and admit the blind spots in our lives, the obstacles that blur our vision, and the areas within that must be corrected. Then we can be used of the Lord to minister to others and not lead them astray."
What are the things in our lives that have captured our complete attention, causing us to have blurry vision? What are we so focused on that we might be missing what God is doing right in front of us? We must remember that He knows our name, and if He is our Lord and Savior, we need to refocus and recognize His voice when He calls us to action. Just as He told Mary to get up, go, and tell, He has called each of us to share the good news.
What specifically is God telling you today?
An Invitation for Renewal:
Easter's arrival alongside the spring season, a time of rebirth and new life emerging from what appeared dead, is no coincidence.
For Christians: Easter celebrates the ultimate renewal – the resurrection of Jesus Christ, signifying victory over sin and death. Today is an opportunity to reflect on the profound forgiveness, redemption, and new life offered through Him. What fresh start is God prompting you towards today? Is there a relationship that needs mending, a habit that needs breaking, or a new step of faith you need to take?
For Those Exploring: The events of that first Easter morning – the empty tomb, the undisturbed grave clothes, the eyewitness accounts – all point to a truth that has echoed through the centuries: Christ is alive! His love was displayed fully on the cross, making a way for us to become children of God, brothers and sisters in His family. The question remains: Do you want Him to live in you? If so, would you consider opening your heart to Him today?