Mary Magdalene could not stay away from the tomb. She went back and stood there with tears rolling down her cheeks. In fact, she had done little but weep for three days.
Two beautiful angels were sitting inside the tomb, one at the head and one at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had lain.
"Woman, why do you weep?"
"Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they have laid him." Caressing the strip of burial linen Mary turned away, sobbing. But someone was standing before her -- someone she couldn't recognize through her tears.
"Mary!" When she heard that beloved voice speak her name, Mary looked up at Jesus and gasped, "Master!"
As she gazed with love and adoration into the face of her Lord, he said, "Mary, go now to my disciples and tell them I am going to ascend to my Father in heaven."
Breathless from the wonder of it all, Mary ran into Jerusalem to where the disciples were mourning. "He's alive!" she cried. "He's alive! I have seen him myself! He spoke my name! He's alive!"
The disciples were burdened down with grief. At first they did not grasp what Mary was saying. "Listen to me! Jesus is alive! He spoke to me in the garden! He told me to come tell you that he has risen! And he is going to ascend up into heaven!"
One by one the grieving disciples remembered what Jesus had told them. He would live again, and they would soon see him. At last they knew that
Jesus is stronger than death and is the Lord of life!
Because of His Amazing Grace the grave can't hold us down! He arose from the grave and so shall we!
And that's how Mary witnessed her first Easter.
John 20 KJV - "Paraphrased" by me.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted
from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:51 (KJV)
And
when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken
up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward
heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also
said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have
seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:9-11 (KJV)