“But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying…They said, ‘Woman, why are you crying?'” John 20:11-13.
The last grain of sand had found its way to the bottom of the hourglass in the life of Jesus. Mary had watched the calendar close for Jesus as if it were New Year’s Eve without the celebration. Instead of the calendar showing a new beginning the next morning, it marked the worst day ever for Mary. The next morning lured her to the place of the end of a season…the end of hope…the end of life…the tomb that encased death. But what Mary found as she stooped down to look into the tomb was the best celebration of a new beginning ever. She carried death in her heart from the day before, only to realize that morning was about new life. She carried the expectation of an emotional grief hangover, only to experience a new beginning with Jesus. He appeared to her in the best New Beginning’s Day ever! Fully restored…fully reconciled…fully redeemed.
So, I pose the questions to both you and me: What is that we are looking at that is an emotional hangover from 2017? Why are we crying when there is new life today on January 1st? As we stoop down as Mary did considering our circumstances of yesteryear, would we dare to believe that today marks the beginning of days that hold great things? Would we dare to expect Jesus to appear in our situations? Can we be so bold to thank Him in advance for giving us the unanswered desires of 2017 in 2018? Will we turn our backs on the empty tomb of 2017 that encased our sadness and sorrow and walk in the Light of 2018?
God tells us throughout His Word that new things are coming if our heart just holds on. He didn’t just create 6 days thousands of years ago. Rather, He still creates using every second of every day, so hope is always before us. He holds our circumstances in His hands, massaging the details of our lives. He reminds us that the old things have passed away, encouraging us to make space in our hearts for the new things. Why are we crying when the tomb is empty? As we open our eyes to a new beginning this morning, may we walk in the hopeful expectation of a new day...a new year...a new season with Jesus.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19.
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