Easter Starts with Grief

“Why are you crying?” - John 20:13
“Why are you crying?” - John 20:15

On Easter morning, twice Mary Magdalene is asked this question. Sometimes we’ve heard this as if it’s a rebuke, but what if it’s a real question? What if it’s worth taking time to know our grief, even on Easter?

Jesus had cast 7 demons out of Mary. It seems pretty reasonable that she might be upset that the one who freed her from the darkness (and perhaps still kept the darkness at bay) was dead.

And maybe there are some things for you to grieve this Easter season as well. There have been so, so, so many deaths from Covid. And huge economic repercussions, the isolation, and all the changes. Not to mention the pandemic of racial injustice. And then there are all the individual losses and pains and worries. There’s much to grieve.

Tomorrow we’ll look at joy, but joy works better in the soul if we’ve taken time to grieve.

What do you need to grieve these days? Why are you crying?