Four different views

Ever been overcome with emotion? Ever had one of those times when you just couldn’t hold it in? Whether joy or pain, the tears flowed or the heartfelt joy made your heart skip a beat.

Most of us wake up this Sunday morning emotionally flat-lined. We wake up dreary, maybe worn out from the past week or the hustle and bustle of life. Our fast-paced life is winning. Or, our previous failures have won. Hope, excitement, and emotions are anything but bustling this morning.

But, over 2,000 years ago, this morning was a bit different. As I type this, on that Sunday morning, emotions were getting ready to explode, especially for four unique individuals, each with a different perspective on Jesus.

Mary had a unique view on Jesus. Of course she did. As a teenager, she was promised a son. And, love between a mom and her son is a bond that only a mother understands. So, to say she was excited, is an understatement. She never quite understood that He was to be Savior of the world. And, she often asked, “why me?”

She raised Him, cared for Him, watched Him grow up, and deeply loved Him. Mary saw the miracles, knowing Jesus was the promised one. She saw him bring joy to many. She saw him change lives. She cried with happiness as He brought life to the destitute.

Then, she watch at a distance as her son was beaten, spit on, ridiculed by the mob. She followed him as he went through the ordeal of the trials with everyone pointing at her son laughing at Him. Mary was there at a distance and did what any mom would do. She walked behind her son as he stumbled his way to Golgotha to be nailed to the cross. Mary sat at the foot of the cross, watching, hearing the loud cry from her son.

In pain and turmoil, she went to the tomb early Sunday Morning. She just wanted to see him once more. She knew she couldn’t move the stone to anoint her son’s body, but, she went anyway. When she arrived, her heart jumped out of her chest with joy, amazement, and excitement. Her son, her baby was alive. And, she had a message to take to Peter, to the disciples, to the world.

Mary Magdalene was healed because of Christ. There was no reason that Mary should have bumped into Jesus that day. She had lived a life of torment, no peace. Hope, joy, and happiness had been destroyed by the demons of life. But, Jesus spoke and miraculously cleansed her. Her gave her new found life. His compassion ran through her veins.

And, she never left his side. She was forever compelled to follow Him, knowing who He was, taking care of Him as He changed the world. And, she watched in horror as He cried in agony and pain. She saw the crowds turn on the Righteous One. Mary Magdalene heard Him scream in agony from the cross.

And, after His death, she had nothing. There was no hope, nothing to do, nowhere to go. So, she connected with Mary, Jesus’ mother, and went to anoint His body in the tomb. When she arrived, the smile must have spread across her face. Tears must have welled up in her eyes. Her Savior was indeed alive! And, she ran with news that would change the world, just like her life had been changed.

To Peter, Jesus was the Savior, the King, the One who could do anything. Every since that morning on the beach, he was all in. He saw the miracles, the dead brought back to life. He laughed, cried, ministered, walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Jesus. Peter had his back, no matter the situation, no matter the enemy. In fact, he would cut off a soldier’s ear defending his friend. Peter followed. Peter helped. Peter worshipped.

Then, at the darkest moment in Jesus’ life, he left Him, turned his back. Fear overcame Peter, and he lost the battle. He denied that he knew Jesus. He watched as his friend was beaten, mocked, and mutilated. Then, in the midst of the crowd surrounding Jesus, Peter’s eyes met the eyes of his best friend. Jesus’s eyes were not one of condemnation as he looked at Peter, but, his eyes brought love, grace, and compassion. And, Peter couldn’t handle it. He ran away crying.

He was at the cross, saw the death of his best friend that Friday. That Saturday, he probably did the only thing he knew to do. Hopeless, he went back to work, to fishing for a living. The sea must have been quiet that day, as he thought about nothing but his best friend, now gone. Peter woke up the next morning hoping it was all a nightmare, but it wasn’t. He probably started preparing the fishing nets for the day’s work.

But, Mary ran in, broke the silence with an unbelievable message that gave him chills. Could it be true? He grabbed his close friend and in a dead sprint, ran to the tomb. The stone was gone, Jesus’s body was no where to be found. It was all true. Every thing that Jesus had said happened. His best friend, his hope, his Savior was on the move!

Judas was chosen. He was selected as one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. There were many people around, but Christ put his hand on Judas. What an honor! And, he witnessed the unbelievable. Miracle after miracle. The blind could see. The deaf could hear. Judas even saw a 12-year-old girl brought back to life. He couldn’t deny that Jesus was different. His words changed hearts. He brought hope and peace to the destitute. He could do anything.

But, there was something greater than the miracles of Jesus that captivated the heart of Judas. In Jesus, Judas saw an opportunity. He was in the inner circle, and he knew that he had valuable information worth a whole lot of money.

So, Judas went to the officials and made a deal. Maybe he thought he had it figured out. Surely, the King of the world could fight off the soldiers. They wouldn’t, couldn’t hurt Jesus. He was too powerful. Jesus would ultimately be okay, and he would have his money. His future would be set. It was a no lose situation. So, Judas led the mob to his friend as He was leaving the Garden. When Judas saw Him, he ran to him giving him a kiss on the cheek, signifying his identity.

All hell broke lose at that moment. The momentum couldn’t be stopped. After all, that wasn’t the ultimate plan. He watched them beat the one that he followed for three years. He must have been sick at his stomach, as he couldn’t handle what he had done. He returned the money and ultimately ended his life because of his denial of Jesus.

Four different views. Four different experiences. Four emotional filled Sunday mornings.

These four were there. They experienced the greatest miracle of all time. They knew the truth.

Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Peter received hope, grace, and a new mission on life. They had no idea of the role that they were about to play in humanity. Their passion, telling the truth, would ignite humanity with the story of all stories. Their testimony would change people, bring hope, secure eternity for many. Nothing could hold them back.

But, Judas sold his soul for money and quickly found out it wasn’t worth it. Jesus had taught about the dangers of money more than any other topic. He taught about how the worries of the world could drown out the truths of God. He taught how riches and the pleasures of life can easily become more important than Him. Judas knew the danger, but he was drawn to the things of the world. He played with fire not believing he would get burned.

And, we are all guilty just like Judas. Just like Peter. But, this is the exact reason for Easter, for Resurrection Sunday. This is the exact reason that Jesus died on the cross. Because, we are all guilty.

Jesus is grace. Easter, Resurrection Sunday, is hope, a reminder of who we worship. An opportunity to follow.

This morning brings hope for all.

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