Easter Morning Thoughts

On this Sunday, the most special of Sundays, we wish you a happy and peaceful Easter! What a blessing to have the hope that comes from knowing that "He is Risen" and "He lives." Those were the first messages of that first Easter morning.

This week I was reading Luke 24 about that day. I thought of the shock of the women at discovering the empty tomb, the seemingly immovable rock having been moved. Luke writes that they were "perplexed." Can you imagine the added shock of the angels' announcement that another immovable obstacle, namely death, had been removed?

I thought of the Latter-Day Saint hymn:

"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he profers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me a sinner he suffered and bled an died."

John reported that the women ran to the apostles to share the report--I imagine those ladies were still "amazed", "confused", "trembling", and humbled. The apostles didn't believe the report for "their words seemed to be as idle tales." Can you imagine how difficult that must have been to overcome the disbelief? More running--Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves and the reality of the empty tomb was apparent. And then weeping--Mary was overcome with emotion as she questioned where the Savior's body had been taken. Her understanding was still imperfect, her belief still challenged. And then comfort came from the Savior himself.

So what have I learned this morning? It is simply inevitable that when we dedicate ourselves to sharing our testimony of the Savior that we will be met with disbelief and that others will esteem our testimony as and "idle tale". Sometimes our understanding might not be perfect, like Mary Magdalene's understanding was imperfect. But none of that changes the reality of the empty tomb and a living, loving Savior who will comfort us when we need him.