"They Have Taken Away My Lord"

What must it have been like for Mary to witness an empty grave? Kelly Minter puts it beautifully in her article “Follow the Women at the Tomb:”

“Mary sat with her tears long enough to peer into the tomb and see something the men hadn’t seen. Angels. They asked her why she was crying. She gave the most telling answer: ‘They have taken away my Lord.’" (John 20:13)

But legends aside, one thing is certain. This woman held a special place in the story of Christianity and she was placed there by God. 

Through her eyes, we learn a little more about who Jesus was. He found her in her darkest place and healed her miraculously. She was one of His friends and a faithful follower. Mary’s actions perhaps spoke the loudest, supporting Jesus’ ministry with all she had to give. To what she thought was the bitter end, she gave her life to follow Him and care for Him. The sweetest note of her story is not knowing that her Savior stood before her in that empty grave. She was so side-swept by her grief that she didn’t realize He was standing before her.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-was-mary-magdalene.html

Mary Magdalene, the one who had demons. Who was she! She was definitely a follower. Some, as noted above, say friend and confident of the Savior, the sister of Martha who "chose the better part," some even allude to a more intimate relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, maybe even bride to the bridegroom!

The point is, that Her Lord chose to first visit a woman, this woman and then as who she thought was a gardener " revealed himself to her as Jesus and he did so by simply calling her name." She came in haste, prepared to serve and to sanctify, she halted and looked inside the tomb ... she gave him time ... and then she was about her errand, a woman's errand to teach, to testify. 

This begs the questions; Am I prepared? Do I listen? Do I wait? Do I halt to receive a witness and Do I "Hear Him" as President Russell M. Nelson has encouraged us to do. Will I hear... Mary/Sharon?  And then do I run, go quickly, hasten to testify. Probably I am more Martha than Mary but I want to be both!

I do not and have not paid the price to Hear Him. It is something that I am constantly aware of and never coming closer to what I know I should do. A lifelong struggle! I know Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord! I have a sign that I display at Christmas and Easter with all His names. I have a large statue of the resurrected Savior that is a part of all my holiday decorating. I know he was born of Mary and Joseph, such a tender man and father. I know he died on the cross to redeem me and the rest of humanity for our sins and to provide a way that I can return to my Father in Heaven, his Father. I don't know how but I know that he is leading us and the world to His glorious return. I know I need to prepare and Hear Him and I need to keep covenants and to teach and testify. This I believe!