Dawn service (John 20:1-18)

 Dawn service (John 20:1-18)

We gather to reflect on one of the most powerful and life changing moments in the Christian life —the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. That early morning encounter with Mary is the dawn of hope for every believer. The scene begins on the first day of the week, early in the morning, with Mary Magdalene approaching the tomb.  It is still dark, and the heaviness of sorrow hangs in the air as she is seeking not to see if Jesus has risen from the dead but to continue the death process with burial spices.  Mary’s heart is filled with despair as she discovers the stone rolled away.  Her immediate reaction is one of confusion and fear. She rushes to tell the disciples, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

Just like Mary, do we often approach life’s challenges in darkness, confusion, and despair not realising Jesus is with us – as he promised “I am with you always”.  It is in those moments of personal darkness that God is often in ways we cannot yet see even though he is closer than we realise – as he was with Mary.

Peter and John hear Mary’s alarming news and run to the tomb to see for themselves. John, the beloved disciple, reaches the tomb first but hesitates to enter. When Peter arrives, as he always does, boldly steps inside and sees the linen wrappings lying there and the face cloth folded neatly. The wrappings tell a story; they signify that Jesus has risen, that His death was not an end but a beginning. And that they were neatly folded shows thoughtfulness and lack of fear of what is ahead of him.

In our search for answers, we can sometimes find ourselves hesitating, afraid to confront the messiness of our lives. Yet, just as Peter and John witnessed the evidence of the resurrection, we too can find hope in the miraculous and tangible ways God is at work in our lives.  

Even when we don’t understand, we can trust that something beautiful is unfolding. 

As Mary stands weeping outside the tomb, she encounters two angels who ask her why she is weeping.  It is in her grief that she hears the voice of Jesus, though she does not initially recognize Him.  Until he calls her by name "Mary," And in that moment, her despair turns to joy as she recognizes Him.

The significance of Jesus calling Mary by name is profound. For each of us, Jesus calls us out of our sorrow and into a relationship with Him through our Baptism where we were baptised into God’s name – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In our darkest moments, when we feel lost and alone, the resurrected Christ meets us. He knows our name, our struggles, our fears. In fact Jesus says he knows the very hairs on our head.

Jesus transforms our grief into joy and gives us a new identity as beloved children of God. After this intimate encounter, Jesus instructs Mary to go and tell the disciples, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary becomes the first evangelist, the bearer of the good news. She runs to the disciples to proclaim, "I have seen the Lord!"

We too need to have this same excitement as we share this good news with the world – with our friends, family and neighbours. We are called to share the hope of the resurrection with others.  Each of us has a story to tell, a testimony of how Jesus has transformed our lives.  The resurrection is not just for us; it is meant to be shared. We are commissioned to go out into the world and tell others that Jesus is alive and that hope is here!

As we ponder the truth of that first Easter morning let us remember that the resurrection of Christ is the ultimate triumph over sin and death. In our moments of despair, confusion, and isolation, we must cling to the hope that the risen Christ brings. That he is with us as he promised – I am with your always till the end of the age”. He is calling each of us by name, transforming our lives, and commissioning us to share His love with the world.

Let this Easter season not just be a celebration of an event in history but a living reality in our hearts. 

May we embrace the dawn of hope that comes with the resurrection and live boldly as witnesses of His love.