Jesus is risen!

John 20:1,11-16 NLT

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. [11] Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. [12] She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. [13] "Dear woman, why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have put him." [14] She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. [15] "Dear woman, why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener. "Sir," she said, "if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him." [16] "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, "Rabboni!" (which is Hebrew for "Teacher").

How did Mary recognise Jesus?

Only when He said her name!

She was looking for a dead body - she wasn't expecting a Resurrected Lord.

Many archeologists have dug about looking for Jesus' dead body down the 2000 plus years - but they have never found it.

Like the angels said in Luke's Gospel:

"Why do you seek the Living among the dead?"

Many atheists have tried to disprove the Resurrection by using the conflicting Gospel accounts - many of these have ended up "hearing" Jesus call their name too, hence becoming believers instead - gloriously convinced that Jesus is alive!

One such person was Frank Morrison, who wrote the book "Who moved the stone?"

The very fact that the accounts are not identical reinforces their authenticity.

Any policeman will tell you that people witnessing a road accident, all have slightly differing versions.

We recall an event from different angles, but the essence remains the same.

If the first disciples had wanted to produce a fictional account, they would have ensured that their stories matched.

This Easter morn, I pray you will hear Jesus say your name, so that you too will believe and be saved.

The tomb is still empty, for Jesus is alive!