Resurrection

Mary Simply Stayed

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On Friday night they left the Tomb
And in the darkness prayed
Then sadly went off to their homes
And slowly walked away

But on the Sabbath after dawn
Mary hurried back to bring
The spices for His resting place
In honor for her King

But the tomb was empty
So she went back to call
 The men to come and see that there
Was nothing left at all

So John and Peter ran to see
Only grave clothes there inside
Then wondering they turned and left
As Mary softly cried

Then she heard His footsteps
When she turned she saw a man
But thought He was the gardener
Just passing by as planned

And then He asked her why she wept
And why she was afraid
And He called her name and showed Himself
Because she simply stayed



 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 
John 20:11 ESV

Mary Simply Stayed
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2025
All rights reserved

One Simple Miracle

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But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 
Matthew 28:5-6 ESV

As we get closer to Easter, we need to remember what our faith is really about. Christianity is not about big church buildings, Christian concerts with special effects or elaborate social programs. Instead, all that we are and everything we do is based on one single morning at a tomb. The body of Jesus was supposed to be inside it. The priests were counting on it, because they had sent soldiers to guard it. Pilate was sure of it, because it was shut with a Roman seal. Even the closest friends of Jesus believed He would be there because they went with spices to prepare the body. And the grave was shut. The tomb was silent. The death from crucifixion was final…. Until it wasn’t!

“You seek Jesus who was crucified” the angel said. “He is not here for He has risen as He said!” And in that moment all History turned on the hinge of one simple miracle - an empty tomb and our risen Lord!

A borrowed manger – a borrowed donkey – a borrowed tomb

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 “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” Luke 19:30-31 ESV

Lent is now over and some of us come to Palm Sunday and Easter as times when we need to be in church. We know those are especially important days to God, so we show up in church. But the next week, we may or may not come back. We have finished our vows for the 40 days of Lent and now God sort of releases us. But the story of Easter, isn’t about seven weeks or seven days. It actually begins in Bethlehem, in a borrowed manger. That manger wasn’t much more than just a worn wooden trough where the cows were fed, but Jesus needed to borrow it for a little while. Then when Palm Sunday came, Jesus sent two of His disciples into a village to borrow a donkey. That animal wasn’t much more than just a simple beast on which He chose to ride for an hour. But, just like the manger for that hour, Jesus needed that donkey. Though Jesus needed, the donkey and the manger, both of them were returned to their owners. But when Jesus looked at you and me, thank God He decided that He wanted to do more than just borrow us. Jesus wants us to become permanent members of His family, and He has no plans to ever return us! So, on Friday of Holy week, Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins and purchased us by HIs own precious blood. He did all the work. We have only to believe. When Joseph and Nicodemus, came at the end of the day, they pulled those terrible nails from the hands and feet of Jesus, wrapped Him in another kind of swaddling clothes and laid in in a borrowed tomb. That must have seemed an abrupt and sad ending to the loving life Jesus had lived, but the story wasn’t over. Jesus didn’t need the tomb for long. Very early on Sunday morning, when it was still dark, Mary and the other women came to the tomb looking for Jesus. But they were amazed by angels and they found the tomb empty. Jesus didn’t need that tomb any longer, because He had risen and He has come for you and for me. What will you do with the gift He has given? He has paid the price so you can belong to Him forever.