The Good News of Easter

… She turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” – John 20:14-16

There are two heart-felt needs we all have: someone to recognize our tears and some one to know our name.

In the first instance, we want acknowledgement of our pain. It easy to get someone to smile with us; it is more difficult to find some one to cry with us. We really don’t care if they know our name or if we know their name: all we ask for is some one to validate our pain. Easter is about the Suffering Jesus seeing our pain – whatever it might be.

In the second instance, we want acknowledgement of our existence: someone to know our name. The theme song of television show, Cheers, was “Where everyone knows your name.” That is all anyone of us wants: someone to know our name. The God of heaven knows your name. God invites you to come to the empty tomb and celebrate the victory over death. – Ron Friesen