Dear Foothills Family,

Death is never easy to deal with. Some of the time we can avoid it or postpone it or keep it far away from us. But sometimes death stares us in the face and we don't know what to do or how to respond.

That's why Mary was standing alone at the garden tomb about 6:30 am on the first Easter Sunday. "But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she said, 'and I don't know where they have put him.'" (John 20:11-13).

If the tomb is empty, why is she still there? If you've ever lost a loved one who meant more to you than life itself, you know why she was there. She had loved Jesus in life, now she loved him in death. She was there at the tomb, alone, because death could not destroy her love. Some of us are remembering friends and loved ones who are not with us this year. Perhaps we will go this week to a quiet cemetery or mausoleum and stand by a grave alone. In our heart we may talk to the one who is now gone and tell them again how much we miss them.

Mary wept because the tomb was empty. But if Mary had found Jesus' body still in the tomb, we would have nothing to celebrate because Easter would not exist. Then, “she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus" (John 20:14). I wonder if Jesus did not want Mary to recognize him at first so that he could teach her – and us – an important truth. We must learn that He is always present, even when He is invisible to our physical eyes, or indiscernible to our senses. OUR LORD IS OFTEN CLOSEST TO US WHEN WE FEEL THE MOST ALONE.

Christians have a hopeful message for a world overwhelmed by the reality of death. People of faith can say to the bewildered and brokenhearted, as Mary reported to the disciples after she recognized it was Jesus who was calling her by name: "Fear not, Jesus Christ has come back from the dead. I have seen the Lord!"

There is a time for tears, but Easter calls us to live and celebrate the good news that Jesus has conquered death! And, because He lives, we too shall live!

Pastor Duff