John 20:11-18: But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.  They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”  Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

What makes the celebration of Christmas so sweet is not just the baby in a manger, but the knowledge that this same human who took on flesh was Lord even at His birth. Even before His first breath God had a plan that would include resurrection from the dead. He knew that Jesus’ purpose was to defeat sin and death! Glory to God! Praise to Jesus. Just as angels announced His birth, so the angels were present as Mary peered into the empty tomb. As they sat there they must have wanted to shout out “He did it! He is alive! Instead they remained silent and let the spot light shine on the star of the event. As Jesus spoke to Mary she realized who it was. I pray that your response and mine will be much like Mary wanting to cling to our Savior. I pray we will not ever want to let go of Him in total praise and adoration. But just as Mary had a job to do, so do we. Our job is to go and make Him known. As we have walked through this advent I pray that we have all seen the Lord. I hope through the scriptures He has been made known. Now we are to stir others up to see, know and follow Him. What a great task, but it all started with a handful of followers. He can and will use you and me if we will allow Him to! Thank you for making this advent journey with us. May the Lord richly bless you in the year ahead.