Mary’s Journey & Eternity by Kathy Boecher©

ETERNITY

He died that I could live. He suffered pain and loss.
He gave all He could give, upon that rugged cross.
But on that awesome day, so many years ago,
He for my sins did pay, so freedom I would know.
The story didn’t end there. He came to life once more.
To show me that I too will live within His heavenly door.

After a night of remembering her boy, Mary finally rested.  She kept returning to that first moment when His birth was announced by the angel.  The short span of His life seemed too brief and yet she knew that He had accomplished more in those few years than most do in a lifetime. The tears had ceased, but the aching in her heart would not go away.  Grief is like that.

The Sabbath rest was over and it was time to return to the tomb where Jesus’ body lay.  The women would complete the embalming process.  She couldn’t bear to see Him again.  The deep wounds from the scourge – scars from the nails which pierced His hands and feet – the slash in His side from the soldier’s sword – the imprinted remains of His crown of thorns.  It was too much.

The others went before the sun rose.  They would tend to the smitten warrior.  Mary remained behind and busied herself with thoughts of returning home, but her mind kept returning to her dead Son.  Her human heart was bludgeoned by the pain she felt.  This isn’t the way it was to end – or was it?

When Mary Magdalene returned with news that the grave had been robbed, her breath left her for a moment.  Some of the men returned with her to see for themselves. While she waited, Mary, the mother of Jesus thought of another burial only a short time ago.  Their friend Lazarus had died and when Jesus finally got there, Lazarus was already in the grave for 4 days.  Mary remembered her Son’s word to Martha,

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

After those words, He raised Lazarus from the dead.  Suddenly those words resonated with Mary.  He had the power to raise the dead – He could also raise Himself.  By the time the others returned, she knew that Jesus was alive.  He said He would return and He did.

And so her journey was complete, but the story wouldn’t end there.  This was just the beginning of truth that would sweep across the world and change it forever.