I Love Surprises!

The truth is, I love to be pleasantly surprised. It is so frustrating to de-plane in an airport far away from home only to be surprised that my connecting flight is delayed or canceled. And who likes to be surprised by a flat tire? Think of the surprise and shock that comes when you learn that a friend has unexpectedly been killed in an accident. Some surprises are just not fun. But, I secretly loved the time that my wife convinced a small army of our friends to show up at our place after midnight to yell, "Surprise!", when I walked in the door. I think it was my 24th birthday. I love the thrill of being pleasantly surprised.

After Roman soldiers determined that Jesus was dead, they removed his body from the cross so that he could be buried in a new tomb. Mary Magdalene was determined to visit his tomb after the burial was completed. Early Sunday morning she made her way to the tomb only to be dreadfully surprised. Not only had Jesus been unjustly killed, but the tomb was open and his body was gone. Fearing that the body had been stolen, she ran to Peter and John to inform them of what she had seen. When they arrived, they saw the grave clothes still intact, but the body was nowhere to be found. They, too, were surprised.

Later, Mary Magdalene was asked a question: "Dear woman, why are you crying?" Clueless as to whom she was speaking, she said , "Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him" (John 20:15). She loved Jesus dearly and wanted to pay her respects. But then in a moment of remarkable tenderness Jesus called her by name: "Mary". "Teacher!" she cried as she finally recognized him. She rushed to him, embracing him in ecstatic joy. Jesus was alive, healthy and well because death could not hold the promised Messiah. And don't you know Mary was pleasantly surprised!