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Don't Hold on to Me - Go and Tell

It’s very early in the morning on the first Easter Day. In John’s gospel chapter 20 Mary Magdalene is standing in a garden crying. Jesus who transformed her life; Jesus who was going to change the world;  Jesus whom she loved - is dead. She stands by His tomb and weeps in despair.

Then she becomes aware that someone is standing with her – but through her tears she cannot recognise Him. She thinks He’s the gardener.  Then He says, ‘Mary!’ and she recognises Jesus.

In a moment grief is turned to joy, despair to hope. Jesus who was dead is standing in front of her alive.  Living breathing proof that He has defeated death. Amazing! Incredible!

Surely stretching ahead of them now are days just like those they used to enjoy - before the devastation of Good Friday. Days spent together – Jesus and His closest friends; eating together, laughing together, listening to Him as He taught. Surely now it will be again just as it always was. Mary reaches out and she clings onto the risen Jesus.

And then the risen Jesus says something surprising. ‘Do not hold onto Me,’ He says. ‘Do not hold on to Me’? Surely Mary can be permitted to hold on to the Jesus she thought she’d lost – the Jesus who has just returned to her.

But whilst Jesus has returned - He hasn’t returned in order for everything to be just as it always was.  Jesus’ resurrection changes everything. Nothing will ever be the same again.

‘Do not hold on to Me,’ says Jesus, ‘Go instead and tell…’

This risen Jesus can no longer be confined to that group of close friends. No – this risen Jesus will change the world and His good news needs to be proclaimed to the whole world. ‘Don’t hold on to Me.  Go and tell,’ Jesus says to Mary. And so she is the very first person given the task that has been given to every follower of Jesus ever since. To go and tell the good news to all who will listen.

This good news of forgiveness through Jesus’ death on a cross and new life through His resurrection is not news to hold on to.  It’s not just a secret for the few. It’s for everyone.

‘Don’t hold on to Me,’ says Jesus. ‘Go and tell…’

So who do you know who needs some good news?