Even when Jesus died, her love for her Lord diminished not. Why were Mary and the other women at the tomb even before the dawn of the morning? Couldn’t the preparations for the dead body wait until first light? How will they get passed the large stone covering the tomb? The Lord is first in her heart. He is her why. How is not so important. He was buried in haste so everyone could observe the Passover. Jesus is the Passover lamb. And He is also the first-born slain. He is our sacrifice and our substitute. He shed His blood and took the judgement. But everyone was too busy to keep the symbol and missed the reality.

Joseph of Arimathea stepped up to request for the body as did Nicodemus with a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes. Rabbi Nicodemus sought our Lord for some answers and it was to him that our Lord spoke how the Son of Man would be lifted up just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. Here the Lord is. Lifted up. Executed as a condemned criminal, but innocent, blameless. Nicodemus brought the spices. The Lord’s trial and crucifixion happened so suddenly, but it is as if he had it ready and on hand. He was obviously wealthy, and generous. But the Lord’s body had already been anointed, by Mary with the costly and fragrant spikenard at his feet in Simon the leper’s house. The spikenard had been saved for this hour and she broke the vial and poured it all out on Jesus. How could she save any of it for herself. Jesus gave all. Jesus received her gift. She was approved and commended.

Early in the morning, when it was still dark, Mary Magdalene comes with the other women to properly prepare the body. Love. This is not done for show or reward, their beloved Rabboni was dead. Were Mary and the women fools for going to the tomb? Which of them was strong enough to roll the stone away? Were they expecting the eleven disciples to be there, too?

You could say, well, they didn’t figure out that Jesus was going to rise again either. The angels told them, “He is not here. Why are you looking for the living among the dead.” Well, we too, are slow to believe and slow to understand just as the disciples were, and they didn’t have the complete Scriptures like we do. But Mary Magdalene’s love, foolish as it may appear, persisted. She was rewarded. Our resurrected Lord Jesus appeared to her first. Seeing and talking to angels is quite something, but to Mary, Christ is everything. Her devotion did not end at Jesus’ burial. Neither did the life of her Lord. The Lord arose and remained at the tomb before He ascended to the Father since He told her as such. Surely He knew that love would compel her and the other women to come to the tomb early. Even still, they did come to the tomb. And He waited for them. The disciples, at least Peter and John, came when alerted — and left. Mary stayed. Why did she stay? Someone took her Lord. Even the dead body is precious to her. She wasn’t leaving until she had her Lord. Why did the Lord wait to go to the Father?

“Mary!” Mary’s devotion is not in vain. How Jesus loves us. We have been forgiven much. Do we love Him much? At His Return, will the Lord find us having broken our alabaster vials and pouring out the precious ointment on His Body? Will He find us eagerly seeking after Him while it is still dark so that He can meet us and fulfill all our longing to be with Him. Will we be Mary?