What Now?

When Resurrection Meets Real Life

Easter Sunday came and went.

We all wore pastels, the tomb is empty, now what?

What happens after the tomb?

Because if we’re honest, Monday still showed up. The dishes still piled up. That unanswered prayer still felt unanswered. And maybe we’re wondering… if Jesus really rose, why do I still feel stuck in Saturday?

Sound familiar?

Let’s look at Mary Magdalene’s story…

She was the first person to see the resurrected Jesus—but she didn’t recognize Him right away. She stood outside the tomb, weeping. She thought the body had been stolen. She mistook Jesus for the gardener. But then…

He said her name.

And everything changed.

John 20:14-16

She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”

“Mary!” Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

He didn’t scold her for crying.

He didn’t shame her for not getting it sooner.
He didn’t wait until she had cleaned herself up.

He just said, “Mary.”

There’s something deeply personal about the way Jesus shows up to her. He doesn’t start with a sermon—He starts with presence. He meets her in her grief, not after it.

I don’t know what you brought with you into this post-Easter week, but I do know this:

Our story moves forward from Sunday, not back.
Jesus is alive and He’s near.
He knows your name.

Mary’s job wasn’t to understand it all. Her job was to respond. And when she did, He gave her a purpose: “Go and tell.”

Reflection for the week:

• Where have I overlooked Jesus because He didn’t show up the way I expected?

• Am I listening for His voice—or trying to figure things out on my own?

• Who might need me to share the hope I’ve experienced, even if it’s still unfolding?
  

This week, pay attention to where Jesus might be whispering your name—in the middle of your ordinary, in the middle of your mess.
He’s not waiting for you to “get it right.”
He’s just waiting for you to recognize that He’s already with you.

He is risen—and He’s not done yet.