INTRO: This poem is Part 2 of the Easter Story. It is the story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb on that first Easter Sunday morning.
The two feature images I edited together show Mary’s depth of sorrow at the cross and the risen Lord soon to become the height of joy for her. Jesus shows such grace and patience toward Mary as she transitions from thinking Him to be the gardener to knowing He was her Lord and Saviour.
I have included two Youtube videos at the end of the poem that reflects the story of the poem. Beverley Joy.
PODCAST – The Passion of Mary Magdalene
As the sun rose on that Sunday morn
Several women went to the tomb
They took the spices they had prepared
To complete the burial ritual.
The tomb was open when they arrived
The large entrance stone was rolled aside
They went inside, but they did not find
The body of their Saviour, Jesus Christ.
As they stood there puzzled, two men appeared
Clothed in white robes sitting to one side
“Are you looking for Jesus who was crucified?”
The women bowed to the ground; they were terrified.
“Don’t be alarmed. He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead!
Jesus said it would happen this way. Don’t you remember what He said?”
Now go and tell his disciples, what you’ve heard and seen
And that Jesus will meet them soon in Galilee.”
The women ran quickly from the tomb
They were so frightened but also filled with joy
But the story sounded like nonsense to the men
They didn’t believe what the women had said.
But two disciples ran to the tomb to see
The cloth lay where Jesus’ body had been
Once they saw for themselves, they believed
They went home wondering “What has happened?”
Mary Magdalene, back at the garden tomb
Crying, she stooped and looked inside
The two angels asked, “Why do you cry?”
“They’ve taken my Lord and I don’t know where or why.”
She turned to leave and saw the gardener standing near
“Why are you crying?” “Who are you looking for?”
“Sir, tell me where you have put him, so I can go and get him.”
She cried through tear-stained eyes.
“Mary” Jesus gently called her name
Wiping her tears, she searched His eyes
She recognized His calming voice
His face, His frame, it was Her Lord.
“Teacher” she whispered in wonder and awe
Her despair turns to the future hope
From the darkness of sorrow to the light of joy
From the separation of death to eternal life.
She fell on Him, clinging tight
He was real, a human, not a ghost
Never again would she let Him go
Now things would be as they were before.
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus gently said
Helping her to compose herself
“Go tell my brothers this message
‘To our Father, to our God, I will ascend.”
The risen Jesus had appeared in the flesh
Not to rulers and kings, nor His disciples
But to a woman whose life He had saved
Who had followed Jesus to His grave.
A humble woman now honoured by God
The first man or woman to see the Risen Lord
And hear the first words from His lips
And be the first to spread the gospel message.
There stood a man and a woman in a garden
Jesus, the new Adam, and Mary Magdalene
The power of His resurrection
Give eternal freedom and redemption.
The power of death broken in this new garden
Jesus paid the debt of God’s judgement
And put right the Garden of Eden’s fall
Now man is restored, redeemed, and transformed.
Mary Magdalene ran to tell the men
The gospel message, the good news
“I have seen the Lord!” My Saviour is alive.
Jesus conquered death for all of us
The power of His resurrection
Is the power of a new creation
A time of joy and celebration.
The passionate love of God for us
His longing, desire, and joy has come
For reconciliation
Between God and His creation.
Mary Magdalene, her passion, and faith
In service to Jesus, at the cross and the tomb
No longer a melancholic passion for loss
But a passion that longs for eternal union with God.
The power of the creating God, the liberating God
Bringing mankind into a relationship with Him
We share in the mission of Mary Magdalene
To share this good news with strangers, enemies, and friends.
Beverley Joy © 2022 of Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.
References: Power and Passion Six characters in search of resurrection © 2007 Samuel Wells. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Women of the Bible 2007 Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan
All the women of the Bible Herbert Lockyer 1967 Zondervan
Women in the Bible: Mary Magdalene
Bible references: Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 15: 46-16:11, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18,
Simply Story Poetry 
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