Miracles always seem to transpire when it is most impossible and when you least expect it.

Mary came to the tomb to find that it was empty.

This was a "weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning", moment.

Without immediate recognition, Jesus stood before her and she was none the wiser to His appearance.

He was different.

Yet, (with goosebumps I type this), the moment Jesus spoke her name...Mary's heart recognized Him instantly.

Something just happens when He calls us by name. I can't explain it, but the creation always responds to the Creator, and in that moment, our eyes are opened to Him.

"My Sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me." - Jesus (John 10:27)

Her reaction is what I love.

She clung to Him.

Oh, to cling to the risen body of Jesus the Messiah!

I don't blame her, I don't blame her one bit!

To lose Him once was far too much, she wanted to make sure this time that she would never let Him go.

He, however, had not gone to the Father yet, so instructed her to instead go and tell the disciples of the good news.

Once again, He was still on a mission to complete His Father's will.

Can you imagine the excitement stirring in the heart of Mary Magdalene as she ran back to the disciples after having a one-on-one conversation with her risen Savior right outside of the empty tomb?

Can you conjure up the conversations she probably had within herself as she tried to plan out just exactly what she would say the moment they would open the door to her?

Jesus had told His disciples that on the third day, He would rise. Yet the devastation of losing their Lord, Rabbi, Leader and friend left His disciples distraught, confused, frightened, and indignant.

I'm sure Mary tried to collect herself and her thoughts before entering upon the place where the disciples were hiding out. I'm sure she expected them to consider her mad and absolutely bewildered for claiming to have seen Jesus alive.

But you see, when you have an encounter with Jesus...you get radical.

You don't need all the how's and why's answered.

You don't require proof to believe.

And you certainly lose the right to care about what others are going to think of you.

Mary pounded on that door and as soon as it opened from the other side, all plans of staying calm were forgotten,

"I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!!!!!!"

And I am sure that with tears streaming down her face, she made her way past Peter, moved alongside John, and began to testify to all that Jesus had said to her at the empty tomb.

From that day on, we too hold the same testimony as Mary.

No matter what you have gone through or what you have endured, once you encounter Jesus, you are never the same.

Once you truly realize all that Jesus saved you from, you too will run to the world, tears in your eyes, to proclaim with boldness,

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!!!

He is risen, my friend.

Just like He said.

We cannot be silent.

The world needs to know.

Our King, our Yeshua, our Messiah is alive!

And we will sing His praises forever,

Amy Basel