We Can Turn to Jesus in Times of Anxiety and Despair
It’s almost Easter Sunday, and I’ve been reflecting on Mary Magdalene, the first person to whom Jesus appears after the resurrection. Before her role in the Easter story, Mary meets Jesus when he casts seven demons out of her. We don’t know exactly what Mary went through prior to meeting Jesus, or exactly how the demons affected her, but we can assume that she was suffering before she met him. At the time of the exorcism, she may have been beaten down or resigned to her pain. So, it is no wonder that being healed was a transformative experience.
Mary Magdalene is often portrayed as one of Jesus’ most loyal and supportive followers. She, and several other women who Jesus had healed, traveled with him and the apostles. When Jesus is crucified, Mary is there, even after most disciples have fled. This could have been because women were less likely to be arrested than the men, because she was particularly brave, or another reason we don’t know. But we do know that she and other women were there, watching from a distance.
Watching a loved one put to death must have been one of the most agonizing experiences of Mary Magdalene’s life. Yet she stays until Jesus is taken down from the cross and faithfully visits his tomb for the next three days.
When Mary finds the tomb empty and sees Jesus alive again, she doesn’t recognize him, despite having traveled by his side and being one of his closest friends. I wonder if she didn’t dare to recognize him – did she stop herself feeling hope, to spare herself pain? During those three dark days, did she see people who looked like Jesus and have a moment of joy before realizing it wasn’t him? When he calls her by name, she is finally able to rejoice.
This story shows how complicated life is, even when Jesus is at the center. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t eliminate sorrow, nor does it make our path more smooth or easy. However, being close to Jesus does transform us. Just as Jesus drew close to Mary Magdalene when she was suffering, Mary Magdalene drew close to Jesus when he was suffering. Just as Jesus expressed sorrow on the cross, Mary Magdalene expressed sorrow upon his death. Her sorrow and her faith continued to take expression in her daily visits to the tomb. Eventually, she is surprised and delighted when Jesus calls her name. It is then she shares in Jesus’ resurrection joy.
As Easter Sunday approaches, you may feel you can’t get into the spirit of the holiday. If you feel a little hopeless this year, that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or your faith. In fact, just expressing your concerns can be an act of faith. We can turn to Jesus in times of anxiety and despair, knowing he not only understands, but overturns death. And just as Jesus called Mary Magdalene by name, he calls you by name, too.
This blog post was written by counseling intern, Hava Zuidema.
