Mary of Magdala was the first to arrive at the tomb on the first day of the week. Her heart desired only one thing: her Lord. What trouble and distress were added to her bereaving heart when she saw the stone taken away and the body missing! After telling this to Peter and John, themselves dumbfounded by the empty tomb, we see her alone as they went back home. But she could not leave empty—she had to have her Lord.

Weeping, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. What she saw was spectacular. Two angels clothed in white and seated respectively where the head and feet of Jesus had lain. Many of us would probably have had a lot of questions and be impressed by such a vision. But not Mary. She was weeping. Why? “Because they have taken away my Lord” (Jn. 20:13). Mary was single-minded. Only one thing occupied her thoughts and affections: her Lord. He was everything to her; He was the sole object of her affections. No angelic vision nor great revelation would do without her Lord. As she turned back and saw what she supposed to be the gardener, she again repeated her only desire: “Sir … tell me where You have laid Him.”

Her deep desire to have her Lord was not only answered above any possible human expectation, but many blessings were added to it. Mary was the first to see the resurrected Lord, and was also given an extraordinary message for the disciples. But nothing was greater for her than having her Lord. May it be so of each of us, that there would be no greater desire—whatever the price—than to have this continual personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. He will answer this desire of our hearts, and we will find in Him true joy, peace, and satisfaction.