John 20: There is a saying “the early bird gets the worm.” Mary had risen early and her decision yielded blessings others missed. The drama began early before dawn on the first day of the week when Mary went to the tomb. Why did she go? What did she hope to find?
Because she rose early, she was the first to see the stone rolled away. Seeing the empty tomb, she left to alert Peter and the other disciple. They came and left, but she stayed. Why did she stay?
The other gospel writers include more details, but John tells us she stayed. Because she stayed, she saw the two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been laid. Because she stayed she heard them ask; “Why are you weeping? He is not here but He is raised, just as He said.” Because she stayed, she alone heard the voice of her Master and was able to cling to Him for a moment. Because she stayed, she alone heard “go and tell.”
What will you miss if you choose to stay abed instead of rising early? It is the early bird that gets the worm and it is the early riser that hears the voice of Jesus and experiences His presence. What will you choose?