Rev. Sun Myung Moon: The Life and Mission of Jesus Christ
Chapter 8: The Resurrection, Appearance to Mary Magdalene, Page 203

THE RESURRECTION

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” —John 11:25

Appearance to Mary Magdalene

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:1-7)

 

Jesus was a true man because he perfectly lived the life of God. He was a walking God. There was no separation between God and Jesus, and because no one can destroy God no one can destroy Jesus Christ. The crucifixion was not his destruction; God manifested the power of resurrection so that the world could see that Jesus was never destroyed.

God’s Will and Christmas
December 25, 1976

When Jesus was resurrected, there was not even one disciple who stood guard next to his tomb. Only enemies, the Roman soldiers, were guarding the place. How could this be! Today there are many instances wherein Christianity is not guarding the tomb of Jesus. Enemies, like the Roman soldiers, are guarding it. Is there no group on earth who can encircle the Roman soldiers and long to attend the tomb of Jesus? Even though there were no such people then, among us, the believers, there should emerge many such people.

Who are the ones who could meet the resurrected Jesus? Those who let Jesus die, those who abandoned Jesus and scattered everywhere to wander according to their will could not meet Jesus. After his death, who was the person who went in search for Jesus without eating for three days? Who was groping in darkness not knowing where his body was? The disciples of Jesus should have become this kind of people more than anyone else. However, the three disciples that Jesus loved the most, Peter, James, and John, all returned home. The ones who met Jesus first were the women who searched for Jesus’ tomb before dawn. They were Mary Magdalene; Mary the mother of James; and Salome.

They were longing for Jesus, who had been executed as a traitor. Shedding tears for three days and unable to bear it any longer, they came searching for him. They were the first ones to meet the resurrected Jesus. This shows in what direction and how the believers of the last days should act.

We should understand that now is the last days when we should go in desperate search for the tomb of Jesus. The women who were desperately searching for the tomb met the resurrected Lord in place of the Israelite people, who should have met the resurrected Lord first. Today when the resurrected Lord comes on the world level, the ones who can meet the Lord first are those who do not sleep and rest in spite of their desire, who shed tears for heaven while wandering through the mountains and hills with an unsettled heart that cannot be expressed.

If you transcend your life and live a life of anxiety, unrest, and lack of sleep for the sake of the lives of your people and humanity, then the Lord of glory who is coming to this world again will surely come after you. You will be entitled to the glory of receiving the Lord when you are not even aware of it. You have to understand that such a time is approaching.

Let Us Become People Who Participate in the Glory of the Lord
June 16, 1957