Sound Effects: Boris Johnson; Queen Elizabeth II; David Beckham; Elsa/Indina Menzel; Barak Obama

We’re going to play a game called ‘Guess the Gardener’. Listen to the following gardener’s voices and see if you tell me who they are, by recognising their voices. [Boris Johnson; Queen Elizabeth II; David Beckham; Elsa/Indina Menzel; Barak Obama].

After the women (and the two disciples) had visited the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid, Mary Magdalene stayed behind.

She was upset. She thought that someone had stolen the body.

As she turns from the tomb, she sees in front of her a man she guesses was the gardener who asked her why she was crying.

“Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her “Mary.” She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic “Teacher”. (John 20:15-16)

The gardener was actually Jesus. Jesus risen from the dead.

Here was the evidence that Jesus really was alive.

The body hadn’t been carried away and hidden – it was standing right in front of her. And when Jesus spoke ‘Mary’, she recognised His voice.

Mary was so happy.

She clung onto Jesus. But Jesus told her not to do that, but instead to go and tell the disciples that He was alive.

So Mary did as He said. She told the disciples that she had seen Jesus. That He had risen from the dead.

But will the disciples believe that Jesus really was alive?