John 20:11-18 NIV84
...but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
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 toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Why is Mary crying? How many times was she asked about her crying? by whom?
Imagine what emotions Mary might be feeling. What if someone you dearly loved died and the funeral home misplaced the body before the service? How would you feel? Is it any wonder Mary didn't seem to recognize the angels or Jesus?
What caused her to recognize Jesus? How did she respond?
Jesus, calling Mary by name, opened her eyes and dried her tears. He gave her a message for His "brothers" making it clear something new has happened with His resurrection: they are now family, sharing the same Father God. Have you heard Jesus call you by name? Have your eyes been opened to the spiritual reality of being Jesus's brother or sister? Do you experience God as Father? If so, how? If not, what do you think keeps you from entering into that relationship?
Lord, I choose to seek You earnestly, as Mary did when she thought she lost You. Let me hear You call me by name, show me that You are near. Work in my heart until I can confidently enter into an intimate relationship with our Father God.
No comments:
Post a Comment