Imagine... .
It's not 2019, but back about 30AD?
What do we see looking down the centuries?
What would I do, if I was in Jerusalem back then?
What would I do, if I was in Jerusalem back then?
Would I cry: "Hosanna! to the Son of David", waving my palm branch a week ago?
Or just four days after, would I join the mob crying, "Crucify Him!"?
Would I the next day shout, "..he’s saved others, let Him save himself.." mocking Him, the King of Glory, in those three hours of darkness, along with other scoffers?
******
Or perhaps I dare to hope we'd be one of the women coming early that morning with the spices...
I truly hope so.
I truly hope so.
See.. behold ..
A look of wonderment in our eyes, as we gaze upon a Risen Saviour on the Resurrection morn?
In our imaginings, there are several certainties.
*****
*****
A woman did see Jesus.. thought Him to be a gardener.. let us have a peek with her and refresh our memories with this most joyous scene:
And they say unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou?”
She saith unto them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?”
She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus saith unto her, "Mary".
She turned herself, and saith unto him, “Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
******
John 20:11-16
“… Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou?”
She saith unto them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?”
She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus saith unto her, "Mary".
She turned herself, and saith unto him, “Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
******
The boldness of Mary in this scene really strikes me.
Here is this dear lady standing her ground in the midst of deep, all-encompassing, overwhelming grief!
Here is this dear lady standing her ground in the midst of deep, all-encompassing, overwhelming grief!
Jesus, the Messiah of Israel is dead.
Mary could have thought...
I’m at His tomb.
I’m at His tomb.
I’m just trying to honour Him in His death.
All this is against me.
Isn’t this often like us?
We may think all is awry, our dear one we long to see be saved is still lost, or wayward?! No matter how much I pray, and yearn for it it’s not working! What's the point of all this this prayer, this walk of witness before them, or asking for a job, a place to live, good health, etc... is it all too hard to ask? what does it accomplish?
Yet our tears are seen!
*****
Yet our tears are seen!
*****
Yes, she hasn’t given up!
She keeps seeking ..
Suddenly all becomes real - with a single word, the spell of engulfing heartbreak is broken with her name:
“Mary!”
The deep sorrow is no longer!!
“Rabboni, which is to say, MASTER!”
John 20:17-18
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her."
So let us do likewise.
Mary ran and told the others.
They may not have believed (which we see in various accounts).
Mary ran and told the others.
They may not have believed (which we see in various accounts).
However their reaction was not her responsibility, nor is it ours.
We are to sow the seed, and water in prayer.
We are to sow the seed, and water in prayer.
Faith is believing what God says He can do!
That’s what Mary did this Resurrection day, what a tremendous victory over sin and death our Saviour accomplished.
Joy unspeakable indeed!!
So let us go forth believing and living for Him, until He comes again or takes us home.
Joy unspeakable indeed!!
So let us go forth believing and living for Him, until He comes again or takes us home.
Do you know this Risen LORD Jesus Christ as your very own Saviour?
If you do not or are unsure, please read this post HERE
What a day of rejoicing that Resurrection day!
Let us rejoice in His Goodness and remember He sees the big picture! and I pray the precious Word blesses you. If it does, please bless me in return in a comment.
Let us rejoice in His Goodness and remember He sees the big picture! and I pray the precious Word blesses you. If it does, please bless me in return in a comment.
Prayer hugs Shaz in Oz.x
PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ... link HERE. Thank YOU to those who have done so already.
If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link.
Thank YOU.
6 comments:
Of, precious Shaz, what beautiful words of life today as you share this experience of Mary. Thank you for putting us "back into history" and imaging what we would do or say. Oh, to have heard our name like Mary did. Praise God the Father that Jesus, the Messiah is not dead but has defeated sin and death and risen from the dead...He is risen indeed. And I am so thankful that it is God Who draws His people to Himself and that I am to remain faithful in proclaiming the truth of God. Love you dearly, and I am so thankful that we are sisters in the Lord -- forever. xoxo
Beautiful post Sis, you know how I feel as I felt a comment over on your crafty blog. I pray that many people see this post! Our Lord is risen!!!! Praise the Lord! Oh how He loves us and I so hope people see that. Hugs, Brenda
Well written Shaz - life is certainly a challenge, and we need to remember that we are not in control, but the One who loves us is!! And you are so right, we are not responsible for others reactions!
Blessings
Maxine
I can only imagine Mary's overwhelming emotions when her name was spoken, to be able to bring this joyous news to all the disciples!!
That a faith and love for her Lord is so rewarded is a comfort indeed. Thank you for this thought provoking piece Shaz!
Praise the Lord for His wonderful finished work of salvation, and the joy that comes through Him - knowing He has risen from the dead and we now have victory through Him. It's so amazing how quickly from one day to the next we can be full of faith, as the disciples, then quickly fear and doubt when all looks bleak and everything's so different from what we expected, isn't it. I find that for myself, and these past few days have been difficult ones of discouragement for me in that way...it becomes so hard as you mentioned when certain prayers are long in being answered, though we're assured it's God's will what we're asking. God's Word is always what I need to bring me out and comfort me, though, and I thank you so much for keeping up faithfully with your posts on here. I'm rather a new believer in comparison to how many years you've been saved, so it's always a blessing to me to be encouraged by your posts.
Post a Comment