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?
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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.
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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.”
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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.”
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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!
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Yet our tears are seen!
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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.
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 say 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
7 comments:
Good morning sweet sister. Thank you SO much for this precious post. I read it out loud to Dennis as we're driving down the highway toward Portland, Oregon. We're looking forward to celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour tomorrow morning at the church Mandy and Brad were married in. We have many friends there that we haven't seen in several years. How blessed it will be to rejoice together tomorrow as we marvel at the empty tomb. He is not there, He is Risen! Hallelujah and Amen!
Wishing you a most joyous Resurrection Sunday.
Blessings always,
Betsy
Joy and Blessing to you, Shaz! Happy Easter :)
Have a Blessed Easter Shaz...Loz
Beautiful post Sis! I too, hope I would be one of the ladies coming early that morning with the spices...I've always felt the Lord with him and always will, I love this post for today and I pray many will see it as well. Praying your Easter is a blessed one my friend! Hugs, Brenda
A very Happy Easter to you Shaz. X God Bless You
Happy Easter!
What a beautiful sharing of such an incredible story that resounds deep within our hearts over 2000 years later! You shared it quite eloquently, and with beautiful pictures. I get chills when I think of what it must have meant to Mary when she heard Jesus call her name. Can you even imagine that? Oh my! Dear friend, I appreciate the beauty and depth of what you shared, and pray the special blessings of the Lord are with you this week!
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