“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
On Easter morning, over 2000 years ago, Mary Magdalene, along with some other women, brought spices and perfume to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. But the tomb was empty– the body was gone. They ran to tell the disciples, “They have taken away the Lord.”
After Peter and John had checked out the evidence and gone home again, Mary remained by the tomb, weeping. When she heard a noise behind her, she turned and saw a man standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.
“Woman, why are you weeping? Who is it you are looking for?” he asked.
Thinking he was the gardener she said,
“Tell me where you have laid him and I will get him.”
Why did Mary not recognize Jesus? I think it’s the same reason I often don’t recognize the living Christ in my life. Mary expected to find things as she had left them–a dead body wrapped in linen cloths lying in a tomb. Her expectancy was too small.
Aren’t we like that too? We come to Jesus in prayer but we really don’t expect to see any changes.
Not until Jesus called her name, did Mary realize that Christ was alive and standing right beside her.
“Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary hurried home to tell the disciples,
“I have seen the LORD!”
How her face must have glowed! She knew everything would be different from now on.
Like Mary, I want to shed my doubts and welcome the miracle of resurrection life. I want to live in expectancy: What new thing is the living Christ going to do in my life (my family) today?
by Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission
FURTHER READING
• The Easter Story – the story of Christ’s death and resurrection
• Easter Articles
Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/
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