Jesus,
I come to you in the quiet of this new day, often like Mary Magdalene—with a soul full of questions and perhaps even with tears in my eyes. I, too, stand before the tombs of my fears, losses, and uncertainties.
“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb.” (John 20:11)
As I bend over into my own emptiness, I, too, search for signs of hope. Sometimes, they are but fleeting glimpses of Your presence, like angels who remind me that the space is not empty, but transformed.
“And saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.” (John 20:12)
Your messengers ask me the same question: “Why are you crying?” And my answer is often the same as Mary’s, full of human helplessness and focused on my loss. “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put him.”
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.” (John 20:13)
Lord, open my eyes, that I may recognize You
And then, something incredible happens. You Yourself come to me, standing right beside me, yet in my sorrow and my focus on the past, I often fail to recognize You.
“At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” (John 20:14).
You ask me: “Who is it you are looking for?” And I mistake You for the gardener, for a random passerby, for anyone else but the Risen God. I search for solutions in the world, while You, the Solution Himself, stand before me.
He asked her, “Woman, 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.” (John 20:15)
But then, You speak my name. Not in a general way, but personally. And in that one call, everything changes.
I recognize Your voice; I recognize You, my Teacher and my Lord. All my searching ends in that one, holy moment of recognition.
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”) (John 20:16)
I am sent to bear witness to Your resurrection
You do not let me cling to You in the past, but You send me forward. You send me to my brothers and sisters with the most beautiful message: He is not here; He has risen.
You remind me that Your Father is now my Father, too.
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17).
Give me the courage to be like Mary Magdalene today. Let me go and bear witness with my life: “I have seen the Lord!”
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. (John 20:18).
You are the God who turns my mourning into dancing.
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” (Psalm 30:11)
Thank You for the promise that no tear is in vain and that You will swallow up death forever.
“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8)
In this faith, I begin my day, with hope for the day when there will be no more pain, for the old order of things will have passed away and You will be all in all.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
Amen.
10 Full Christian Movies You Can Watch for FREE (Right Now!)
4.8K views