Mary stood weeping outside the tomb ... she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ... Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [John 20:11,14,16 ESV]
What a scene! Movie writers could not have painted a more dramatic picture.
What would it have been like to have witnessed the crucifixion?
And in what reality could anyone imagine something like the resurrection?
I wonder. What would it have been like to:
- find yourself so engulfed in grief that you did not recognize Jesus?
- to hear the Lord speak your name?
- to fall down and embrace the feet of Christ?
I think that I would have, like Mary, wanted to stay and talk with him.
Jesus offers this response to Mary and to us:
"Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers ..."In a sense, the Christian life is all about letting go and embracing new plans.
We do not know how long Mary hung on to Jesus' feet.
Even so, it is suffice to say that she wanted to linger longer.
But Jesus had great plans for Mary - transformation was taking place.
A new season was beginning - everything would be different.
Her story was radically changing - her future was taking shape.
Mary would be the very first to preach the good news of the resurrection.
The resurrection that she witnessed was taking hold of her life.
In a sense, the resurrection she witnessed began a personal resurrection.
Lord, help me to let go of the past and embrace the plans that you have for me.
... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
Yes, Lord I too want to cling, and linger...but you have a message that needs to be told. Help me to put feet to it....
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