Day 41 :: Mary Sees Jesus
“Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” John 20:15(11-18)
When my niece, Amy, was young, she was hugely attached to a cuddly toy which she conventionally named “Teddy.” She wouldn’t go anywhere without her precious friend. On arriving at the airport after a Spanish family holiday, Amy realised her precious companion had been left behind. There were many tears. There was much sorrow. The sense of loss written all over her young face. Adamant she wasn’t leaving Spain without her cherished Teddy. The 50 Euros my younger sibling paid for the round trip to the hotel and back becoming almost inconsequential as sorrow turned to joy when Amy was reunited with her invaluable stuffed toy.
In a garden around 2000 years ago another female was in great sorrow. Her anguish? She earnestly sought the body of her Master and Teacher. On her second visit to the empty tomb, Peter and John had snooped around and left. Mary, however, is adamant she’s not leaving. Loitering around weeping in agony, desperate to find her precious Lord. Teary eyed and sobbing she peers into the tomb. Unstartled, Mary converses with two angels who ask “Woman, why are you weeping?” She explains her loss then another voice can be heard.
“why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” (v15)
Thinking it was the gardener in her confused, broken-hearted state, she pleas desperately for her Lord’s body. “Mary” came the reply. Immediately Mary recognised Him. “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name” (John 10:3). “Rabboni” she responds in delight. Her aching heart now turned to exuberating joy. Instead of finding a dead Master and Teacher, she’s face to face with the risen King Jesus!
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning”
Psalm 30:5
In a heightened emotional outburst, she clings to her Saviour. Not wanting to lose Him again. Mary had no need to cling to the Lord, she’d see Him again over the next forty days. Her purpose now was missional.
“Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (v17)
Mary gladly obeys and announces to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” The happiest of endings to the darkest of stories.
Often seasons of our lives can feel like the darkest of stories. Times of heartache and pain. Seasons of anguish and sorrow. Worries, anxieties and stress consume many hours of our day. Like Mary we might not see the Lord’s presence at first. Asking where is my Lord? Yet He is right there with us. The risen King Jesus who Mary clung to is in the middle of our every trail.
He’s the same yesterday, today and forever orchestrating every moment of our lives. His purposes not fully understood, yet every thread of every season, the darkest of days, being woven together in His eternal plan. If we are the Lord’s, it’s an impossibility for us to lose Him. Why? He will never leave us or forsake us. Our names are written on the palms of His hands. Cling to Him in the darkness. Press into Him in the storm. Until that glorious day when our sorrow turns to joy coming face to face with the risen King Jesus!
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning”
Psalm 30:5
Passages to read: John 20:11-18
A thought to remember: If we are the Lord’s it’s impossible for us to lose Him.
A question to ask: What difference does it make to our daily struggles looking through the lens of eternity?
A song to sing: He Will Hold Me Fast