JESUS SPEAKING
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni! (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.’” (John 20: 15-18.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
Mary arrived at the tomb to find the stone missing, along with the body of Jesus. She was immediately grieved and began to weep. She had journeyed toward the gravesite expecting to find the lifeless body of her beloved Lord; but instead, she encountered the living God. Upon seeing Jesus, she embraced him tightly; as if to never let him go. He urged her to lighten her grasp (his return was not permanent; he would soon ascend into heaven.) His true place was not on Earth with them, but with his Father (and their Father.) Mary was instructed to deliver this news to the despondent disciples who were hiding out for fear of being killed themselves. Having seen the resurrected Lord, she became the very first messenger of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Throughout history, many, like Mary, have gone to the tomb expecting to find the body of Jesus; and like Mary, they too have found an empty vault. Every generation has had its share of doubters; people who believed they could do what no one has ever been able to do […] disprove the resurrection of Christ. In the early 1900’s an English professor and journalist named Frank Ross set out to investigate and refute the claims that Jesus rose from the dead (as a journalist, he was skilled in examining the credibility of sources.) As the evidence mounted, Frank was faced with the awesome truth; the accounts matched; the archaeology was sound, and all of the witnesses were credible; Jesus Christ had in fact risen from the dead. So, rather than writing a book that disproved the resurrection, he entitled his book, “Who moved the stone.” In the book, Frank Ross, the new convert and faithful believer, sought to bring what he had found to the rest of the world.
The work that began with Mary on that third day has continued through every generation and continues even today. Anyone who goes looking for Jesus Christ in a dusty tomb is looking in the wrong place. He is very much alive, sitting at the right hand of God. Both Frank Ross and Mary Magdalene, set out to find Jesus; and they both found what they were looking for. Have you gone looking for the messiah yet? Have you made your way to the tomb and looked inside? You too, will discover that Jesus Christ is not dead, but alive. Upon finding him, it is then your duty to let others know that there is a God, and that they can discover him too.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we believe that Your Son has risen from the dead; and that He is seated with you in Your Kingdom. We desire to carry this message to others; give us the strength to bring the gospel to the whole world. May we be bold in declaring that we have encountered the risen Lord. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 