Today’s Reading: John 20:3-29; Psalm 99
When Mary Magdalene saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, she ran to find Simon Peter and John. Their response was to immediately set out for the tomb to see for themselves. John, the disciple Jesus loved, arrived first. He paused at the entrance of the tomb, stooping so that he could look inside. He could see the linen wrappings just by peering inside, but he did not step into the tomb. When Peter arrived, he entered the tomb without hesitation.
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home. – John 20:6-10
All three of these followers of Jesus were seeking to find their master and friend, but it wasn’t until Peter and John entered into the tomb that they saw, believed and understood. When they positioned themselves closely to where they expected Jesus to be, they were able to gain an understanding of the scriptures that had foretold Jesus’ resurrection.
THEIR POSTURE ALLOWED THEM TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THAT JESUS HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” – John 20:11-13
Mary had not yet positioned herself to understand, and so she was grieving what she thought had happened to the body of Jesus. But when she stooped down so that she could look in, she saw and heard two angels inside the tomb. Mary turned away to leave, even though she still did not understand. She saw someone standing there and mistook him for the gardener. It was not until she heard the voice of Jesus calling her name that Mary fully turned her attention towards Jesus. Mary responded to the voice of Jesus by turning to face him.
MARY’S POSTURE ALLOWED HER TO FACE THE TRUTH OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION.
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. – John 20:17-18
Mary found the disciples and gave them Jesus’ message. Jesus had entrusted this woman with a word for his followers, and she obediently responded to the calling she had received, speaking the truth of Jesus’ resurrection to his closest followers so that they could understand that Jesus was alive.
MARY HAD POSITIONED HERSELF TO HEAR FROM THE LORD, AND IN DOING SO SHE RECEIVED A WORD FROM THE LORD.
That evening Jesus appeared to the disciples. He showed them the wounds on his hands and side, and they believed that it was Jesus. Their time with Jesus increased their faith, preparing them for what the Lord was calling them to do next.
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” – John 20:21-23
IT WAS WHILE SPENDING TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD THAT THE DISCIPLES RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THEIR CALLING.
But Thomas was not with the disciples, so he was still struggling to believe that Jesus was alive. He needed to see Jesus, to touch Jesus, to experience Jesus firsthand in order to believe.
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” – John 20:26-29
ARE WE POSITIONED TO EXPERIENCE THE LORD FIRSTHAND TODAY?
As Christmas approaches, let’s intentionally position ourselves to hear from Jesus. Let’s posture ourselves to receive a word from the Lord and to respond to what He is calling us to do next. I do not want this Christmas to slip by without saturating myself in the presence of the One whom we are celebrating. My prayer is that you hear from the Lord in a fresh new way this Christmas as you position yourself to experience Him firsthand.
Exalt the Lord our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy! – Psalm 99:5