Did you ever feel disappointed about a friend? Mary must have been, until she discovered the truth - a truth that can make you very happy too!
Mary had witnessed the cruel murder of her best Friend. She had watched as His dead body had been hurriedly placed in a tomb. But then the priests had ordered that the tomb be sealed and guarded for three days!
The three days passed. At dawn on the fourth day she came hoping to be able at last to put spices on the body, but she was horrified to find the grave opened and the body missing!
“As she wept, she bent over to look inside the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been... 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.’ At this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” (verses 10-14.)
Not only was Mary’s eyesight blurred, by her tears, but her mind was darkened by her unbelief. She wasn’t looking for a living Jesus although He had often said He would rise again after three days in the grave.
Perhaps you are like Mary - wanting only a lifeless body of Christ, and believing that someone else must take His place. Some believe they have found that lifeless body of Christ in the sacraments, and are content with other men taking Jesus place as their priests! Like Mary, those people are in a sad and sorry state of unbelief!
Jesus spoke to Mary. “‘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.’
“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’
She turned towards Him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher).” (verses 11-16.)
When Mary Magdalene discovered the risen Jesus she immediately lost all interest in finding a lifeless body! Nor would she need someone else to take Jesus’ place as her priest and teacher! Jesus was ALIVE; alive forever! (Hebrews 7:23-28.)
Remember, no one can ever take Jesus’ place, nor is His lifeless “body” anywhere to be found! Jesus hasn’t failed! Jesus was put to death for our sins, but God raised Him again, and exalted Him to Heaven’s throne to be the One and only Priest and Saviour for mankind. (Acts 2:31-33. Hebrews 1:1-3.)
Mary would have liked to hold onto Jesus and not to risk losing Him again! But “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” (verses 17-18.)
Jesus could now enter Heaven to appear in God’s presence as Saviour and Advocate of all those who trust in Him. (Hebrews 9:24-28.)
Meanwhile we, like Mary, are to go and tell that Jesus is living and is to be trusted as Priest and Saviour.
Don't YOU go on behaving as if Jesus is dead! Don’t insult the Living Lord Jesus today by looking for other priests to take His place, and worshipping a lifeless “body of Christ” along with them!
Read of Mary’s wonderful discovery in John chapter 20, verses 10-18.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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