Time Out
for God
Devotional
Ministry
By Danna
Appleby
The Resurrected Christ “I have seen the Lord!” John 20:18 The disciples never quite understood who Jesus really was. Many others questioned His divine Words. Judas had betrayed Him. The Jews said He spoke blasphemy because He claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate washed his hands of the matter. Peter denied Him three times. He was forsaken by his own. Soldiers mocked Him as though He were a common criminal. He was crucified between two thieves. A soldier pieced His side. Demons no doubt rejoiced after He took His last breath. The earth shook and darkness covered the earth. The veil in the temple was torn in two. The Son of God was dead. It was over. Or was it? It looked hopeless for the early Christians as the body of Jesus was taken from the cross and placed in a borrowed tomb. A large stone was then placed over the entrance and soldiers were commanded to stand guard. Their Master was gone. Things would never be the same. A few women prepared spices to take to His grave on the first day of the week. They were alarmed that the stone had been rolled to the side. Panic stricken, Mary Magdalene ran to Peter and John and told them that they had taken away her Lord’s body and she did not know where they had placed Him. Both Peter and John ran as fast as they could to get to the tomb. Had someone taken their Master’s body? Why would anyone do such a thing? It wasn’t long before everyone knew the truth. It was just as Jesus had told them when He walked among them that he, the Son of Man must be lifted up so that all men could come to Him. (John 12:32) The devoted Mary Magdalene didn’t leave to go to her home as the disciples, but stayed at the tomb. As she wept and bent over to look inside, she saw two angels sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the foot and one at the head. The angels began to question her why she was crying and she told them the same thing she had spoken to Peter and John -- that they had taken her Lord’s body away and she did not know where they had put Him. It was then that Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing there. He spoke to her, but she still did not recognize Him. He said, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” At first she thought it must be the gardener and she repeated the same thing she said before to Peter and John and also to the angels. As soon as Jesus said her name, “Mary” she knew it was Him. She could never forget that voice, the kind, gentle voice that came from the One who had changed her life from the very first time she met Him. The strong One who had commanded seven demons to leave her and she had been indebted to Him from them on. Oh my, what a difference Jesus had made in her life! No wonder she was devoted to Him. No wonder she stayed at the cross! No wonder she loved Him like she did. No wonder she wept bitterly at His tomb. No wonder she was adamant that someone had taken her Lord’s body and put it somewhere that she did not know. Jesus told her not to hold onto Him for He had not yet returned to the Father, but to go and tell His brothers that He was “returning to His Father and her Father and to His God and her God.” (John 20:17) In other words, Jesus told her to, “Go tell!” Mary Magdalene no doubt took off in a hurried fashion so she could do just as Jesus had told her and to tell the disciples the Good News. I am sure that she must have run through the door of the house in a flurry and everyone must have wondered what the disturbance was. It was then that she said to them, “I have seen the Lord!” There were other times that Jesus appeared to the disciples on different occasions and even breathed on them telling them to “receive the Holy Spirit.” We can rejoice today knowing that Christ is alive and that He arose from that cold, hollow grave. We can shout hallelujah because the grave could not hold His body and death could not claim Him! He is alive! Praise God for the Resurrected Christ! Prayer: If you have never accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and would like to, then pray this prayer: Father I come to you as a sinner. I ask you to cleanse me from all of my sins by the precious blood of Jesus. I ask you to come into my heart. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead on the third day. By faith I believe I am born again. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. |