Recognizing Jesus


Prayer: There is no One like You, Dear Lord Jesus. You suffered all for me and won the victory over death for me. You alone deserve all glory and honor,  worship and praise. It will be a glorious day when I get to join with all of creation in praise of Your name. For now, I already get to praise You and serve others because of all that You have done! You are and awesome God. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Read: John 20:1-21
http://www.esvbible.org/John 20:1-21

Think about It: Another Lenten season draws to a close and we enter the time of celebration. As we ponder these events which are both horrifying and wondrous, the truth of our salvation is revealed over and over. In the rereading of the story, we are transported back to that miraculous day when Jesus rose from the dead. Our imagination is captured by the people who witnessed that event first hand, not the least of which is Mary.

This particular Mary was not the mother of Jesus. Mary was a very common name during that time, with upwards to 1/3 of all girls bearing some form of the name. All three of the women who went to the tomb that morning were named Mary. The Mary who remained in the garden, distraught by Jesus’ missing body was the sister of Martha and Lazarus; the one who sat at Jesus’ feet and learned of His love for her. Jesus needed only to speak her name, and all is suddenly revealed to her. Just imagine her overwhelming joy, confusion, and excitement. Unless it happened to you, perhaps it is too difficult to experience vicariously. It would have been a complete sensory overload. She does what any of us would do. She embraces Christ.

We can still embrace Christ today. Perhaps not His physical form – yet. But we can embrace His love, protection, salvation, truth, and grace. We can embrace a lifestyle that leads us deeper and deeper into His love and enables a servant’s heart within us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be Jesus to those around us, embracing them with that same love.

Thank you for hanging in there with this process for the season. I hope that you have been challenged, picked up a few new bits of knowledge, and had a few insights as the Holy Spirit worked through God’s Word. I pray that you have allowed God more and more space in your life over that last 6 weeks. May you continue to embrace the love that Christ has for you, proven on the cross. May you walk each day in the path He has laid out for you. May your focus be on His face alone, allowing Him to guide and direct your every move. The Easter season brings life, peace, and the joy of an eternity spent with the God who loves us so dearly. Celebrate this gift and share it with your world.

Prayer: In Christ Alone
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
©2001 Thankyou Music Keith Getty, Stuart Townend CCLI#551204

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