Thinking on the events of the first Easter and the accounts in the four Gospels it struck me that those involved and I have much in common. We both had been told things by the Lord yet we didn’t really comprehend their meaning at the time. We saw Him do marvelous things in our lives and the lives of others, yet we weren’t quite sure that things He said would really occur. Sometimes they just seemed so far beyond what we had seen before. It’s not that we believed Him unable to pull it off, but for some reason we had problems seeing it in our mind’s eye – and because of that we had problems recognizing it when it happened in front of us.
Jesus had told his followers that He would be crucified and rise from the grave on the third day. Those same people had seen him perform miracles and even witnessed Him raise others from the dead. They believed it able to happen, but had issues conceptualizing it actually taking place – and they had problems recognizing it when it actually happened.
Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb to find stone rolled away and the body gone. The account in Luke chapter 24 says that she was “perplexed”(NKJV) by what she had found. The account in John chapter 20 lets us know that she initially thought that someone had taken the body and hidden it.
In the midst of this confusion two angels appear and bring things in perspective for her by reminding her of what Jesus had said would happen and announcing that it had – that Jesus’ body was not there because He Had Risen. To solidify this reality for her Jesus appeared to her and spoke to her, removing all of her confusion and despair. (I tend to believe that confusion is that region between faith and unbelief, but that’s a subject for another time.)
What a beautiful picture of the lengths Jesus will go to help us understand and receive what He has for us. His love, His patience, and His thoughtfulness toward each of us are amazing. He showed them all to Mary Magdalene, to Peter and to me. He’ll show them to you as well.
Your situation may seem impossible in your estimation, but that doesn’t make it impossible for God. Jesus said so in Mark 14:36 –
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.
Jesus said this while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, shortly before his arrest. He knew He was going to be whipped, beaten, and hung on a cross till He was dead. He was counting on God’s ability to raise his beaten body back to life. He had placed His trust in His Father, and that all things were possible. He placed His trust in His Father, and in what His Father had said of Him, and to Him.
What are you dealing with and what has the Lord said concerning it? It may seem improbable in the natural order of things that it can work out in your favor – but that doesn’t make it impossible for God. His hand at work may not be instantly recognizable to you, but keep in mind it wasn’t to Mary Magdalene either. That didn’t change the fact that God was more than able to fulfill what He had said. (As Peter spoke of in Acts 2:22-33)
I began to reflect on different times in my life where situations arose that I had an assurance from something Jesus had said – love those red letters – and while I didn’t doubt He was capable I honestly couldn’t see how it would come to pass. When things did begin to fall into place I sometimes didn’t recognize it as such. He lovingly brought me along the same way He did Mary Magdalene:
- He reminded me of His Word. The two angels reminded Mary of what Jesus had said regarding His crucifixion and resurrection. His Word, the Bible, reminds me of what He has said.
- He speaks to me by His Spirit. Jesus spoke to Mary and removed all her confusion. I love how in the John chapter 20 account Jesus speaks her name and she understands. No long dissertation, just hearing Him say her name in that familiar tone, voice inflection, warm emotion – that’s all she needed to hear.
Notice that He came to Mary to bring her understanding and peace. He has done the same for me many times. Let Him do the same for you today. He can make your Easter memorable too!
