April 2, 2018 Monday

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.” (John 20:1-10 NKJV)

            Mary Magdalene had not only found forgiveness through Jesus but had her life radically changed and given meaning.  She became an indispensible part of the ministry of Jesus as one of the women who supported and assisted those following Jesus.

            These women were the ones who went to the tomb to complete the burial arrangements which were incomplete in the hurry to get Jesus buried before the Sabbath began.

            Mary Magdalene discovers the body of Jesus is missing and goes to alert the disciples who only then come to see.  While the men waited in fear of reprisals from the Jewish or Roman leaders the women went out to serve the Lord who had served them!

            Some will say women have no place as leaders in their congregation but they forget Jesus taught that we must be servants because God serves us!  Here we see the leadership of these women who serve their Lord even at the risk of their own lives!

            Jesus recognized their service as they were the first to see their risen Lord and the first to receive a command by Him.

            Some may be wondering why they do not experience the presence of Jesus in their daily lives.  They struggle to truly believe what they do not experience.  How can they experience the presence of Jesus?

            Like Mary Magdalene you will only experience the presence of God in your life when you get out of where you feel safe and seek to serve God.  Reading the Gospels we see Jesus was where the least, last and the lost were so that is where we must go to look for Jesus.

            As you read the story of Jesus leaving the 99 sheep to help the one lost sheep have you ever wondered why Jesus left the 99 alone?  Maybe Jesus expected the 99 to follow Him!

            After a long Easter weekend I crashed but did not burn.  Bonnie and I had our devotion and a time of prayer together.  Easter is a time of new life and a reminder we can come out of tomb and into life with Jesus.  I pray that for my family and indeed all those God loves.