John 20
"11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Mary Magdalene was weeping because she thought someone had taken Jesus away and she didn't know where He was. She came into the garden where the tomb was early in the morning. Imagine her surprise and dismay when she saw the stone was moved back and Jesus was not there. She ran and told Peter and John that someone had taken the Lord out of the tomb. After they looked into the tomb, the disciples went back to their own homes and left Mary there alone. Mary looked into the tomb and saw two angels standing over where Jesus had lain. When they asked her why she was crying, she answered that they had taken away her Lord and she didn't know where He was. When she turned around, she saw Jesus standing there but she didn't recognize Him. He asked her why she was crying and who she was looking for. She thought He was a gardener and told Him if He was the one who had moved Jesus' body she would take it away if He would show her where it was. As soon as Jesus said her name, she knew who He was!

What a beautiful picture of love and devotion. Everyone else had gone home, even after discovering the body of their Lord was missing. Mary Magdalene was the only one who was crying and seeking His body. He meant so much to her she was not willing to give Him up, even in death. The absence of Christ is a reason for great sorrow and distress! But Jesus was alive. He was right there with her in the garden. I'm sure she wanted to stay there with her Lord but He asked her to go tell the others that He was alive and was going to ascend to His Father.

How anxious are you to be with Jesus? Do you seek Him out every morning? Would you miss His presence if He departed from you? Would you know His voice if He spoke your name? How many others have you told that He is risen and ascended back to His Father? He is deserving of our complete love and devotion and nothing less! If we love Him, we will want Him to be near us. If we are truly devoted to Him we will be able to feel His presence and hear Him when he calls out our name. We will tell others He has risen and it will be obvious to them in the life we live everyday that He is our Lord!

I HOPE YOU WILL MAKE TIME
TO BE ALONE WITH HIM THIS WEEK!

LOVE, MEME

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