Beloved
In this time between Easter and Pentecost Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20). Heaven prepared a sound and light presentation inside the grave – with real angels – just for her!
She traveled with Him for 3 years – hearing Him saying several times that He will rise again on the third day.
Mary
- Had very little or even no faith in what He said. Simply following the culture of the Jews, Romans and Greeks – none of them believed that the body can be resurrected.
- We’re grieving about a dead Jesus.
- Have given up all expectations that the present will ever change. “I saw with my own eyes how He got killed”. After all – reality is reality. Seeing is believing. My current circumstances will never change. Like it is now it will be forever.
- Telling the living Jesus that He is dead.
- In our time would be admitted to a mental institution because of seven demons in her. Society has probably given up on her.
Interesting that Jesus asks her why she is crying. Did He not know? Does He not know everything? Not because He did not know the reason for her tears but because He wanted her to give Him access to her tears / her world. This is where transformation starts – allowing Jesus into your tears. “Everybody is sitting next to a pool of tears” (Trevor Hudson).
Her world – as well as the world around her – changed when she heard her name : “Mary”.
Realising that :
Her pedigree or discipleship performance thus far does not disqualify her to be NOTICED. She would never find Him if He did not reach out to her. No respectable CV with appropriate talents, not even thinking Jesus is alive.
NOTICED – and then – sent to others : “Go and tell My brothers”. Sending a woman – their testimonies were not even accepted in court.
Mary – the first eyewitness, the first convert, the first missionary, the first disciplemaker.
Easter questions for interested disciplemakers? Would you
Listen to Mary?
See potential in such people in your sphere of influence – a dark past – a cultural Christian – with no or very little faith?
Send the unsendable?
Jesus did!
Blessed Pentecost!
Johann Theron