10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
Mary didn’t come Easter morning to see if the tomb was opened or to see if Jesus’ word about His resurrection was true. She had no expectations of seeing Him alive. She doubted just like all the disciples doubted. He talked about resurrection, but no one really believed it.
She thought someone stole the body. In confusion and grief, she cried and sat there by herself.
When she peered into the tomb, she saw two figures in white sitting at the place where the body used to be. Her disbelief was made plain in what she thought happened.
13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She didn’t expect to see anything and didn’t recognize them as angels at the time. She didn’t believe, she doubted, but that lack of understanding wasn’t important. God saw her heart.
Do you have doubts? I do sometimes. Sometimes it is easy to trust human understanding instead of what is revealed in the Word of God. Even in my doubts I am in the hands of Jesus, since I have trusted Christ to save me. He holds on to me.
In the story of Peter walking on the water, His doubts caused him to look at the winds and the waves instead of keeping his eyes on Christ.
It isn’t important how much faith you have, but where that faith is placed. Mary had the desire to see Jesus and He gave her much more than what she even hoped or dreamed.
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (Which means Teacher).
I wonder how many times Jesus speaks to us and we fail to recognize Him because we are centered on our own pain? We don’t expect God surprises.
With a deep feeling of faith and loyalty and love she places Him as the object of her worship. It is the desire of her heart to honor her Lord. The resurrection changes doubts to desire to worship and serve Him. It provides for us hope of our resurrection as well.
The resurrected Lord didn’t look at her doubts, but her faith in Him and she was blessed with new discovery.
Application: This is the confidence of one who knew the Savior. Is it your confidence?
Prayer: Father God, I believe, help my unbelief. May my faith in you conquer all my doubts and fears and move me to worship with a pure desire to honor You.
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