Can you imagine the confusion in the angels' faces as they asked Mary Magdalene, "Woman, why are you weeping?" They had just witnessed the pinnacle of supernatural battles between the kingdoms of darkness and light, and watched as Jesus emerged as the triumphant victor. I don't pretend to be an expert on the emotional levels of angels, but I would imagine they were incredibly excited about the recent events! Commissioned with the privilege to announce to all who came to the tomb that Jesus had arisen and won the battle over not only His own life, but also that of all of mankind as well, they had to have been confused to find this woman sobbing.
"They have taken away my Lord," she explained as the reason for her tears. Didn't she hear anything Jesus had been preaching these last couple of years? Weeks even? Did she want Him to stay dead? Of course He's not going to lie in a stone box! He's just won the most epic battle of all time! People in love say the craziest things, for truly, she must love Him deeply to weep that way.
And then Mary turned around, and looked right at Jesus. What mirth He must have had in His eyes as He waited excitedly for her to recognize Him. He gently asked the same question the angels did, "Woman, why are you weeping?" But still, she did not know Him. She looked right at Him, heard His voice, and still assumed Him to be someone else because the brokenness of her heart and the pain she felt blinded her from seeing the very one she was looking for. I can't help realizing I've done the same thing.
How many times have I sat so consumed by my frustration, pain, and confusion, that I don't even recognize Jesus when He's right in front of me saying, "I'm right here, waiting for you to come to Me so I can comfort you." The truth is, He's never far away and always ready to take me into His arms and show me more of His overwhelming goodness. I just get so caught up in my own world and emotions that I forget sometimes and begin crying out, "Where are you?! I can't find you Abba!" And then, when I'm still enough to listen, the best part comes. Just like He did with Mary, He calls my name. Suddenly I'm reminded that He's right there, that He's never left and never will, and that all those things I was worried about don't matter, because He's in control.
No one calls my name quite like he does either. He doesn't just speak a title that I've come to recognize as referring to me. His call speaks to the deepest places of my spirit and stirs up a royal identity that He put in me. It is an intimate and gentle touch on the most vulnerable and raw places of my being that says, "I know you, I've seen all of you and I delight in you."
His goodness continues to amaze and overwhelm me.
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