So last Easter I started wondering about all the people who saw and talked with Jesus after His death and resurrection. I was amazed at how many (way more than 500) and the depth of the relationships. Then I started writing meditations beginning with the first--the last one in this post. I haven't known what to do with them (there are 3-4 dozen), so I think I will start another blog to put them all in. Hope you want to hear about all those whose lives intersected with Jesus for 40 days after his death and resurrection. Hope to see you there too!
Wonder Filled the Air
John 20:10-18; Mary
Magdalene, whom Jesus had delivered from seven demon; She knew Him even before
John the Baptist was murdered, Even before the 12 were sent out.
We’re at the garden tomb
now.
Peter and John had just left
the empty tomb,
To tell unbelieving disciples that Jesus
Was not there,
Could not be found inside the empty tomb,
Mary Magdalene had stayed
behind, overcome with sorrow,
Alone
with her grief,
Weeping, overflowing,
Letting
her grief wash over her.
Wondering
where His body was,
Wondering where HE was,
Upset she didn’t know, missing Him so.
While she was crying, she
peered in to look
Where
Jesus’ body had been.
There
she saw a startling vision,
More real than any video or computer screen could ever convey.
Where Jesus’ body had
been, and no longer was,
Sat two angels in white!
One at the head, One at the foot,
They
asked her why she was crying,
showing how they cared for her.
With a broken, sobbing heart she told them,
“They have taken away my Lord, and
I don’t know where they have put Him.”
Then, hearing someone
behind her,
She
turned around, and saw--
Someone
for whom she was weeping,
But she didn’t know it was Him,
Jesus’ loved her so much,
felt her pain so much,
He first
gave her the chance to first speak her heart, her pain,
“Woman,
why are you crying? “
That’s
twice she’s been asked the same question.
Then He also
asked with the Voice of love,
“Who are you looking for?”
That’s two questions, from the Voice
of Jesus.
This time she thought
she’d figured it out—it must be the gardener!
So she
asked, with hope
IF he had carried Him away,
AND where he had put Him.
She even volunteered to go
get Jesus herself,
Her
hungry heart was yearning just to see Him again,
To know where His body was, that He
was OK.
Then His Voice of love broke
the stillness of the moment,
Broke the sadness of her heart.
“Mary” was all He said.
Her heart was filled with
wonder,
She turned to Him and shouted in Aramaic,
overcome with joyful surprise,
“Raboni, Teacher!”
She held on to him then
and there,
Clasped His feet.
She never wanted to let Him go.
Her tears were not to anoint Him,
But tears of joy, that He was alive.
Jesus saw her passion,
and gently stilled her heart with
Words of explanation
Words of instruction
Words of life, full of love and hope.
His Words must have been
gentle,
“Do not
hold on to Me. I haven’t yet returned to the Father.
Go instead to My brothers and tell them,
I’m alive!
I’m returning and ascending to My
Father and Your Father.
To My God and Your God.”
So with bended, pounding
heart Mary went to his brothers, His family.
She had no more sorrow, grief or pain—only excitement!
She told
them, I have seen the Lord!”
She was the first to see him and to hear His
Voice!
She told them with amazement what He had said to tell
them,
“I’m alive.
I’m returning,
To My Father and your Father.
To My God and your God.”
So Words of Wonder filled
the air that day.
And Wonder
now filled the disciples’ hearts
With pounding hearts of rampant hope,
Wonder that
He was returning
To His Father, their Father,
To His God, and their God.
Wonder to know His love would soon be with them again.
To see the Face of the risen Lord,
To hear His Voice for themselves again,
To be with the One they had lived
for and adored,
Alive forever more!
So let wonder fill the
air around you, and fill your heart with hope and joy--
Jesus is
alive!
He is risen indeed!
He’s
waiting in the garden for you now.
Father’s Voice
Jesus, always listening for Father voice
….In
the womb,
….In
the tomb.
Jesus, always hearing Father’s voice:
Beloved Son,
Lamb of God.
Jesus, Always One with Father’s Spirit,
Thinking of me, oh, Lord,
thinking of me.
With a Loud cry
….Your breathing
had stopped.
Earthly life ceased,
Your work on earth was done.
….Your
human body gave up life,
Hearing His voice,
Moving with His Spirit
Did you cry, Lamb of God?
For me, oh, Lord, for me?
Your human body
….Dead
human body,
No human life
No human voice
How could you do this?
You
were the Sinless Man.
Now dead for spotted sinful ones,
Like
me, oh, Lord, like me?
Spirit’s gentle whisper,
….Arise,
Son of God!
Spirit’s gentle call,
….Let
your buried body begin to breathe!
Through
me, oh, Lord, through me.
Arise, Son of God, it’s time to go forth!
….It’s time to hear Father’s
voice again in Yours!
Beloved
Son
Lamb
of God
,,,,Your Voice as One,
For me, oh, Lord, for me!
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