Easter Re:Verse reading–John 20:1-18 (day two)
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” vs. 15a
They each came with an expectation. Whatever they thought of the divinity of Jesus before, now he was just a body to be prepared for burial. They expected a body, a dead body. Nothing in their hearts or minds could comprehend any other scenario. So when Jesus meets them he directly asks who they sought. They were looking for Jesus, but only as they expected to find him. Do you see the inherent problem there? Searching for Jesus on our conditions or agenda will only confuse us all the more when he stands in front of us challenging our expectations. They meant well, they really did, but their good intentions kept them from truly seeing the Savior. Perhaps we need to seek him as he is, not as we expect.
Re:Verse reading – 1 Samuel 13:1-14
Mary Magdalene just wanted her Lord. She was simply seeking Jesus. She was not only weeping for the loss of Jesus but was inquiring where he was carried. Her love for Jesus was so deep and beautiful. She sought Him when He was living and after He died, from life to death and to the final resting place. What is a truly gracious soul!
We can weep and let go. Just like Mary, we all may find it so hard to let go of the old past to lay hold of reality eventhough reality is a satisfying experience. And when we don’t completely let go of the past, we surely will not be able to fully embrace what is or what will be and will end up staying at the same we have been. Letting go probably was hard for Mary because it means letting go of her expectations of how things should have been done for her Lord whom she knew and loved. She probably did not know about the resurrection and did not expect a new Jesus. She was disappointed and probably was confused of what happened to the body of Jesus. It takes courage and vision to let go of the familiar to realize the change that is taking place.
These quotes below can serve as a reminder when we are caught between what was and what is!
“Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.”~~Sonia Ricotti
“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.”~~Sonia Ricotti
I have been in situations that were hard to let go but without letting go, we cannot move forward to the future. Change is difficult for anyone but change is unavoidable. Accept what is and have faith in what will be. We are the only one with the power to let it go and realize what the future can and will deliver! Jesus’ resurrection helps us realize that our past will not define us. What defines us is what we will become! May the Holy Spirit help us become whom God wants us to become!