I saw a former co-worker the other day that I haven’t seen in years. It took me a minute to place him, and he totally failed to recognize me until I spoke up (I’m currently sporting a beard which I didn’t have back in the day). Odd how we fail to recognize those we once knew well.
Mary Magdalene failed to recognize Jesus when she turned away from the empty tomb. Shocked by this transcendent event in a catastrophic week (and by angels keeping watch), she didn’t realize Jesus stood before her.
Until he spoke her name.
Immediately she awoke and turned to Jesus. Next she ran to the disciples with the news—I have seen the Lord!
Mary walked with Jesus and knew him as a close friend. But in such distressing circumstances, she failed to recognize him. I don’t fault her at all. Rather, she pushes me to wonder how and when I fail to respond to Jesus?
Often in life’s challenges Jesus is near, but I stand oblivious. In fact, I fail to even look as the fog settles in. I need the Lord to to raise my eyes from lousy circumstances over and over again.
Even today, Jesus speaks my name and your name in the midst of our pain and hardships. May we have the wisdom of Mary to lift our eyes and see.
John 20 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022
Photo by Dominik Lalic
This is Bob, by the way
Amen Dave! Thanks for the timely word!