The Risen Christ Is With You

Today’s meditation is based on John 20:14-15, Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” (ESV)

Jesus rose from the grave on the third day just as He had predicted to His disciples. When we study the way the disciples of Jesus, and those close to Him responded to the risen Christ, I am sure we will be able to learn some important lessons from their experiences.

1. The woman who was sorrowful

Early in the morning this woman (Mary Magdalene) mentioned in the verses above, hastened to the tomb on the third day, with the spices that they had prepared for the body of Jesus only to find that the body of Jesus was not there. As Mary Magdalene stood weeping near the grave, the risen Lord Jesus stood right beside her. The reason for her deep sorrow was that she did not know that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. While the Lord Jesus was with His disciples, oftentimes He spoke to them about His death and resurrection, but somehow the fact of Jesus’ resurrection could not be comprehended by them. No wonder then that when Jesus was crucified on the cross and He died, they grieved, felt defeated, and were overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness. Mary Magdalene did not realize that the man standing next to her was Jesus, and assumed it was the gardener. Her love for Jesus was so great that she actually asked Him to tell her where the body of Jesus was, so she could bring it back. Mary Magdalene loved the Lord immensely, but her faith was weak, which was the reason for her deep sorrow and tears.

Let it be implanted deep in our minds that Jesus defeated death, and He is very near to us. We too like Mary Magdalene are unable to recognize the presence of the risen Lord who is just beside us only because we are overwhelmed by so many things that are happening all around us. It is at those times that we forget that the Lord who overcame death is really close to us. If we claim to love the Lord Jesus, but do not have faith to believe His word, we too like Mary will be crying though the Lord is close at hand.

Stop crying, God will reward you

We read in Jeremiah 31:16, But the LORD says, "Stop crying. Don't fill your eyes with tears. You will be rewarded for your work." This message is from the LORD. "The people of Israel will come back from their enemy's land. (ERV)

Mary Magdalene may have thought that it would be impossible to see Jesus as He had died and was buried, and hence there seemed no hope for her.

You may be in tears over several difficulties that you are going through. You may be wondering as to why God is allowing these trying circumstances in spite of your faith and trust in Him. If you feel broken, the Lord is commanding you to stop crying, and to not let sorrow overwhelm you. God reminds you that there is a reward for your work. The Lord further comforts us with the thought that the Lord will deliver us from our enemies, all those who turned against us, and will restore back to us all that we have lost.

There are parents who are crying for their children, and hoping that those who have gone astray will return back. The Lord assures you that they will surely return from the clutches of the enemy. God will also reward you for your work, and instead of weeping, rejoice and be bold knowing that the risen Lord is right beside you, and He will bring restoration.

2. The disciples who were sad and discouraged

We read in Luke 24:13-16, “That same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to the village of Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. As they were talking and thinking about what had happened, Jesus came near and started walking along beside them. But they did not know who he was.” (CEV)

In this incident these two men who were disciples of Jesus were walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus with much grief and confusion. They had probably come to Jerusalem with high expectations, and now were returning with deep sorrow that Jesus had died. Jesus came and started walking with them on that sorrowful journey.

Never imagine that when you are going through times of deep sorrow that the Lord has abandoned you, for the fact is that the Lord is with you on your journey.