January 12 | John 20:11-18
- Dave Mann
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
A Personal Encounter with Jesus
By Dave Mann
The account of Mary at the tomb on Easter morning is a moving story. The first to see the empty tomb is a group of women. Mary is part of that group. Mary and the women go to the disciples and announce that the tomb is empty, but they do not yet believe that he is alive. (See John 20:2.) Peter and John run to see the empty tomb themselves. John believes. (See John 20:8.) Mary returns to the tomb.
This is where today’s text picks up the story.
Mary is stuck in grief and unbelief.
Entering the empty tomb, Mary sees two angels in white. Now, you’d think that seeing two angels in dazzling white would indicate that something marvelous has happened. But Mary is stuck in grief. She is caught in uncontrollable sadness. The angels ask her why she is weeping. Mary replies based on the false thinking that binds her. These thoughts, at this moment, leave no room in her mind for the possibility of the resurrection. She states that they—whoever “they” are—have taken away Jesus and she does not know where.
Mary turns to a man who has just arrived at the tomb. He asks Mary the same question that the angels asked her, “Why are you weeping?” Assuming him to be the gardener and therefore the most likely culprit of moving Jesus’ body, she responds, bound by the same falsehood, that she held when speaking to the angels, “If you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him.”
Sometimes we are so convinced of our perspective on life that we leave no room for what the Lord wants us to believe, even if it is good news or great news. What does it take to break us free from what is crippling us, from what is holding us captive?
Mary has a personal encounter with Jesus.
All that it takes for the Lord to crash through the false thinking that grips Mary is one word from Jesus – “Mary.” This is a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
When you have a personal encounter with Jesus...
When you understand that the risen One knows your name...
When your eyes are opened to see Jesus talking to you...
When you know that the resurrection is not just theory but actual reality...
THEN, everything changes.
Jesus is real. He is alive. He knows you. He is ready to act in power in your life.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you for not leaving me imprisoned in my own false understandings. Thank you for breaking through the walls of lies that keep me from believing the truth of your victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil. By faith, I see you standing before me. Lead me, Lord, in the power of your victory on the cross and through the empty tomb, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DAVE MANN
I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of seven. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.
Thanks, Dave. Need those thoughts. More so need to ABSORB them!
Had never noticed that the verses first say "Mary" and later "Mary Magdeline" AND that the words of the angels are the same as Jesus spoke.
Very powerful message....very emotional...
Coming to grips with "When you understand that the risen One knows your name... " is an awesome, exciting, scary, and humbling concept. Thanks for pushing the limits of my thinking about my relationship with God, Dave.
Then everything changes...indeed!