What compels a group of women to rise up “very early in the morning” after the Sabbath …
… to go to the tomb,
… to anoint the body of an already buried Christ …
… not even knowing how they would move the stone at the entrance? – Mark 16:1-3
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Their anguish at the loss of Jesus must have been devastating.
“For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” – John 20:9
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Why is it that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, when His disciples were all gathered together elsewhere? Could He not have appeared to them first?
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Surely that early morning walk to the tomb these women made, to provide the only remaining service they could give to the body of their fallen Lord, friend, master, and teacher … was motivated by pure love.
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And perhaps it was the unfailing love and devotion of these women …
that motivated the Savior to show himself first to Mary.
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It would seem that perhaps Jesus even rearranged His schedule, changing His plans, and delayed His ascent to His Father in Heaven (John 20:17)
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just so he could appear to Mary,
comfort her,
end her sorrow and suffering,
uplift her,
and endow her with the blessing of knowing,
and the message of sharing
that “He is risen!”
.
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Surely there is a lesson for each of us in Mary’s example.
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Perhaps Mary had faith in these promises …
“
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” – Proverbs 8:17
… and …
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:17
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Mary was the first to KNOW … to really know that Christ had risen.
And that great blessing came because she loved Christ enough to seek Him
unfailingly,
early,
with all her heart!
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We too have this promise …
That if we love Him,
if we seek Him …
seek him early …
seek him with all our hearts …
… He will come to us,
comfort us,
uplift us,
ease our suffering,
give us knowledge,
make us witnesses.
… and we shall find Him!
And we too will declare with Mary, that He is risen!
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Thank you Mary for your example.
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Image credit – “Mary sees the resurrected Christ” – churchofjesuschrist.org
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