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John

John 
Day 
Day 332

John 20:11-18 "UNAFFECTED BY THE PRESENCE OF ANGELS!"

Day 332 – John 20

UNAFFECTED BY THE PRESENCE OF ANGELS!

The angels of God had caused a great sense of fear to course through the veins of the Roman soldiers! They were initially so stricken by fear that they were “like dead men”. Soon they recovered and of course they had to report what they had just seen and experienced!

The women Disciples were also deeply impressed by the presence of the angels! They were awe-struck by the appearance of the angels! The words they heard reached deeply – to their very souls!

It is understandable if people trembled in the presence of angelic beings. They were holy. They were special emissaries of God. They were powerful spiritual beings! But for some reason, Mary was not impacted by their appearance!

ONLY JESUS! ALWAYS JESUS!

There was only ONE Person who could touch her heart and move her! That Person had now died, or so she believed! Who could ever replace His place in her heart? There was no one like Jesus! Not even a myriad of angels could make up for the loss that she felt in her heart! Who could understand the depth of love she bore in her heart for the One who delivered her from seven demons!

In this state of mind, Mary did not comprehend just Who had come alongside. She did not really want to talk to the two men in the empty tomb. She was not in the mood for idle conversation. Thus she turned her face away from the tomb. Once again, she entered into her private vale of sorrow.

John must have been deeply moved by the exemplary love that Mary Magdalene had for Jesus! That was the kind of devotion and love that all good disciples ought to give to Him. He had loved His Disciples dearly. How he must have wished that all could love Jesus as He deserved to be loved!

“Now when she had said this, she turned around
and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know
that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why
are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?'”
John 20:14-15a

Once again, the same question was posed to her! Wasn’t it odd that she should be asked exactly the same question, twice? Mary had already given an answer to the two men who had raised this question to her! She had spoken her heart to two complete strangers! Did they not understand what she had said?

“Because they have taken away my Lord,
and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
John 20:13

Mary spoke of her regard for Jesus! He was no ordinary Person to her! She had owned Him as “Lord”! She had more than just received Him as her Saviour! Jesus was LORD to her! Her heart would never, could never have anyone else as Master and Lord! She was devoted to her beloved Lord! She just had to know what happened to the Person to whom she had yielded her very soul!

The two men in the tomb had not been terribly helpful. They had not been able to tell her where Jesus was! She thought she had given the correct answer to the two men. Or had she? Whom was she seeking? Wasn’t it obvious that she was seeking the body of Jesus? Why raise this question – and two times over at that?

HOPEFUL FOR NEWS!

Perhaps, the new inquirer could offer better advice. Thus she spoke to Him with a hopeful heart.

“She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to
Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me
where You have laid Him, and I will take Him
away.'”
John 20:15

Mary was convinced that there was a conspiracy against Jesus! Had she not already seen evidence of the evil work of the conspirators? They had plotted and killed Jesus! How much farther would these conspirators go? Where had they taken Jesus?

Could this Person who spoke to her be touched by her grief? Could He help her somehow? Could He tell her just where they had taken the body of her beloved Rabbi! If only He would just reveal His whereabouts, she would take over from there. She would see that the body of Jesus would be properly cared for!

What would the enemies do with the body of Jesus anyway? He was now no longer a threat to them. They had killed Him. That was enough, wasn’t it? She would take His body off their hands! Surely this was not too big a request to ask! And ask she did!

“… tell me where You have laid Him, and I will
take Him away.”
John 20:15

A BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT OF TRUE DEVOTION

What a beautiful picture of true devotion to Jesus, Mary portrayed! Mary wasn’t putting on an act! She wasn’t impressed by the angels. Jesus, who had veiled His identity from her at this point of time, had not been able to take her mind off her devotion to her late Teacher! She had learned much from Him. She had followed Him as He traveled from Galilee to Judea. She had helped look after His meals, washed His clothing. She would have given her life for Him if called upon.

She had not been afraid to be identified with Jesus. She had stood as close as she was allowed to the Cross where Jesus was crucified! Her heart was wrenched as she witnessed how the soldiers drove ugly nails into His hands and feet! No one could compare with her beloved Saviour and Lord! How well do we love Jesus?