A fresh encounter

The apostles all heard it. And from a woman. They probably didn’t believe her but I bet her face shone like the sun; shone like Moses’ did when he encountered God on the mountain. So there might have been a flicker of curiosity in them. But Mary, she was changed forever.

She was changed at her very first encounter with Jesus. He healed her from all those demons that demanded her attention and distracted her. She was healed and her life shifted to following Him. Forever grateful. And now set on staying close to Him. I bet during those years of following Him, with all that He had said and done; with every experience of walking close to Him, turning to Him, keeping her eyes on Him - she changed and grew in faith and love. I have to believe she became softer and gentler with herself and others. More gracious. More understanding. Living in the presence of His example.

I wonder, as she watched Him die, if she thought about all He had taught her and how He loved her, included her, interacted with her, and nurtured her into such a loving, caring person - was she grasping every detail in her memory, thinking she will not encounter Him again?

But wait…

“Come and see…”, says the angel. Matthew 28:6

Heart stopping amazing!

And then He appears before her. Some translations imply she even grabs His feet.

He is here!

Can you imagine what she is thinking now?

He sees me! He remembers me! He knows me and speaks to me! He even calls me by my name! John 20:16

Because He is risen! Risen for all time. Even our time. And your endearing relationship with Him can carry on into eternity.

Go! And tell the others. Matthew 28:10, Mark 16:7, Luke 24:9, John 20:2 They all record this message…

Jesus is alive! And you can renew your relationship with Him. Even now. Your relationship with Him can continue being nurtured by Him. It wasn’t just for Mary, the disciples, and those living in those biblical times when He was first present.

Yes! Jesus is alive and He longs for you. Longs for sweet fellowship with you too.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” - Matthew 28:10

Jesus says, “They will see Me…”

And may your face shine like the sun!