JUNE 5

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

*** ***

John 1:9-10

“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.    He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.”

Romans 10:13

“For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Psalm 40:16

“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”

Isaiah 35:5

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”

Psalm 121:1

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?”

*** ***

We will be reading from a book by Erwin Lutzer, President of Moody Bible Institute.  It’s a short book about Christ’s sacrifice for us.  It’s called simply, “For Us.”

*** **

John 20:1-16

“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.  Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’

 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.  So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.  And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,  and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.  Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.  Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  Then they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’   She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’    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?’   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.’    Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’   She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher).”

*** ***

Mary Magdalene stayed at the foot of the cross until the bitter end.  She saw where Jesus was laid.  After the Sabbath, she was the first one to the tomb, and when she saw it empty, she was so grief-stricken even angels couldn’t rouse her hope in the resurrection.

Nor did she recognize Jesus when she saw Him.  Looking for a dead body, she couldn’t comprehend a live one.  Until God opened her eyes.

To see Mary outside the empty tomb is like seeing ourselves.

We can stand our whole lives looking at Jesus and never see Him unless God opens our eyes and hearts to the truth about Him.  Then we can choose ~ will we accept Him or not?

When she recognized Him in the garden, Mary fell to her knees and called Him ‘Master.” Her life is a picture of how anyone with a personal and honest relationship with Jesus can go from the depths of sin to being a useful member of God’s family.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord