Today’s devotion is based on the Easter Message: Hope Revealed (Watch Here)
Recently we interacted with friends who received a diagnosis of cancer. With this diagnosis there is great uncertainty for the first weeks as one waits for the tests, pathology and other reports to be taken, read and returned. With the modern age of information at our fingertips, hours are spent reading up on the cancer, the possible treatments, the survivability rate, and much more.
Trying to digest all this new information disrupts emotions, work, time, and much more.
Why is it natural to seek out these answers?
Confusion brings uncertainty.
Clarity brings hope.
Once the answers are given as to exactly what type of cancer it is, where it is located, if it has spread and what the treatment options are, finally a bit of peace can begin to settle in. The information is distilled to the key components, the most of which is, “Can I survive this?” (in our friend’s case, it seems very much a survivable situation).
But we want that affirmation. We seek the confirmation. We seek clarity…fo clarity brings hope.
The followers of Jesus faced a lot of uncertainty and confusion the days leading up to the crucifixion and the day of the resurrection. Fear permeated the hearts of his followers as they fled when Jesus was arrested and huddled in a locked room the weekend that followed. Reports came in from the women (who by the way in that culture were not treated as trustworthy witnesses) that Jesus’ body was missing and that angelic beings reported he was alive. Peter and John went to the tomb to see for themselves.
But let’s focus on Mary.
John 20:11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Mary had a lot of confusion and sadness until the “Gardner” spoke her name.
It was Jesus.
In that moment, it was real. Jesus was alive!
In that moment, it was personal. Jesus lives for her!
In that moment, it was certain. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Perhaps we’d love to have Jesus personally appear to us to answer all our questions of life, give clarity on our concerns, and give us an unwavering faith.
As he told Thomas the week after his resurrection, “(John 20:29) Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We still may have some questions, some curiosities and maybe even some doubts, but what we do know is the certainty that Jesus lived, died and rose again to give you and me certainty. And with certainty, there is hope!
Apply: What questions of faith do the events of the resurrection answer for you? Maybe raise for you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving all of us so much that you go out of your way to ensure we have clarity as to who you are, what you came to do, and the impact it has on us. We are certain we are loved, forgiven, and made your children. This is what gives us certain hope! AMEN.