Open Your Eyes; Jesus is Standing Right in Front of You
“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).” – John 20:14-16 NKJV
At the Tomb
As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior this weekend, I took some time to reflect on that early Sunday morning at Jesus’ tomb. Though other disciples visited the tomb as well, John 20 recounts that Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after He rose from the dead. They all went to the tomb looking for Jesus on that first day of the week, only to find an empty tomb, for He had risen just like He said. 🙌🏾
Bewildered and stricken with grief, Mary Magdalene sat outside the tomb and wept. And I’m sure this wasn’t a faint, one lingering tear down the eye type of weeping. She probably wept bitterly—you know the type of tears that roll all the way down your neck, the tears that cloud your eyes, rendering them swollen and in pain. It was probably that deep inconsolable type of despair because you see, two days prior, Mary Magdalene had stood near the cross when Jesus was crucified (John 19:25). She saw the blood, the nails in His hands and feet, the crown of thorns flung on His head. She had also ministered with Jesus previously and followed His teachings (Luke 8:2-3). Her Savior, her healer, her Rabboni (teacher), she thought, was now dead.
John 20 describes how her conversation with the angels about Jesus at the tomb was put on hold when Jesus actually stepped in and spoke to her. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Mary, at the time did not recognize Jesus. John 20:15 says she thought the man speaking to her was a gardener and proceeded to ask what he did with her Lord.
The Bible does not say exactly why Mary couldn’t recognize Jesus. It could be because of her grief and anguish, the tears in her eyes, or even the darkness of the morning. Jesus could have been standing at a far distance or maybe He did not look the same after the resurrection. Whatever the reason, all we know is that the risen Savior, the Master of the Universe was standing right there near her, yet she did not know it.
He’s Standing Right There in Front of Us
While we don’t know the reason why Mary didn’t know Jesus was standing right by her, metaphorically, this passage makes me wonder how many times we don’t know or even acknowledge that Jesus is standing right in front of us. Jesus is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere all at once. But how often have we been so preoccupied with something else in our lives—grief, tears, ambition, the pursuit of love, lust, our feelings, our significant others, or careers—(just to name a few) that we simply cannot see Jesus right there in front of us?
Now, some of those things I mentioned are good things, of course. But, anything that may keep your heart or focus more intently than Jesus can become an idol (I Corinthians 10:14). Sometimes we have to check ourselves (or have an accountability partner to correct us, in love) when we let the good things the Lord allows to cloud His sovereignty and authority over our lives. He still wants to know that we see and adore Him even with the blessings He’s bestowed upon us.
But how often have we been so intent on something else in our lives—grief, tears, ambition, the pursuit of love, lust, our feelings, our significant others, or careers—(just to name a few) that we simply cannot see Jesus right there in front of us?
Other times, circumstances can make us miss our loving Savior standing right in front of us. I can recall times in my life where I cried so hard my tears had tears! I’m talking pain that cut so deep I’d hit that messy, ugly cry and was not thinking about Jesus—only my grief. I’m sure we all can relate. Not that we don’t want to hear from our Lord, but the grief has pulled us in so deep that we’ve lost sight of His comforting arms. We simply cannot see the omnipresent Prince of Peace standing right there in front of us.
Called By Name
Mary didn’t recognize Jesus until He called her by her very own name. John 20:16 says, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).” When Jesus calls your name, you know it! Mary, as if awakened from a slumber recognized her Lord. And notice Jesus didn’t identify Himself. He didn’t say something like, “Mary, it is Jesus.” No, Jesus simply called her by name and she instantly recognized her Lord and Savior.
When Jesus calls you by your name, oh what a sweet sound it is!
When Jesus calls you by your name, oh what a sweet sound it is! Jesus knows us, intimately. God says in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you...” He even knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30). Isn’t it good to know we serve an omnipotent, omniscient God who knows us by name? A love so divine, He not only knows our name, but cares about the desires and concerns of our hearts (see I Peter 5:7; Psalms 37:4; Psalms 34:18; I Samuel 16:7; Psalms 139:1).
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Spending Time with the Savior
You know, this passage in John also speaks to me because Mary called Jesus, “Rabboni” or teacher. Perhaps, Mary knew Jesus’ voice when He called her name because she had been a disciplined student of His and had intently studied His teachings. In fact, Scripture notes her commitment to the Lord in Luke 8:2-3.
You see, the more we walk with Jesus, the more we spend time in prayer and in His Word, the more we know when He is speaking to us. May we never stop being a student of Jesus! The book, Experiencing God (2008) by Henry and Richard Blackaby and Claude King says, “You become familiar with God’s voice as you experience Him (pg. 139).” The authors also explain, “If you want to know the will and voice of God, you must invest the time and effort to develop a love relationship with Him (pg. 142).”
So I ask you today, how’s your relationship with the Savior? As you reflect on this season where we honor our Lord for His ultimate sacrifice on the cross for us, consider the condition of your heart. Are you investing in the time to really know the Lord’s voice? Are there areas of your life where you can sacrifice time to meet with the Jesus? Whom or what is getting in your way? What can you do this week to make time for your Lord?
I challenge you to open our eyes; Jesus is standing there next to you. He wants a genuine, loving relationship with you—the type where you know His voice and desire to be in His presence. He died on the cross for that relationship; He yearns to meet with you, His child. Why? Because He loves you with an everlasting, steadfast love. Don’t ignore His calling. He’s standing there with open arms ready to meet you where you are.
Key Verses
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:18 NIV
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” I Peter 2:9 NKJV
Meditation Song
Mandisa- "He is With You"
Blog post written by: Meredith B.L. Anderson, Ph.D.
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