Meeting Jesus in the Middle of Your Circumstances

There's something about John's account of the resurrection of Jesus that really draws my attention. John 20:11-18 records a conversation between Mary Magdalene and Jesus that had made me think.

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning and discovered Jesus was no longer there. She goes back to tell the disciples. Peter and John run to the tomb to investigate for themselves.

Then we pick up the conversation Mary had with Jesus in John 20:11-18.

As I read the conversation, I'm struck by the relationship I see between Jesus and Mary. Mary wasn't just a part of the crowd that wanted to see what Jesus would do next. She followed Him because she believed in Him. One where all it took was for Jesus to say her name to recognize Him.

She was "outside the tomb crying," (John 20:11) when Jesus came to her. She didn't recognize Jesus at first. But, the moment she heard Him speak her name it all became clear. She knew exactly who she was talking to.

I think this is often our story. Something has happened that has caused us grief, pain, sorrow. We're "outside the tomb crying." We're focused on what we've lost, or think we've lost. When Jesus makes Himself known in our situation, we don't recognize Him in it. W don't realize He's right there waiting to comfort and strengthen us.

When we finally list our eyes, we hear Jesus say our name and that's when everything changes. The circumstances we're in may not change, but when we realize we're not facing them alone, that does change things. When we realize Jesus is walking every step with us that changes everything.

What circumstances are you in that seem overwhelming?
Are you focused on them? Or are you seeing and hearing Jesus there with you?

Receiving from God in Honest Prayer

The week leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday always brings me back to familiar passages of Scripture. Even in their familiarity there often seems to be something that I notice again - that challenges me.

I was reading in Luke 22:39-46, where Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was in anguish. Jesus' prayer in this passage was honest. He didn't shy away from expressing what He was really feeling.

I was struck by verse 43 as I read. It says:

"An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him."

I don't know if I've really paid attention to this verse before.

In the middle of His honest prayer, as Jesus was pouring out how He really felt to the Father, God sent an angel to comfort and strengthen Jesus. We can't know of that would have happened regardless. But, I think it's significant that it happened in the midst of His prayer.

It is when we cry out to God in our struggles that He meets us in that. And we experience His comfort and strengthening. When we admit our need, we're in a place of being open to that.

When we're busy acting like we have it all together, even if we don't, we're not in a position to receive anything from God. We likely don't even see the offer of it, because we're so busy maintaining our facade. But, if we're willing to admit and express our need to God, we get the privilege of experiencing His comfort and strengthening for what we're going through.

Are you honest with God in your prayers? 

Are you open to receiving comfort and strengthening from God for whatever you're facing?

A Life-Changing Encounter with Jesus

What would it look like for you to ask Jesus for what you wanted and needed unashamed of your request and undeterred by what those around you say?

What are you missing out on from Jesus because you've allowed other to silence your request?

These are two questions I was left wrestling with after reading of Jesus restoring sight to a blind beggar in Luke 18:35-43. There was a blind beggar sitting by the roadside when he heard that Jesus was passing by. The blind man cried out for Jesus to have mercy on hi. People rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he continued to call out to Jesus. Jesus stopped and asked what he wanted. Jesus then restored the sight of the blind man and he began to follow Jesus.

This blind man, whose name isn't given, knew what he needed and he knew Jesus could bring it. When he had the opportunity he cried out to Jesus for it. Even when others tried to get him to be quiet, he kept asking. And the result was getting what he asked for. The result was a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

The blind man received his sight because he refused to let others silence him. He continued to make his request for mercy known and it resulted in a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

What life-changing encounter with Jesus are you missing out on because you've allowed others to silence you request?

It's a sobering question to reflect on. Not to cause us regret, but to challenge us to stop listening to those who try to silence us.

Will you start asking Jesus again for the request you have that others have silenced?