Have you seen Him?

Reading from the gospels this morning about the resurrection of our Lord captivated me once again about the stunning revelation that Jesus had conquered death's dark tomb. He was alive! Oh, to have been Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as they went to visit the tomb that morning. To approach the tomb in the stillness of the early morning as the morning sun began to dawn, grieving and sad...not understanding why their Savior had left them in this gruesome, agonizing way...weeping, clinging to one onther, and so shattered by their loss.

Then suddenly there was a great earthquake! The fear that must have gripped their whole being! Just three days earlier, the earth shook and rocks split apart as the Savior breathed His last breath. And now again? What could be happening? But then the Lord came down from heaven and appeared to them. His face shone like lightning and His robe was as a brilliant white. The guards who saw Him fainted!

But, Jesus spoke to her...He said "Mary!" Immediately she knew His voice as he called out her name. It was the voice that had offered forgiveness to her soul, the voice that she grew to love, the voice that she would recognize above any other. She didn't faint at His presence, or run away in fear because she knew Him. She fell at His feet...the same feet that were annointed with her oil and washed with her own hair. It seemed like just yesterday...how could this be? She clung to Him and she worshipped Him.

Jesus must have comforted Mary with His reassuring words, "Don't be afraid, dear Mary...go tell others that I am alive!" The women were frightened as they left the tomb, yet as they ran, they kept remembering the words of their Savior, "Do not fear". As Mary's fear was overcome with great joy, she exclaimed to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" Yes, she had just seen Jesus!

Soon Jesus appeared to His disciples in Galilee, just as He said He would do. When they saw Him, they too, worshipped Him. Did they fall at His feet in humble adoration? Did they stand in awe and amazement and disbelief that what He had promised had just come true? Did they exalt His name as they praised their risen Savior? Maybe all of these, yet the account recorded for us says, "but some of them doubted!"

Have you seen Jesus...heard Him call out your name...recognized His voice...seen His radiant glory...grasped His feet in worship? Maybe you are still running in fear...maybe you are one of those who is still doubting...maybe you are struggling in disbelief of His presence.

I pray that you have the heart of Mary Magdalene who had met her Savior...who had been forgiven so much, therefore loved Him so much. Mary didn't understand what was happening in her grief and in the fright of the moment, but she knew Him...she loved Him...she trusted Him! She remembered what He had told her would happen...and she had just seen her Jesus again! What joy replaced her fear!

Have you seen Jesus? He is alive and you can trust His promises in your grief, in your doubting moments, in the confusion of your world. Run to Him...worship Him...go tell others of His marvelous grace and His unfailing love!