November 14, 2017. Matthew 28, Mark 16.

 

The women came to see the tomb where Jesus was laid, after His crucifixion. The tomb that was guarded and sealed under Pilates command. These very guards would shake with fear and became like dead men at the sight of the angel of the Lord. 

Now the two Mary’s who also loved and adored Jesus stood in fear and were confronted by the angel, not the guards. And they were invited to see for themselves Jesus Who they were seeking after.

(Matthew 28:6) He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The angel’s mission was to affirm that Jesus had risen. The stone wasn’t rolled away to let Jesus out of the now empty tomb, but to show His followers and to bear witness to others of His resurrection.

Because of what the angel shared and what they saw by remaining at the cross, the women left the tomb quickly with joy and with fear to share with the disciples.

These women were the first to know of the great news. All fear aside and doubt they worshipped the risen Lord, as they saw Him and were met by Him. Jesus had quieted their fears. We see that they are the ones chosen to be the first eye witnesses of the complete testimony of Jesus’ death, burial and now His resurrection. As His devoted followers they saw firsthand that the tomb was empty. 

As a follower of Jesus the relationship is already there and established by seeing and experiencing Who He is in ones life. Even when we fail or make the wrong choice-Jesus longs to continue to affirm our relationship with Him.

We are not disqualified as His disciples.

(Mark 16:7) But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

Oh the heavy heart Peter must have had, because of his previous denials of Jesus, before His death on the cross.

Jesus-the image of the invisible God will not always be seen by all right away.

(Mark 16:11) And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Oh that a heart of hardness  and unbelief be sweetly broken by Jesus, when seen by unworthy eyes. To then proclaim His story of the gospel to everyone! Thus fulfilling the great commission for those who believe.

(Mark 16:15) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Jesus is calling all too…. “See Me”!!

(Genesis 16:13) Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees!

You see Jesus is all about “us”! He doesn’t have a me syndrome attitude.

He sees us, hears us, knows us, loves and adores us, to set us free

He is the One who sees us-as he calls out to all to “See Me!”