Read John 20 – Early on Sunday morning… Of all the inconceivable hallelujahs, this takes the cake! Mary Magdalene found the stone had been rolled away fromJesus’s tomb, and RAN to tell Peter and John. They go to check things out. It is all still a mystery, but when John saw the wrappings and the neatly folded head covering, he believed.
Beloved, that is faith. Jesus told them he would rise from the dead, but to see the tomb empty and trust that is what it meant is faith.
Meanwhile, Mary is crying. She sees two angels, one at the head and the other at the foot of where Jesus had been lying.(20:12)* Then Jesus appears and asks her why she was crying, but she doesn’t recognize him and thinks he is the gardener. Perhaps she is so grieved, and this is utterly beyond her comprehension, or perhaps he looks different, yet when he speaks her name, she KNOWS!
That night, Jesus suddenly appeared to the disciples, except Thomas who came in later. They tried to tell him, but he needed to see for himself. Eight days later, Jesus joins them again(despite the locked doors), and invites Thomas to touch his wounds. Beloved, notice Jesus does not shame Thomas for this, and trust he will also meet you right where your heart is and equip you to believe too.
Our chapter closes with a promise :30. May your day be filled with thoughts of it and may you make this a Hallelujah day!🙌
*John 20:12 – a bonus round! “She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.” (:12) My bible study teacher just drew something spectacular out of this verse and I have to share it!
First, notice that Mary was not overwhelmed by the presence of these angels. Most biblical angelic encounters are met with fear, but Mary’s heart was only set on Jesus.
Next, see the parallels between this and the cherubim placed at each end of the mercy seat, Exodus 25. Now the cherubim covered the mercy seat which was on top of the Arc of the Covenant. The Arc of the Covenant held the tablets of Law which Moses was given on Mount Sinai (the law we all fall short of), a jar of manna divinely preserved (God’s provision for Israel’s complaint), and the staff of Aaron (God’s sign against rebellion). These items all represent our human inability to honor the Lord who is holy, and His provisions (Hebrews 9:4). Jesus is our perfect atonement, and the actual angels stood over him like the cherubim stood over the Arc of the Covenant. Wow, right? 😇
Judy in the Sky 