Devotion 4/20, Do You Recognize Him?
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”. John 20:16
Through her tears Mary saw two angels in the tomb. She explained why she was crying, and then she turned around and saw Jesus there but didn’t recognize him. It’s hard to know why she didn’t recognize him. Maybe her vision was clouded by tears. Maybe Jesus’ resurrected body was somehow different. Whatever the reason, she mistook him for the gardener and asked where Jesus’ body had been taken. And Jesus simply called her by name: “Mary.”
How often do we encounter Jesus and not recognize him? Maybe we are talking with a person in need. Maybe someone is calling us to repentance. Maybe someone is showing us kindness or grace. Or maybe Jesus is present in a random event. Maybe our vision is clouded by busyness or worry, fear, or inattention. But then Jesus, who knows everything about us, gets our attention, and we immediately know he is there. We can tell that he loves us and is always with us. We know that his grace is for us, and that he calls us to follow him in everything we do.
Jesus, thank you for knowing us and calling us to enjoy new life with you. Your mercies, love and grace bless us every day. We give all praise and glory to You, King of kings and Lord of lords. Through your resurrection, we have victory over death and a hope for eternal life. Thank you Jesus, Amen.
Leave a Reply