Sunday Shorts: A Woman's Courage

John 20:15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” (NIV)

I admire the courage of Mary Magdalene and how she remains committed to Jesus, even in the face of adversity. After Peter and John have gone back into hiding after seeing the empty tomb, Mary stays in the garden because she is concerned about where Christ’s body may have been taken. She still wants to tend to the crucified corpse; she still wishes to restore dignity back to the broken body of Jesus. Mary is determined to find out what happened, so she does not leave the garden unlike the other disciples and women.

Her bravery is also evident when she is confronted by a stranger. She does not yet know that this is Jesus standing before her, she thinks that he is merely the gardener. Mary could have run away like the others at that moment, but she is still determined to carry out her mission. If anyone knows where Christ’s body has been taken, it will surely be this gardener whom Mary presumes to be working in the tomb area.

Mary does something dangerous here: she asks the gardener if he knows where the body is and tells him that she will take care of it elsewhere. Her love and devotion to Jesus are evident in those words and her simple request. Remember, Christ has just been crucified by the Romans and His death was welcomed by the religious authorities. Mary is choosing to side with a criminal and a failed Messiah; she is placing herself in a precarious position, one that could get her flogged by both the Romans and the temple soldiers. She does not care about her own safety; all she wants to do is the right thing.

I love the fact that Jesus makes Himself known to her at this point, just by speaking her name. She may not recognize the stranger because there’s something holy and transfigured about Him, but as soon as He says her name, Mary instantly knows Christ’s voice. It’s a wonderful moment when faith vanquishes fear, love lets go loss, and devotion disables death. The voice of Jesus does that for Mary and her courage reconnects her to the Lord.

This is Easter for me because it encapsulates the Good News of the Gospel. Beyond death, there is Christ and a miraculous moment waiting for all who love Him: to hear Jesus personally speak our name. We may leave the surly bonds of Earth one day, but in that same second of transference from mortality to eternity, we will first hear the voice of Jesus say our name and then be welcomed into God’s Everlasting Kingdom.

Point to ponder: What does Easter mean to me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this Day of Resurrection speak to us personally and restore us to Your love individually. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your words and ways, as well as Your love and life. Help us to reach out to Your abiding Spirit and know that we will never be abandoned, forsaken, or alone, in this world and the next. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Easter Sunday devotion - Mark 16:1-8

Easter Sunday

Gospel Reading: Mark 16:1-8

Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. (NIV)

            And so Holy Week ends where it had begun – with women carrying perfume to cleanse and anoint the body of Jesus. Throughout this whole week, most of the men have failed Christ but the women have remained loyal, devoted, and courageous. They loved Him dearly and so they wanted to allow Him some dignity in His death, of which the Roman soldiers and religious leaders had mercilessly robbed Him.

            Quietly and faithfully, the women approach the tomb together. They are probably still weeping and supporting each other physically. They know that this is the right thing to do. The ministry and gifts of women are going to supersede the power and brutality of men. They come out of duty, as well as compassion. They come because they are women called by God to serve His Son.

            And then this beautiful moment in the whole of history occurs. The women are told that Jesus is not there, but that He has actually risen from the dead. They are utterly surprised and naturally fearful. They do not understand what has happened, but they have become the first people on Earth to receive this wonderful news. The ministry of Christ continues in the hands of those who loved Him best. Their lives are never the same again and our world is changed forevermore.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Point to ponder

How have women sustained, shared, and advanced the ministry of Christ in my life, across history, and around the world?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise You for this special and most glorious day. We thank You for the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life that come through Your grace. And we are also grateful for the love, devotion, and ministry of women in Your Church and throughout the world. In your Holy Name, we joyfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You’ll be made very welcome.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Easter drawings called “Easter 2018.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Easter.

After Easter - Mark 11:8-9

Mark 11:8-9 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

            Just like the joyful crowd on the first Palm Sunday, we had an amazing Easter worship service at church yesterday. Over 200 people attended which was one of the biggest Easter congregations that we’ve had in years. The atmosphere was wonderful, the music was beautiful, and the message was meaningful. It was a great occasion and a great blessing to our wee church. To see so many families from in and out of town, joining together in worship is something that always touches me; to have them do it at Easter makes the whole celebration so sacred and inspiring.

            The same thing was happening all over the world. People gathered together to worship and praise Jesus as their Savior and Lord. To realize that almost 2 billion people across the planet were celebrating Christ’s glorious resurrection is staggering when you think about it. If only we could fulfill that potential every week in church and every day in the world! The Earth could be healed of its brokenness and perhaps we could all live in peace. After all, Easter is a celebration of God healing sin and death with the actual resurrection of His Only Son. If we could only apply that in our relationships with other people, as well as our relations with other nations, what a dear and blessed planet this would be.

            Let’s try to apply Christ’s message by becoming Easter people to a Good Friday world. Let’s continue this blessing He has given us yesterday and take it to the people we encounter, the situations we experience, and the challenges we face this week. If we do this, then I believe we will begin to see the world around us change for the better with the goodness of God.

Point to ponder

How did Easter affect me yesterday? How can I extend its blessings this week?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise You for being our Savior and Lord. Just like the crowd of the first Palm Sunday, we are joyful for Your presence among us and for the hope which Easter brings. Help us to positively share these blessings with all whom we encounter this week. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s Easter drawings called Sacred Son Rise. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Son Rise.

Holy Week devotion: Easter Sunday - John 20:1-18

Bible reading: John 20:1-18

Today’s verse:                  John 20:17

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

            Today is the greatest day of celebration on the Christian calendar. This is the Day that Christ was raised, so we should be glad and rejoice in it. This is the Day which makes our faith so important, not just for us, but for the entire world.

            As we read the Gospel narrative about Christ’s Resurrection, we should make time to re-pledge our hearts to Him, re-connect our spirits to God, and renew our hopes and dreams in Jesus, our Risen Savior and Almighty Lord.

            We are Easter people, redeemed from our sins by Christ’s sacrifice and restored to God’s Everlasting Kingdom by the power of Christ’s Resurrection!

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

How will I share my joy in Christ with the world today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the world and our Almighty King. We rejoice in You this Day and forevermore. Amen.