a portrait

of

jesus

A PORTRAIT OF JESUS -

GIVING HOPE TO A GRIEVING WOMAN

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary’.”  John 20:16

Jesus had healed Mary Magdalene of 7 unclean spirits. On the day that He cast out the demons, He not only changed her life forever, but she became His devoted follower, not leaving His side despite the dangers that accompanied Him. We find her at the cross with Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary’s sister and John. Three days later, we find her at the empty tomb, fearing that someone had stolen the body of her Lord. This suddenly compounded her grief over the loss of the one she called Lord. Mary ran to get Peter and John and tell them someone had stolen her Master. She returns with them, weeping at the entrance to the tomb, when Jesus appears. She does not recognize Jesus, supposing Him to be the gardener. When He speaks to her and asks her why she is crying she still does not recognize Him; her grief is great, her expectations dashed, and her hope is all but gone. Jesus recognized the pain that she is in and says only one word, her name, “Mary.” She can hardly believe her ears! Could it be? She recognizes the compassion, the tone in his voice and knows instantly it is her Lord! “Master,” she exclaims. Overcome with excitement she throws her arms around him and hangs on for dear life, she does not want to let Him go. Jesus interrupts her embrace gently with these words, “No…do not hold me now, I have not yet gone up to the Father. Go and tell my brothers that I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” In great excitement, Mary is off to tell her brethren the good news ~ HE LIVES!

Mary stood by Jesus in His darkest hour and He came to stand by her in her grief. Mary watched Jesus suffer and could do nothing to ease His pain, but He would not stand by and keep her in agony. He had seen her tears and wanted to wipe them away. Jesus saw her hopelessness, and would not leave her in despair. He would lift her up and give her hope, a hope that would stay with her throughout her lifetime and see her through anything that would come her way. HE LIVES! His promises are true! He loves me! In the hour of Jesus supreme triumph, He did not shout His victory from the hilltops for the world to see. Instead, He went to a grieving woman who desperately needed to hear Him say her name…to see his face…and to feel His embrace. He gave her the desire of her heart and in doing so, He gave her a living hope, one that she would pass on to others. HE LIVES! He is Risen Indeed! D. Mathewson