Monday, January 23, 2012

Why are you crying?

I've said this before, and I will say it again today, I'm not a Bible Scholar. I don't have any degrees in theology or Biblical Studies. I have a poor memory and cannot quote scripture. And the truth be told, I'm not even good at remembering where verses are located. But I DO love the Bible and God's Word to us. I'm basically a blank slate. 


The Lord says to me frequently, "Be available", and that's what I try to do; to
be available in my life, time, and finances, but mostly be available so that He 
might speak. This morning as I sat here at the computer, knowing He had
something to say, He spoke a verse to me. John 20:14. 
No, He didn't quote it to me. He just gave me chapter and verse. When I 
opened my NIV Bible this is what I saw.

"At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus."


google images



Here it is in context of the surrounding verses:



John 20:10-18

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
 11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept,
 she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she *saw two angels in white
 sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had 
 been  lying. 13 And they *said to her, Woman, why are you weeping?”
 She *said to  them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not 
 know where they  have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned
 around and *saw Jesus  standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
 15 Jesus *said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
 Supposing Him to be  the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried
 Him away, tell me  where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 
 Jesus *said to her,  “Mary!” She turned and *said to Him in [a]Hebrew,
 “Rabboni!” (which means,  Teacher). 17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to
  Me, for I have not yet  ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and 
 say to them, ‘I ascend to  My Father and your Father, and My God and your
 God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen 
 the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

My first question was why this particular scripture, and He said it
was because someone was crying and needed to know that He was 
there with them.

I've read this so many times and the thing that I realize is that sometimes we are
so distressed  in the circumstances that we do not realize or feel that God is with us. 
Mary Magdalene had  just seen Jesus crucified and put in the tomb. Yes, the
circumstances looked the worst; Jesus was gone from them, brutally murdered, and
the plan that they had all hoped for seemed destroyed. Her future and that of all the
others in Jesus' circle was in dire jeopardy. The future  seemed hopeless and bleak.
How did they move forward when their leader, their king and friend was gone...?

Have we all not felt like this at times. We are in the middle of horrible circumstances
that cause us to lose sight of the fact that even though we do not see how things can 
work out Jesus is there with us, He is in control, and He has a plan. And His plans are 
always "good". Lately God has been reminding me to not let what is happening in the
"circumstances" blind me from the fact that He is there with me. 

I know Mary was distraught, overwhelmed with grief and sadness, and fearful and 
uncertain as how to proceed. But a voice from behind her called her name and when 
she heard that voice her attention turned from "herself" to realizing that Jesus was 
right there with her.

No matter what you are going through at this moment, Jesus is there with you. He
will listen to you and comfort you, and give you direction and peace. Sometimes He 
is speaking to us but we don't know that it is God. Get quiet and let Him speak to you. 
He is there with you, and loves you...and He does have the answers.

love in Jesus,

16 comments:

  1. Lovely truth - Thanks for reminding that God is always there with us no matter what.

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  2. I do so love my quiet time with the Lord, and have learned, after many a hard year, that He loves me and is always with me. Thank you Lord for that.

    So now, even when I sit and cry, and even when I do not know why, I do know, He is there, here, with me.... every minute or every hour of every day. What a wonderful blessing to know we are that loved and cared for.

    thank you for your word from Him today.
    blessings
    barb

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  3. Beautiful shared, Debra. Today I cry heavily for my good friend & fellow blooger, Kerrie (KerriesKornor). She is traveling with her husband his final steps on this earthly journey, that will end very shortly.

    Have a wonderful week ~
    TTFN ~
    Marydon

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  4. Thank you for this wonderfully, uplifting post.

    FlowerLady

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  5. Even when the answer is "no", it's not that He's denying us anything. It's because it's not what we really want or need...we just don't know that at the time. His perfect plan for each of us is unique. Sometimes I wonder if He reveals it to us on a "as needed" schedule to keep us from becoming too greedy in our desires.
    Like you, I can't quote book and scripture, but it doesn't stop me from fumbling through the pages...always seeking His voice.
    Great post Debra.
    Debbie

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  6. i, too, am not a reader of the Bible. but i do talk to God everyday... most of the time when i am knitting... i thank him for this talent that my family & friends appreciate... it's my quiet time of thoughts & reflections (along with saying k1, p2, yo, etc!)... i'm following several Christian bloggers which i find inspiring! ... thank you for your posts, debra~

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  7. Beautiful insight Debra.
    I enjoyed your thoughts on this portion of Scripture and the way you presented it. Thank you for being obedient to the Holy Spirit in sharing what God revealed to you though it.
    If we could all grasp the fact that what we see and 'feel' isn't always the truth of what God is trying to show us.... and if we could see a bit better with spiritual eyes....
    Blessings my friend,
    Deb

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  8. I have lived long enough to have had many situations in my life that have been very bad to go through, but God's plan was revealed to me later. This is a lovely message and a reminder that God is ALWAYS there watching over us. I'm a new follower, Debra!

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  9. A Beautiful lesson to be reminded of ~ So Happy I stopped by ~
    xox

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  10. I was just checking out your vintage inspiration Friday, and then
    remembered you also had another blog with a Bible study.. I just read your
    message today, and how it hit home. The Lord brought me to your post today,and what a blessing it was to ready your words..especially the last
    paragraph, " No matter what you are going through, Jesus is there with you, etc." Thanks for writing this great message.. It brought me out of my own pain and miseries, and just gave me hope and a will to move on and deal with all of the struggles that are going on right now in my life.
    May God Bless you for this ministry.. Many thanks, Dawn.

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  11. I don't think I accidentally stumbled upon this post and message... I believe I was lead to right to it at just the right time...
    Thank you and God bless:)

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  12. Debra ~ Lovely....Proverb:25:11: A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Blessings, Ella

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  13. I like your blog theme of walking with God; my post today on my blog is about "the path and prayer." Nice to meet you here; I am your new follower.

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  14. Thank you for this post, Debra. It is really beautiful. I needed to read this today.
    xoxo,
    Mary

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  15. To bad we are not privileged to read from the pen of Mary M her story and journey as a disciple of Jesus, like John she would comment I'm that disciple whom Jesus loved. Thanks for the pictures they with your comment touched me. I hope to use them as I preach Resurrection this week to touch hearts.

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