LETTING GO IN ORDER TO FIND HIM AGAIN

LETTING GO 

IN ORDER TO FIND HIM AGAIN

By Dwight Cunkle

Old ideas and things hindered Mary until Jesus spoke her name.

Is there anything we need to let go of from the old in order to go and find Jesus? One evidence of resurrection life in us is a deep love. Jesus’ love for us. Our love for Him. And our overflow of love to share with his brothers and ours in the church and the world.

John 20:11 Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she 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 Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

John 20 twice Mary was asked at the tomb, “Why are you weeping?” yet not unto Jesus spoke her name did she recognize it was He, risen from the dead.

  

How much I let weeping and fear caused by my own limit and lack of perception, hinder me from seeing Jesus, and being aware of His good gifts, especially in trouble or difficulty.

She fell in adoration and relief and held his feet-the very feet she had poured perfume on and dried with her hair. But he asked her to go and share the news with his brothers. And so she went.

Do we love Jesus? As we speak of seeking our Father’s heart this year, are we asking, seeking and knocking for a deeper knowing of Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Mary went to the tomb. She needed closure in her grief. Are there things we need to close and let die so that we can find him whom our soul loves?

Mary then had to let go of the risen Jesus because He was going to the Father but had waited to personally awaken her heart from despair. Are we holding on to any form of religion or worship or memory of religious experiences and even good encounters with Jesus? Could He be personally speaking to us to awaken our heart and mind and spirit into a fuller union and new obedience? 

Can we hear Him speak our name with love and respond to his love?

When we have this fresh and full encounter with the living, present Jesus, we will see his love for his brothers and we will also go and tell them.