Hope everyone had a blessed Easter. Ours was quite unorthodox and I missed all the hard-boiled egg hoopla along with the big dinner. Paul did see a live rabbit in our yard and declared it the Easter bunny. It's the first time in 15 years I haven't cooked all day and had a big ham, garlic cheese grits, asparagus, deviled eggs, angel biscuits, and a three layer cake with edible Easter grass and chocolate eggs on top! We did get up early for the sunrise service but it was "rainrise" instead and not at the beach as planned but at the church. The kitchen staff made a wonderful breakfast for all early risers and that was sure good. Sadly, the boys declared egg-dying and Easter baskets "too baby" so we lacked that excitement. Our dog usually eats all the eggs we hide anyway.
I'm almost ashamed to say it, but after church we went to town and our Easter dinner consisted of a burger and fries and then we shopped for a digital camera. I'm feeling the crunch this week as we are very busy. Early Friday I leave for Oregon for a women's retreat with, of all people, the Galloping Gourmet and author Bette Norberg!
But back to Easter. I took time and read all four gospel accounts starting with the tomb. It was like reading it for the first time. John is my favorite. Start at John 20:11 and you'll see what I mean. I find it very moving that Mary Magdalene was the first at the tomb. She had quite a past, remember. She was standing outside the tomb weeping and then she stooped and looked inside. Two angels were there but HE was not. Jesus stood behind her and he said, "Mary!"
My commentary says, "Perhaps the reason why Jesus first appeared to Mary was to demonstrate grace by His personal, loving faithfulness to someone who formerly had a sordid past: but clearly also because she loved him so dearly and deeply, that she appeared before anyone else at the tomb." (MacArthur Study Bible).
I love the fact that He called her by name. Notice the exclamation point! This was no casual greeting. I wonder if I would have been at the tomb that first Easter morning. My prayer is to have a heart like Mary so that I can, above all else, love him as dearly and deeply. I want to hear Him call me by name.
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteHope you all had a very happy Easter and sometimes doing things out of the "norm" is a welcome change. It was beautiful here on Easter and we all ate at Red Lobster for dinner!! Felt bad I didn't cook a thing either, but stay so tired from working that I am just never in the mood for it. But it's just being so grateful for being together and being blessed and thanking Jesus for it all! :)
I love the relationship that Mary Madgalene had with Jesus. So innocent and yet so full of love and devotion.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful thoughts on that special moment, when Jesus revealed His resurrected body to her. Thanks Laura!
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ReplyDeleteBless you, Lisa! It's funny how we read the same account of things in Scripture over and over and yet there's that moment when it really takes hold. That's how Mary M. struck me this time. You are so right in that they had a very special relationship - and, amazingly, one that is available to each of us. I also love the fact that Joseph of Arimathea (sp?) came to the tomb also and fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah about Jesus being buried in a rich man's tomb. I'd forgotten that. So take your pick - Joseph or Mary - both full of love and devotion, just like you said!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Rhonda, eating out was nice and not cleaning up was even nicer, I thought! Wishing for some of your sunshine here:)I'm getting so excited about hearing about your move and new house, etc. I agree with you wholeheartedly - we have so much to be thankful for and He gets all the credit!
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