“When we celebrated Easter Sunday as the day of Jesus’ resurrection,” Stan commented, “I spent some time reading the Bible about that morning.”
“Great story,” I replied. “Resurrection Sunday. Nothing quite like it.”
“You got that right, my friend,” Stan said. “And as I was reading the account of the empty tomb I was reminded that at one point in my life I was kind of like the woman identified as Mary in John’s Gospel.”
“Kind of like?” I said. “How so?”
“She looked in the tomb and didn’t see Jesus,” Stan replied. “Same with me. I looked, not in a tomb, but elsewhere, and I didn’t see Jesus either. The difference is she wept because He wasn’t there and she didn’t know where He was. I didn’t weep because I didn’t care.”
“Didn’t care?”
“Yeah,” Stan replied. “I simply didn’t care whether I saw Jesus or not. I had no real interest in seeing Him, whether in an empty tomb or in any other place.”
“That’s kind of harsh, isn’t it?”
“Truth can be harsh sometimes,” Stan replied.
“Well,” I then said, “where is it you were looking that you didn’t see Jesus?”
“Church,” Stan replied. “I attended church most of my life and didn’t see Jesus until my eyes were opened to want to see Him.”
“Your eyes were opened so you wanted to see Him? How’d that happen?”
“I heard the truth.”
“So,” I said, “hearing led to seeing. Is that a fair statement?”
“Not only a fair statement,” Stan replied, “but a very accurate one. I had attended church services for a long time and never heard the truth. Then by the grace of God I was invited to a different church where the truth was presented. I heard the truth, saw Jesus, and haven’t looked back!”
“So,” I said, “if people can’t see Jesus, they better look again. Is that it?”
“That’s it, my friend,” Stan replied. “Seeing Jesus is the most important thing that can ever happen to a person, and I think it’s the role of each one who has seen Him to help others have their eyes opened.”
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Bible verses to consider:
But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 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.” John 20:11-13.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17.
Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things.” Romans 10:13-15.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the tomb that was empty because Jesus had risen and was going to be seen by the early disciples, by everyone who has looked for Him since then, and by me after you opened my eyes to want to see Him. I pray for the people who have not yet seen Him, that they will want their eyes to be opened, that their eyes will be opened, and that they will see Him as clearly as you intend. As well, I pray for those who have already seen Jesus that they will continue to focus on Him with clear vision. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in His name. Amen.
Think on this: Have you opened your eyes and seen Jesus in the sense that you have accepted His finished work on the cross so you will spend eternity in God’s presence when your time here is done? If no, why? If you are a Christian, how are you doing with seeing Jesus in your life? Not only seeing Him, but following Him where He wants to lead you? Are changes needed in how clearly you see and follow Him? If so, how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 