After Jesus rose from death early on Sunday, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.
Mark 16:9
If I were Jesus—and let’s all be thankful I’m not—the first thing I would do after rising from the dead is make an early morning trip to Pilate’s house. I would walk through the walls of his bedchamber, sneak to the side of his bed, shake him awake, and say, “Hi! You just thought you could wash your hands of me.” Then, I would visit each Pharisee that contributed to my death. But, I am not Jesus. Jesus visits Mary first. After all that He had been through, witnessed, and accomplished, He visits Mary alone in the garden of her disappointment. That is the Resurrected Jesus.
The Resurrected Jesus gives us hope that even in our gardens of disappointment, He lives to meet with us. He is not too busy managing the universe. He will meet me in my garden, call my name, and comfort me. This is not some form of Christian humanism; it is Christ’s love. It is in this personal encounter with the Resurrected Jesus, hearing Him call our names, that we are set free from the tyranny of the moment and the fear of circumstance.
Wherever you are, whatever room you are sitting in, He is there. Turn your attention to His abiding presence. Because Jesus has resurrected, He lives and is present with you. Over the years, I have had the opportunity of seeing many tired, burned out evangelicals experience personal renewal in their relationship with Jesus, and all of their experiences hinged on receiving the reality that Jesus was present with and to them each moment of the day. The life promised by Christ is only accessible through relationship with Christ. For we are sharing in His life with Him. How will you respond? How have you responded to the present Christ this last week?