I wasn’t going to write or do a video for the final chapters of John. They really deserve more attention than any one-minute video could give. Everyone should intentionally sit down and read this account of Jesus’ crucifixion. This morning, I read something that stood out like never before (the beauty in the Bible, no matter how many times you read it, something new will stand out each time). Read it with me:
John 20:13-16 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). So it’s already fascinating that she’s having this conversation with angels, right? But I love that it says she turned to leave and saw someone standing there. Who was it? It was Jesus. He was literally just a glance away. I love that. Jesus is a glance away, and in all actuality He’s really never even that far away.
This morning I had the beautiful reminder of the fact that Jesus is always nearby. The issue is never whether or not He is present. It’s whether we’re willing to recognize Him there.