John 20:1-9
Early Sunday morning, while it was
still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone was
rolled aside from the entrance.
She ran and found Simon Peter
and me and said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I
don’t know where they have put him!”
We ran to the tomb to see; I
outran Peter and got there first, and stooped and looked in and saw the
linen cloth lying there, but I didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived
and went on inside. He also noticed the cloth lying there, while the
swath that had covered Jesus’ head was rolled up in a bundle and was
lying at the side. Then I went in too, and saw, and believed that he had
risen - for until then we hadn’t realized that the Scriptures said he
would come to life again!
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
I
saw a talk show interview with actor/comedian/filmmaker Mel Brooks in
which he spoke of his dear friend, the late actor Gene Wilder. Brooks
said he knew that his friend was not well – that his time on earth was
growing short. But once Wilder passed, Mel Brooks said that he actually
felt “shocked” for a while. Brooks could not accept that he would
never be able to call Wilder and speak to him again. This this is a
typical reaction for someone who is grieving…part of a normal process.
When
American gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman took the gold and silver
medals, respectively, in the 2016 Rio Olympics, there were a few
moments where the two young women and their coaches stood and hugged
each other somewhat in disbelief. The “talk” for days had been that
these girls would win medals. It was certainly no surprise that Biles
took the gold. But in the initial moments, there was a bit of surprise
and excitement…and awe! Again, this was a normal reaction. The
culmination of all that had happened was almost overwhelming.
Think
of a time when someone told you something…but what they were saying
didn’t really register. Maybe you were not paying enough attention.
Perhaps you simply did not comprehend what you were being told. Or
maybe, what you were hearing was so astounding that you didn’t think it
could possibly be accurate or really happen. So when you realized that this.was.real…you were “dazed and confused” – at least momentarily.
When I read this scripture passage, I asked myself…”What is our take-away?” And the message I kept getting is…”pay attention!”
So often, we are caught up in a myriad of circumstances and emotions –
many of them important, but some not so much – and we don’t really
comprehend what we read or hear. This is especially true when it comes
to God’s word for our life. So we can read a scripture passage over and
again for decades…and one day, it all “clicks” and we realize…”THIS is
what Jesus was saying!” Or we move along through life and don’t realize
that Scriptures told us plainly what would happen in this or that
situation…and we simply didn’t grasp it!
The bottom line is that
we must pay closer attention to God’s word for us…both written and
whispered. We must be awake and alert to His “signs and wonders”…in
tune with His directives. We must ask questions…dig deeper…and really
GET what we are being fed! The mission is too important…the message is
unbelievably crucial. We don’t have time to waste…and figuring things
out after the fact – when “the tomb is empty” – is unacceptable. God
wants us to be so attuned to His word that we anticipate what is coming
next…that we expect Him to show up…that we are never caught off guard.
I
don’t know about you, but this means that I have work to do! I have to
get my act together and sharpen my focus. I have to start seeking God
more and living with confidence that He is always close at hand. I have
to be less shocked when God shows up and “shows out”…and better
prepared for His miraculous presence and perfection. I suspect it is
much the same for you, as well.
Will you be like John and Peter
at the empty tomb? Or will this be the day that you sit up a little
straighter, perk your ears, and zero in on what God is showing you? Are
you truly paying attention? Don't you think you should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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