Staying for the encounter

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (Jn 20:1-16)

I'm really stirred and challenged by this passage in John's Gospel, by the attitude and determination of Mary Magdalene. She refused to leave until she had met with Jesus. Nothing less would satisfy her.

She saw the evidence, but it wasn't enough.

The other disciples left, but she remained.

Angels appeared to her, she didn't even flinch!

Nothing would divert her from her determination to encounter Jesus.

When we come together as the people of God, what is our expectation and our determination? We may come running with great enthusiasm, but what will we be satisfied with before we "go back to our homes?"

Is it enough for us just to review the evidence of his resurrection? Is it enough to "see and believe", receiving faith for our walk until the same time next week? Is it the miraculous visitations that we seek? If an angel appeared, surely then we would go home satisfied and full of praise? Or have we determined to have an encounter with our Lord Jesus himself?

nothing less will do