Early Riser (John 20:1-18 ESV)

 

They say that

 "the early bird gets the worm,"

 but what do early risers get?  I think they get the best of the day.  Certainly, Mary Magdalene got the suprize and shock of her life but she also got the privilege of hearing the best news of all time.  She was the privileged one.

She'd gone to Jesus tomb early,

 "while it was still dark" (John 20:1 ESV).  

She saw the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus, NOT there!

She became the messeger of this upsetting-to-her news.  She ran and told Peter and John and they in turn rushed to the tomb to see for themselves.

I can imagine them huffing and puffing after this early morning run.  Examining the linens that had wrapped Jesus in a mummy cocoon and the one that had been around his head, lying separately and neatly folded up.  They seemed to have been dumbfounded about this find.  Bewildered and perplexed, they went home.

But Mary had stayed.  As she mourned and wept, Jesus revealed Himself to her, He called her by name, "Mary."  He'd called this "little sheep" by name and then she knew.  She knew the man she at first mistook for the gardener.  He was actually her Master and Lord, "Rabboni!" she exclaimed.  Then Jesus entrusted her with a message for

 "[his] brothers" (vs 17).

And she goes and says,

 "I have seen the Lord" (vs 18).

  And He had spoken with her!  How blessed she was.

Mary Magdalene had physically seen the Lord.  For us nowadays, we can still see Him with our spiritual eyes.  We can spend time with Him, reading His words, listening to His voice teaching us and calling to us through His Holy Spirit.  How blessed when we hear and listen and obey.  We can be His messengers with the important message of His love and care and salvation.

More than this, this listening and obedience denotes intimacy with Christ.  We can continue to build relationship with Him, perhaps even as an early riser when there are fewer distractions in the quiet hour before dawn.

As the birds begin to wake and sing their songs of praise to the Lord, we too can arise and bring messages of God's love to others because we had sat a while with Jesus, listening and learning.  And when He calls your name, you'll know it's Him, your

 "Lord Jesus, Savior, Friend."

Hallelujah!

                                               ~ ERC November 2025 ~

Based on John 20:1-18 ESV.

Sing, The Love of Jesus, along with Mack Brock.