John 20:14 “When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.”
That Mary didn’t immediately recognize Jesus should not surprise us. We read in Luke 24:15-16. “While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” That morning with Mary was the first time that Jesus revealed Himself after His resurrection, and God at first prevented Mary from recognizing Him. Why did God do that? I’m not sure, but not recognizing Jesus when He’s right in front of you isn’t a strange phenomenon. It’s happened to all of us. Haven’t we all at some time or another been prevented from seeing Jesus in one of the members of His body because they didn’t appear as we thought they should? Haven’t we experienced mistaking a brother or sister in Christ for a husband, father, mother, wife, grocery clerk, bank teller, or pastor? There they were standing right in front of us, and we were so occupied with our own issues that we missed the opportunity to love and respond to Jesus.
I want to encourage you today with this thought. The more we intentionally practice living to love with Jesus, the more apt we are to recognize Jesus’ presence in others and love them with Him. Peter’s admonition in his first epistle is helpful advice. “Be sober in spirit.” 1:16. From a live to love perspective, don’t let anything in this life intoxicate you and prevent you from recognizing an opportunity to love Jesus by loving Him in another.
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
