"Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus." (John 20:14)
Grief, overwhelming sorrow, and unbelief will always keep us from the reality. There was Jesus, talking with Mary. She had been among His closest followers for most of the 3+ years He walked the Galilee, yet she did not recognize Him in that moment. Yes, this was Jesus manifested in His Glorious Resurrection Body, but just as we will look as we do now in our resurrected bodies, so too did Jesus look as He appeared to Mary, just as He did before His crucifixion.
Sometimes we too can have right before us an answer to prayer, a provision, indeed, a great blessing, but not recognize it because of sadness of heart. Faith and trust in Jesus' Words will enable us to overcome grief in order for us to recognize what Jesus has for us. Running our race with our eyes, "fixed on Jesus," is imperative.
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to always see reality, the truth. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
