Encountering Jesus: Learning from Mary Magdalene’s Easter Morning

Julie King

Worship

“My Soul Sings” by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser

Scripture

“Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.” -John 20:18, ESV

Introduction to Easter Devotional

In just 16 days, beginning April 1, we are going to begin an intentional, passionate, and focused pursuit of Jesus over the course of 30 days. We will journey to the cross, through the cross, and into the birth of the Church. When the Lord gave me this idea for a fast and devotional in January 2020, it was a game changer for so many of us. He was preparing us for what was ahead that year, and we had no idea. I went to the secret place to hear from the Lord and bring you something to feast on. Now is no different. Could He be preparing us for something ahead? Most likely, yes. Here is my video explaining the reason behind this April 2022 devotional series. You will not automatically receive the daily devotional unless you sign up at this link: www.eastwest.org/ariseeaster. Please sign up and bring five more with you!

I was going through my emails one morning last week and read the title of a podcast that was sent to me: “Is Jesus returning in 2022?” I didn’t listen to the podcast, but that question should stir us to these words: It doesn’t matter because I am ready! Our house is in order, our hearts are aligned with His, our lamps are filled with oil, and our gaze is fixed. Maybe all of these things are true, or maybe none of them are, but that is what this April is about—encountering Jesus as we “Look at His Face” and get ready for His return. That is the phrase He gave me: “Look at His Face.”

Mary’s Encounter with Jesus

Mary was ready! She went to the place she supposed Jesus was and looked eagerly. The angels met her that Easter morning. I can see Jesus telling the angels, “I’ve got it from here.” Mary needed Jesus, and Jesus wanted His Mary.

Her heart was positioned in desperation for the One she loved, and her feet were standing on the threshold of encounter.

Mary’s encounter had purpose beyond her personal experience. Her testimony proved vital for the early church, as she became the first commissioned to share the resurrection news. While the disciples hid in fear, Mary actively sought Jesus. Her fresh revelation gave them faith and prepared them for their own encounter with the risen Lord.

Biblical Encounters with God

All throughout Scripture we see those who “saw” the Lord. They encountered Him with their ears and their eyes. They needed to see Him, and we need to see Him. He faithfully came and revealed Himself to them without fail. In Job’s, Gideon’s, Haggar’s, and Isaiah’s despair, He met them in that place and brought them heart revelation of who He was and who He wanted to be to them.

Their commissioning for the remaining of their days came from these very personal and intimate encounters!

“‘My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.'” -Job 42:5, ESV

“She [Hagaar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'” -Genesis 16:13, ESV

“When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!'” -Judges 6:22, ESV

“‘Woe to me!'” I cried. “‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'” -Isaiah 6:5, ESV

Mary had the rest of her purposed life before her that had been written for her. This tomb encounter was a new beginning for her. This encounter and the commissioning that ensued were imperative to her fulfilling the plans and purposes ordained for her before the foundations of the world. Mary’s encounter at the tomb was a crucial part of her commissioning for the next chapter of her life. She would be key for the faith of the early church as she was the first one commissioned to preach the gospel.

Mary’s “seeing” was vitally important for the disciples to be able to see for themselves.

The disciples were hiding in fear, but Mary was searching for the One she loved. His powerful presence catapulted her in, so much so that she ran to tell the guys she saw Jesus. That fresh and deep revelation and conversation provided faith and preparation for Jesus’ appearing to them. This passage from 1 John could have been the testimony of Mary when Jesus was believed to be dead and buried!

Seeking God Today

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us” -1 John 1:1-2, ESV

I want to see with my spiritual eyes and hear with my spiritual ears. But sometimes we just need to discern what we are seeing in the natural in order to pick up what God is speaking and showing us behind the scenes. Search for treasures hidden in secret places. I don’t want to be blind, deaf, lazy, or distracted in this hour. I want to know the times and the seasons like the men of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32). When John “was in the spirit (Revelation 1:10)” alone and ready for an encounter, the Lord unwrapped the entire book of Revelation to him!

Go to the familiar places you have met with Jesus before. For me, it’s a place in my home where the Lord has always met me that He recently told me to go back to. He piqued my curiosity and expectation that He has things to share with me there. He is more eager to reveal Himself to you and to me than we are hungry to receive it. Blessing comes with our hunger and desire for Him.

“Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”” -John 20:29, ESV, emphasis added

May these two passages be the cry of your heart in this season as we approach the Passion month of April and navigate this end of days:

“Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.” -Song of Songs 1:4a

“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” -Ephesians 1:18, ESV, emphasis added

At the threshold of a tomb or in an upper room of expectation, Jesus will show up. He goes wherever our longing hearts need Him. He responds to our hunger and our craving and our ache and our thirst. He’s attentive to our cry. Let’s go like Mary went—to the place she knew Jesus would be. Let’s go with expectation that we are going to encounter Him. Let’s go in desperation for the One our hearts ultimately long for. And then let’s pull up our dress so we don’t trip on the hem and run and tell our brothers and sisters of the Jesus we have experienced and seen!

I bless you:

with new hunger and desire for Jesus;
to receive the revelation of His presence with you;
to be changed in His presence;
in the enlightening of your spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear at new depths;
to have a mind that operates fully with the mind of Christ;
to wait and not give up for your answer to come;
with a fresh commissioning coming out of this Easter season;
with a tribe of passionate Jesus lovers you can lead through Passion month;
with faith to run to your brothers and testify with boldness;
with joy in your encounters this coming April;
with new wine and new oil!