STILL SEEKING THE MASTER
It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first
TEXT: JOHN 20:1-10.
KEY VERSE “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre” (JOHN 20:1).
“Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending,” says Martin Luther King Jnr. Mary Magdalene was a true symbol of that faith and who a committed and an unwavering disciple should be.
The Lord Jesus had been crucified and was buried prior to the compulsory Sabbath day that forced rest on all. His sepulchre was heavily guarded by security men sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to make sure “his disciples did not come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is Risen from the dead…” (Matthew 27:62-66). As it began to dawn on the first day of the week when it was yet dark, Mary Magdalene came to anoint His body only to discover the huge stone that covered the tomb had been rolled away. Unable to understand what had transpired, she went to report to Apostles Peter and John who also came, saw it and went back home. But Mary who was determined to see her Saviour, stayed back.
The extraordinary courage and steadfastness of this blessed soul in defying all odds in her quest to find her crucified Master is reflective of a heart full of grace and gratitude towards a Saviour who had earlier delivered her from demonic possession (Luke 8:2) and saved her soul. God is never unmindful nor is He unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love (Hebrews 6:10).
Christ is still calling His disciples to a wholehearted devotion and commitment to Him and His course.
The all-consuming passion that Mary exhibited in seeking the Lord until she found Him must be the driving force that propels every believer to keep on following Christ at this present time so as to be with Him eventually in heaven (John 17:24).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When you truly seek, you will find.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: ROMANS 1-3.
MEDITATION
Listening but not learning
- Willful ignorance “The disciples knew not…that He must rise again from the dead” v9.
Observation Jesus told his disciples of His death, burial and resurrection several times before this time. Read Matthew 16:21-23; 17:22-23; 20:18-21, Mark 10:34-36, Luke 18:33-34.
Q How could they have listened to all these repeatedly at different times and yet they learned nothing on His resurrection? - Why they remained in ignorance
a. Dull of hearing (fools) Luke 24:25-27.
b. Slow of understanding Luke 24:25-27.
c. Lack of understanding Luke 18:33-34, 24:45,46 cpw Matthew 13:19.
d. Love of self more than the love of Christ even though Jesus loved us unto death Matthew 20-21-23.
e. Listening without deep reflection Matthew 17:22-23.
f. Impulsive and hasty response without internalizing, digesting and praying through with faith Matthew 16:21-23, Hebrews 4:2.
g. Lack of sincere faith in the word Hebrews 4:2. - Wisdom for the wise
a. If they had believed, reflected and truly learnt from Jesus, the disciples would not have denied Christ, would have demonstrated faith instead of fear and joy instead of sorrow of heart.
Listening without learning makes the word of God of no effect in the life of the listener
It is not how much you listen to but how much of learning you acquire
Check the points above and discover why your growth rate in spiritual things is very slow.
Lord, I don’t want to be a superficial listener anymore. Teach me to be reflective, meditative and prayerful henceforth
Lord, take all dullness of hearing from me and give me the Spirit of understanding
Let the word be mixing with faith in my heart and let it always bear fruits in my life
Lord, teach all your children to be profiting from the word of God we are reading and hearing
HYMN Deeper, Deeper in the love of Jesus
- Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2 Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will. Refrain
3 Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow. Refrain
4 Deeper, higher, ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last. [Refrain]
5 Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue. Refrain
