John 20:11-18 "But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of JESUS had lain. And they say unto her, Woman why weepest thou ? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid HIM. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw JESUS standing, and knew not that it was JESUS. JESUS saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou ? whom seekest thou ? She, supposing HIM to be the gardener, saith unto HIM, Sir, if thou have borne HIM hence, tell me where thou hast laid HIM, and I will take HIM away. JESUS saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto HIM, RABBONI: which is to say MASTER. JESUS saith unto her, Touch ME not; for I AM not yet ascended to MY FATHER; but go to MY brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto MY FATHER; and your FATHER; and to MY GOD, and your GOD. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that HE had spoken these things unto her."
The compassionate character of JESUS CHRIST is not only evident during the three years that HE ministered on the Earth prior to HIS death, but it is manifest even in HIS first conversation as the resurrected SAVIOR. GOD the SON is a GOD of love, grace, compassion, and mercy. Consider the comments by the late G. Handley Moule as he analyzes the words of today's text: "In this [JESUS'] first interview after the resurrection, HE deals in the solitude of private intimacy with a soul apart. HE meets it, not in a consecrated temple, but in a quiet garden. I gather from this short history that CHRIST offers HIMSELF to each of us as the individual FRIEND. In times when perhaps you are literally alone, or alone as to heart sympathy, your LORD offers to be the FRIEND WHO comes closer than any other individual SPIRIT can come to yours. HE comes to call you by name, to hear what you have to say in the deepest confidence to HIM, to bless you with the friendship of HIMSELF. Wonderful thought ! HE rises in majesty from the dead, and what does HE first do with HIS victory ? HE comforts the solitude of a woman's broken heart, by showing HIMSELF to her as her SHEPHERD, HEALER, and FRIEND. The risen JESUS offers likewise to be your individual COMFORTER, your understanding PASTOR. And HE has all the gracious leisure of an endless life in which to attend to you that not only when we are worshiping in the house of prayer, but out under the sky of the common day, 'JESUS is there,' the unseen, inseparable COMPANION." Yes, because JESUS arose, HE continues today as our personal SAVIOR, COMFORTER, and FRIEND. MDC
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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