Relational Devotion #31 [When He speaks]

Hi, Everyone.
Today, we wrap up John 20:11-16, and tie it into weight-loss. I thank you for your patience. :)  Have a great weekend, and I'll see you Monday, Lord willing.

Relational Devotion #31 [When He speaks]

John 20:15-16

"'Woman,' He said, 'why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?'
Thinking He was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.'
Jesus said to her, 'Mary.'
She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher)."

     For the past 3 days, we have looked at the first 4 verses of John 20:11-16, and I shared a dream I had as a result of wondering what made Mary Magdalene turn around, when she was talking with the 2 angels in the empty tomb, after having discovered that the body of Jesus was gone.
     Today, we hear Jesus asking Mary Magdalene why she is crying, and she answers Him, but she "did not realize that it was Jesus" (v. 14) and since she thinks He is "the gardener," she begs him to let her know where he has put Jesus' body, and she'll go get Him.
     Mary saw Jesus, but she didn't realize it was Jesus. Mary heard Jesus' voice, but she didn't recognize it as the voice of Jesus, until a most wonderful thing happens. Jesus says her name, "Mary," and Mary knows that it is Jesus and cries out, "Rabboni!" [Teacher].
     I remember when my younger daughter was born, in 1981. I was in a room with two other young mothers. The nurse, who was working on a research project, would bring the three babies to our door, and if only one baby was crying, she'd peek her head into our door and ask, "Whose baby is crying?" and one of us would say, "That's my baby." The nurse kept track of how accurate we were, and I seem to recall that there was only one time we were wrong.
     You see, it doesn't take long for love to know a face, a voice, a name. It only takes a whisper, and, when you truly know and love someone, you instantly know that the whisper belongs to your husband/wife, child, or close friend.
     Mary Magdalene had been a woman enslaved by seven demons, but Jesus freed her. In gratitude, she followed Jesus and helped meet the practical needs of the disciples and Jesus. She was at the cross, when Jesus was crucified, and she was one of the women who wanted to make sure Jesus had a proper burial.
     Some have suggested that since the 12 disciples were all men, Jesus must not have considered women very important to His ministry. When you read all the accounts in the Bible of how Jesus interacted with women, even the women that were shunned culturally, you see that is not true. After all, Mary Magdalene was rewarded for her faithfulness by being the first to see the Risen Lord, and when He said her name, she knew that voice, for she had sat at His feet, listening to His teaching, ever since He had changed her life by freeing her from demonic bondage.

What this has to do with weight-loss:  When I wanted to know what caused Mary Magdalene to turn around, I asked God in prayer. I believe He responded by giving me a most wonderful dream (devotions #28-30). Those of us on the weight-loss journey have times where we don't understand why we're not losing or have other weight-loss issues (including physical issues). It's important to understand that you can go to the Lord and ask Him to help you with your question or help you solve a problem. He has promised to give us wisdom, if we ask Him to. Remember, He just might answer in a dream. No matter what, you will know that it is His voice speaking to you, for it will be as if He whispers your name.

Blessings,
Mary