What can we learn from Mary's persistence in seeking Jesus at the tomb? The Setting: A Garden of Grief and Hope “But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb” (John 20:11). All the evidence said Jesus was gone. Yet Mary remained, tears and all, because the living Lord meant more to her than explanations, comfort, or even safety. Mary’s Determined Presence • She stayed when others left (John 20:1–10). • She refused to let grief keep her from seeking Christ. • She looked again into the tomb, expecting nothing yet hoping for everything. • Her devotion mirrors the heart cry of Song of Songs 3:1–4—“I sought him, but did not find him… I held him and would not let him go.” • Her persistence is the lived-out promise of Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” What Persistence Teaches Us 1. Pursuit proves love. – True affection refuses to be hurried or deterred (John 14:15). 2. Perseverance positions us for revelation. – Mary saw two angels and then the risen Jesus because she stayed (John 20:12–16). 3. Faith often matures in the waiting. – Compare Luke 18:1: “They ought always to pray and not to lose heart.” 4. Our lingering becomes a witness. – Mary was commissioned: “Go to My brothers and tell them” (John 20:17). – Faithful seekers become faithful messengers. Perseverance and Promise: A Biblical Pattern • Hebrews 11:6: “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” • Psalm 27:4: David’s one desire—to dwell in the house of the Lord. • Luke 10:42: Mary of Bethany “has chosen the good portion”—lingering at Jesus’ feet. • 2 Chronicles 15:7: “Be strong and do not lose courage, for your work will be rewarded.” Staying When Others Leave When Peter and John went home, Mary remained. Her choice reminds us that: • Obedience is personal; crowd mentality must not determine devotion. • Moments of greatest revelation often follow moments of greatest loneliness (Isaiah 51:2). • Christ meets individuals who will not settle for second-hand reports. Application: Cultivating Persistent Pursuit Today • Linger in the Word until it warms the heart, not merely until the chapter is finished. • Pray past the first “amen,” listening for His voice (Psalm 130:5–6). • Refuse distractions that crowd out quiet attentiveness (Mark 1:35). • Run toward Jesus in confusion rather than away from Him (John 6:68). • Expect the Lord to reveal Himself; resurrection reality invites confident hope. The Fruit of Mary’s Persistence • Personal encounter—“Mary!” (John 20:16). • Deepened understanding—she saw the risen Lord before the apostles did. • Immediate mission—she became the first to proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18). Our persistence may likewise usher in intimacy, insight, and influence for the glory of God. |
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