Do not cling to me - 01

I was reminded of this passage today and I'd like to take a few days to dig into it a bit. Like any good Bible student, we need to look at the scriptures with an open mind. We need to go back to the "there and then" to discover the interpretation. Only then can we bring that truth forward and apply it to our life.

I love the words of Jesus. If you were raised in church like me, you've read these passages more times that you can remember. Too often we take these precious words for granted. There are times when I read Jesus words and I'm more open to the Holy Spirit. Those moments stir my heart in a deeply personal way. Many times I feel like Peter in John 21:17 where Jesus askes, "Peter, do you love me?" I believe Peter responds in the moment from his pride and maybe from an ongoing desire to be seen and have the approval of his teacher. Like me, Peter probably thinks he is clever and has all the right answers. Jesus sees right through this of course, and asks Peter the same question again and then again a third time. Perter responds, "Lord, you know all things." My point is that sometimes it takes a while for us to get out of our own way and let go of everything but the truth right in front of us. At that moment, there is nothing between you and Jesus. His precious words penetrate our hearts and all we can say is "Lord, you know all things!"

Take a few moments to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to bring you to that place, then read this passage with Jesus words to Mary. I'll discuss this more in the next few days.

John 20:11-18 (ESV) "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her."

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