December 13 – John 20

December 13 – John 20

Jesus, our Savior King, we praise You for You are Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!!!! We thank You for You secure our peace! We fall beforeYou in worship and adoration. Draw near to us, Lord of all.

I always take a moment to reflect on the ways Jesus greeted His children after He left the tomb empty and available for the next person who needed it. Let’s look at a couple of these greetings.

To Mary, it appears as though He had already been in the garden, likely watching the interaction between Mary and the Angels. He was already in her presence… or… rather, she was already in His presence. Everything leading up to this moment, all the dots He had given, miraculously connected with one word, one name. Mary. And then she knew. He knew her name! She knew how He sounded when He said her name. How many times had she heard Him speak it? Countless, I am sure, and I am sure every time she leaned in a little closer. To me, it appears that
in that moment, her heart was His, her life she had given over to Him completely. She had been ready for that moment at exactly that time.

I think of how much I love hearing my dad call me by my name and how much I melt a little. I feel secure and belonging and joy that he remembered me! It is the name he gave me. No other person who calls me by my name gives me the same emotion, feeling, or belonging. Yes, it is true; others say my name, and I have great affection for them. But my dad saying my name? That is a whole ‘nother level. He has been saying my name for longer than anyone else apart from Mama.

And when Jesus called me by my name… like Mary, I too believed. Jesus has known my name for far longer than my parents. When He went to the cross, He knew my name. He knew I would be His. That is all I needed. No other proof. Just a breath with one word upon it. The
name He gave me.

And then He goes to Thomas. He didn’t call His name, nor was Jesus already there in the room when he entered via the locked door. And knowing just what Thomas needed to hear, he said, “Peace be with you,” and offered the proof Thomas needed. The same exact proof Thomas had declared he would need to believe what the others were telling him. Peace Himself had come back just as He had promised. Peace was with them!!! It wasn’t just a greeting or habitual nicety; it was factual, real, and very present with them. Peace is a person.

We are all so very different, and our own coming to faith is just as different, and still, Jesus meets us right where we are at. He has compassion for what we each need to come to Him. Everyone has their moment, which is their testimony of how they came to Jesus.
This advent, think back to your own coming to Jesus moment, remembering just how that felt and how you were changed, and carry that remembrance with you throughout your next days.

“Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart.”

-Come Thou long expected Jesus-
Charles Wesley, 1745

My Verse: “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” John 20:26

My Response: My Lord Jesus, how I praise You. How I love You over and over! In my waiting, You have comforted me; in my waiting, You remind me that I have a name, and it’s Daughter of the High King. I thank You for my parents, whose lives are so wholly fixed on and in You. I thank You that they could point me to You and teach me how to hear Your voice. God of wonder, You know me so well, for You created me. You know my thoughts, my desires, my failings, my weaknesses, and yet You still draw me close. God, I ask that You keep my faith strong. Open my ears and eyes to hear and see You calling me when I wander.

What’s next?
As the Spirit leads, share what He has laid on your heart in the comment section below. Then join us again tomorrow for the next commentary.