Today’s Reading: John 20:15-18
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended 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.”
* * * * *
Mary Magdalene had gone to Jesus’ tomb and found his body missing. When he asked her, “Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” she mistakenly thought that the person speaking to her was the gardener. She said that she was looking for Jesus’ body and if he would tell her where it was, then she would gladly take it away.
Jesus then called her name, saying, “Mary.” She recognized the way he affectionately addressed her. He’d done this many times before. She then realized who it was that was speaking to her, and that Jesus was alive.
Mary called out, “Rabboni!” This was an Aramaic expression denoting Jesus as a respected teacher. She reached out to hold him. But he told her she couldn’t. He had not yet ascended to his heavenly Father. This would occur later.27
Don’t miss what Jesus said next to Mary. He told her to go to his disciples and tell them he was ascending to his Father and their Father. The disciples were now his brothers, and God was their Father. If you believe in Jesus, he is your big brother. And as big brothers do, he will protect you from those who desire to harm you.
And God is your personal, loving, kind, and caring Father. In the garden of Gethsemane, the night before Jesus went to the cross, he prayed to the Father and called him “Abba.” It was an intimate, colloquial Aramaic expression that is best translated “Daddy.” You can now know the heavenly Father in that way as well.
Perhaps you had an abusive, absent, or distant earthly father. Maybe you think if “God” is like your earthly father, you don’t want anything to do with him. But the heavenly Father’s original intent was for all children to have a loving and kind earthly daddy. Unfortunately, sin has corrupted everything in creation—even the family.
Jesus came from heaven to earth to reestablish the Father’s original intent. He came to redeem humanity and to make all things new. He especially came to help you know the true character of his Father, who is also your Father.
God is your daddy. He loves you. He has a plan for your life—one filled with a future and a hope. He wants you to use the gifts he has given to you for his glory. He wants you to be all that he has planned for you to be. He loves you and believes in you.
Your heavenly daddy is very gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in great love. He is good. His steadfast love endures forever. He loves to rejoice over you and quiet your soul with his endless love.
The Father in heaven empathizes with your pain. Like any kind daddy, he hurts when you hurt. He cradles you in his arms and assures you all will be well. He heals your broken heart. When afflictions come, he gives the sufficient grace you need to bear the burden you are experiencing. He preserves your life.
He is a good heavenly daddy who loves and cares for you.
As your big brother who cares deeply for you, Jesus would not lie to you about something as important as this.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]