How To See Jesus (Lessons From Mary Magdalene’s Encounter)

The birds were chirping sweetly, the trees gently swinging, as darkness gradually gave way to daylight. Her blonde hair danced freely behind her with every step she took – she and her friends were out to see Jesus and deck Him with their precious spices. 

They got to the sepulcher, wondering who will roll the stone away, but saw it laid out already. Fear and anxiety hugged their hearts as they ran to look in. Whew! Their faces went red. Some man arrayed in white – not Jesus – was seated at a side of the sepulcher. “Who is he and where did he take our Lord to?”, their hearts asked.

” And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” (Mark 6:6-7).

They dashed off quickly, running through the rough road, till they arrived where the disciples were, and disclosed the news to them.

Peter and John arose, slid their legs into their sandals and said they were going to the tomb. “Mary”, her friends called, “let’s go back”. She wasn’t going back just like that. Her mission was unaccomplished. “Oh, I want to see Jesus” her aching heart cried. 

No friend, I’ll go with them she replied. With her flowing silky gown in her hands, she ran after Peter.

One after the other, the two disciples went in and then out of the Sepulcher, their shoulders hanging by their sides, bewildered.

“We’re going back, Mary, we can’t find Him either”, they chorused. Her eyes grew moist, as she said goodbye to them. I’ll be right here, waiting, till I see Him.

Standing, with her hands moving through her face, as she wiped the salty water that flowed from her brown eyes, she stayed on… Looking, praying and hoping. 

Let me check the sepulcher again, she thought. She stooped down, and then saw two men – angels. Desperation had drowned fear away. She didn’t care who they were and where they suddenly appeared from.

“  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him”. (John 20:13)

Just then, she turned, and saw Him… 

He called her name, in the sweetest deep masculine voice she ever heard. “Mary!” Her heart leapt with joy and amazement. She has seen Jesus.

You know what? She was the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection. What an honour, a privilege, an everlasting reputation. 

Today, people still seek to see Jesus, and I know you do as well. You desire to commune with Him – in His word and prayers… To know Him more, to pour those problems out to Him.

Some young ladies write to me asking lots of questions around this – How did you get to know Jesus? How did you grow in Him? How can I know Him more, and understand His word?  I still seek to see Him every day, and lessons from the lives of those who have walked this road before are models for us all.

So, Mary’s got some tips to share with us. Here they are: 

1. Be early: Before the day clutter your mind, before other activities distract your heart, before you get swept away by life’s daily wind, seek for Jesus. That’s the best time to see Him. Even Jesus showed us that example – “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

2. Be focused: If Mary had walked away with other women, or turned back with the two disciples, she would have missed this encounter. Friends couldn’t deter her; her mind was fixed. She knew seeing Jesus is a personal pursuit, so no one could talk her way from it. Let nothing and no one distract you from your pursuit of Jesus. Like the Psalmist, let your song be – “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise” (Psalm 57:7).  “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God” (Psalm 42:1).

3. Be open: Seeing Jesus is not an uphill task. Although not with our physical eyes, like Mary did while He was on earth; you long to see Him, living and reigning in your life. Guiding your every step, and fighting those fierce battles on your behalf. Just learn to sit before Him, even when you don’t feel Him around (we work by faith not by feelings). Talk to Him, just like you talk to your earthly father, or mother, or friend. Tell Him everything in your heart. Cry if you feel like, He understands. Open up yourself before Him, and let Him flood your life with His presence and fullness. “Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord…” (Lamentation 2:19).

Put these three tips from Mary’s life into action, and you’ll see Jesus – anytime, everywhere.

Remain Radiant!