Don’t Leave Early

Have you ever left thinking that that was all there was to see? Or have you not gone to an event because you were tired or for whatever reason and missed out? Many go to see their favorite team play and it appears there’s no way they could win. Then leave to go home. Beat the traffic, the rush leaving the stadium only to find out later that their team did win. They were there, they were watching but they left and missed out on one of the greatest wins in history. These 12 men that the Bible records as being disciples, learners did that. Judas threw in the towel and decided a little bit of cash was better than nothing. Peter,  after all he had seen and witnessed, decides to check out and leads others with him. 

On the greatest morning of history Peter and the other disciple which I believe was John heard these words. Mary Magdalene had gone to the tomb of Jesus. She saw that the stone at the mouth of where Jesus had been placed just hours before was rolled away. She then runs away to Simmon Peter and the other disciple. Mary says to them “they have taken away the Lord and we don’t know what they have done with Him.” As soon as these two men heard what she had said they both took off running to the tomb. Didn’t Mary just tell them the body of Jesus wasn’t there? These disciples go in the tomb and yes Mary was right His body isn’t there. The Bible says “they saw and believed.” Seeing is believing? what did Peter see? 

John 20:6  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,  the Bible says that after seeing for themselves they go home. Do what? Go home. Are you kidding me? But Mary didn’t go home; she didn’t leave because it looked like her team was losing and because she didn’t leave she goes down in history as being the first to see our raised Lord. But she also gets to see something those two disciples missed.  John 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, Didn’t Peter go inside the sepulcher? Sure he did! But he didn’t see what Mary saw.

John 20:12  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. What was Mary’s statement to those two disciples “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” Mary was about to find out while the two disciples were back in the comfort of their homes. I see something that Mary had that those two disciples didn’t have. Mary had a Compassionate heart John 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping:  Mary also had a Curiosity about her  John 20:11 and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, Mary stood while Peter ran in and looked around. What satisfied Peter didn’t satisfy Mary.  The two disciples could easily say later “yes I was one of the first at the tomb, but I left after I saw that Jesus wasn’t there. But Mary’s story is much different and because she stayed her story is far more reaching than the two other disciples. Same is happening today with many. There are those who read their Bible but rarely see Jesus, maybe because they are in a rush to get somewhere else just as these disciples were. But then there are those like Mary who come to read their Bible and stay and keep looking until the Lord shows up and speaks to them personally. Don’t leave early for you may miss out. Mary did two things we all should learn to do. Mary came early. Mary realized what was important. Mary stayed while others came and left. Because she did, she got more, she saw more, she had more to tell.