Renee🌻

When The Doors Were SHUT

 

When The Doors Were Shut

“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

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.

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.

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, PEACE BE UNTO YOU.

And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

‭‭John‬ ‭20:11-16, 19-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Confession is always good for the soul. Mary’s emotions played on my heart this morning in a way I have never realized before. I could see Mary weeping, feeling all alone at the sepulchre. Distraught. Without hope.

What would she do now with her life? Would she be forgotten again? As chaff in the wind? She wasn’t sure she belonged anymore. She felt like the misfit she once had been.

And then there was the matter of the disciples locked away behind doors, hiding in fear from the Jews. Had the world gone mad? Had their world come to an end?

Here’s the confession part: A lot of us just wasn’t feeling it this morning. Any hands raised?

I, for one, missed business as usual. You know, dressing up in our Sunday best, enjoying the Easter program and Resurrection preaching, singing songs in the choir about Jesus. My grandbabies hunting Easter eggs afterwards and the whole family being together and not stuck in another state.

I found myself thinking of Mary and the disciples and how our world feels very similar to theirs back then. People are struggling desperately with their feelings and being unable to assemble with their families. Not to mention those whose families have been touched by this monster Covid-19.

Some are weeping with Mary and wondering where the Lord is—And some are hiding behind shut doors with the disciples from the fear of everything corona.

This isn’t your normal Easter Sunday, nor is it business as usual for any of us. It’s the first we’ve ever known (or could ever imagine) of having Drive-In church or online services only.

I can visualize us as Mary and the disciples, focusing on things that don’t matter. Seeing Him as only the gardener. Focusing only on our problem.

BUT THEN CAME JESUS! ✝️

Standing before us, calling out to us, showing us His hands and feet. Telling us:

IT’S ME. FEAR NOT!

I’M THE ONE Who will give you PEACE.

And then the disciples were GLAD when they saw the Lord. I mean really really

SAW Him.

When we see the Lord as High and lifted up, recognize His voice and BELIEVE,

—Then will He BREATHE His HOPE into us. And we will be as Thomas—

MY LORD AND MY GOD!!! It is you!

Rabboni!

MY MASTER!!!!

Happy Easter!!! ✝️🕊🐇🌷

Published by Renee🌻

Life is a series of lessons we learn by way of the school of hard knocks. I feel I have a degree in this one. It has made me who I am today--I am Renee--My name is French, meaning Reborn. I believe there is a lot in a name, because that's just who I am. Spirit-filled. Encourager. Reader. Author. Blogger. Lover of love, God, His Word, hearts, dragonflies, nature and coffee!~❤️Aka Nonna. 3 grand-boys, 3 grand-daughters-- 2 girls. 💌 Married 28 years. “May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”~~Irish Blessings~~

36 comments

  1. Okay, I literally had to quit bawling before I could write a reply here! You really hit the nail on the head here, Sis. You’re so right… some of us are weeping with Mary and some are locked away hiding in fear. Surely the first chapter of Ecclesiastes is right in saying, there is no new thing under the sun! Lord, help us to recognize You in the midst of all this madness! Thank you, Sis, for sharing your heart here today!!

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    • I think quite a few wanna bawl with Mary! And it’s a perfectly human reaction. Jesus created us to feel emotions. As long as we don’t lose our hope! I don’t know very many around me who love any kind of change – good or bad. We all want to feel comfortable in our comfort zones. And you are correct in sharing there is no new thing under the sun.

      I pray we don’t lose sight of Him. Thanks for reading my sis!

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  3. 😍 Whenever I read these verses, I feel so happy because it’s about the hopeless finding HOPE once again; of whom they thought had left them forever!! The disciples were afraid and most of them remained indoors, not knowing what the future held for them. But lo and behold, on the 3rd, as He promised, Jesus appeared once again having defeated death and rose victorious from the grave! Hallelujah!!

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  5. Our living is not normal now that is for sure. There is such an unreal feel about everything. Yesterday I rode along with my husband to look at a car, we are in need of one. As we drove and all I could see was businesses closed. It reminded me of how it use to be when we were young, not much was open on a Sunday. It slowed down so much so that you could enjoy family time at home, take a nap, sit on the porch and talk to neighbors. It even felt somewhat that way today when I rode to the hardware store with him. Waiting in the car it was easy to note how less traffic there was for a Monday. So many business closed as if it were a Sunday. Crufixtions were normal in Jerusalem since it was the Roman way of controlling the people. So most thought Jesus was just like the other poisoner. They would come to know there was something different about this man called Jesus Great post

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    • Thanks Stu. It’s amazing when we think of something we have never thought of before. I had never thought of this in that light. But my heart just goes out to Mary in how broken she must have been. And the disciples, for that matter.

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      • Thank you, Stu.
        It is crazy! But I guess I understand…
        My personal philosophy is I’m not going out of this world in fear. If the good Lord sees that it’s my time, there’s no amount of hiding gonna stop it. Not that I’m going to town everyday for no reason. We are to be wise, but I’m not afraid I will get it from a store or passing by someone or anything.

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      • I’m not afraid of the virus. God has my time to go before I was even born. He knows the how and when I don’t. I just take the necessary precautions like washing my hands and normal hygiene

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    • Amen Kiara! All glory and praise to Him! Thank you! It was a good day, even if a totally different kind of day than usual. Hope you had a blessed one!
      I hope you decide to write on here. I think you will do a great job and have something wonderful to say. I hope I’m not overstepping by saying so. Forgive me if I am. ✌🏼🌷

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  10. this is so beautifully heart wrenching Renee…….it just breaks my heart to envision what must have been on Mary’s heart…….and through this whole Easter weekend, I just praise God for all the blessings……..we are so lucky to be safe and free to worship as we see fit………thank you for this beautiful, emotional, heart filling, reassuring and happy message.

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  11. Awe thank you Wendi! And you are welcome! God is still good and His mercy is still flowing! So thankful we are safe in a loving Savior’s arms!
    As of today, we are still free to at least assemble in a parking lot for worship in my home town. I give God the praise for that wonderful blessing!
    I certainly can sympathize with Mary, as well. It’s hard to see things change. At least these days we have God in us. They didn’t have that privilege till after the resurrection. Thanks for stopping in! 🤗

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