Lest We Give Up

The skies were laden with thick dark clouds. As the morning breeze lifted the air, it felt chilly. The stage was set up for a cold, overcast day. It has been a long week. I have forgotten what happiness is like. We struggle in our own strength. We carry our troubles instead of His Presence.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." NKJV John 20:1-2.

Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." NKJV John 20:11-13.

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). NKJV John 20:14-16.

It was forgone. He was supposed to be deader than dead. Thirty-nine times as the Roman whip fell on His body, it ripped His flesh apart and pulled them right out. The first whip would have sent shockwaves through His body and perhaps knocking Him unconscious. Subsequent lashes plowed deeper into the open wounds and broke His nerves. It was forgone. He was supposed to be deader than dead. A limp bloody body hanging on the cross for six hours, then He died. But Mary, her heart went out to her Rabbi. She had gone out to the tomb that morning to care for His corpse. The last thing that she would have expected was that He had risen, came back to life.

I stared hard into the horizon. My focus narrowed down to the silver lining beneath the dark clouds. The harder I looked, the deeper I saw. As small gaps opened amongst the thick patches of clouds, I saw glorious sunrays behind the veil of dark clouds. Although it was not apparent, it was enough to cheer my heart. I was reminded that we may never know what lies behind the dark clouds of life lest we give up, we could be facing a glorious sunrise if we press on!

For the Top Hand - You told me not to preach to you, I'm not. These words are from my heart. Please allow me to share them with you until the day that living water stops flowing into this heart.

Xiao Guo ",+