Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that He had said these things to her (John 20:18).
Heavenly Father, we borrow words of praise from the hymnwriter, Your love has no limits, Your grace has no measure Your power no boundary known unto men...
In our day, with over two thousand years of history between us and the time the Lord Jesus walked the earth, many do not understand the radical and revolutionary love and grace our Lord introduced into society, culture, and relationships.
The apostle Paul was later to reiterate the boundary-leveling, wall-smashing, stereotype-upending nature of the gospel, There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
Oh, but how our Lord demonstrated this in His ministry, in His interactions, and in His relationships! And nowhere more strongly than by appearing first to a woman after His resurrection from the dead! And significantly, to Mary Magdalene, a woman who chose to walk steadfastly in the grace and healing she had received from Jesus.
In our modern world, the tendency is to be either largely dismissive of demonic influence as superstitious and mythical, unsophisticated and medically ignorant; or to view it through the lenses of movie-style drama. Yet, we know that the power of evil is real, and that its presence is often palpable.
Although we may not understand all the details of how the dominion of darkness (Colossians 1:13) influences people and impacts our world, we know from Jesus, the One who is above the rulers,...the authorities,...the powers of this dark world and...the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms Ephesians 6:12), that evil can invade a life and a soul. And we know that He delivered Mary Magdalene from demonic powers.
And to this woman, freed from oppressive evil and resurrected from spiritual death, the Savior chose to bring the first joyful evidence of His resurrection—the ultimate resurrection that would conquer evil forever.
Oh unfathomable, uncontainable all-wise God, God who chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God who chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27), thank You for Your limitless love, Your measureless grace, Your incredible esteem.
Thank You for introducing Your radical grace into all our lives—into the lives of the marginalized, the disdained, the disregarded and the outcast in equal measure with kings, princes, and nobles.
We look to Your example, Lord! Break down our limits, shatter our stereotypes, expand our horizons. Master Teacher, “Rabboni” teach us Your ways.
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision, Our God ever yearns His resources to share; Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing; The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
~ Annie J. Flint ~
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