Daily Devotion – April 15, 2020 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison
Matthew 28:1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Jesus loves a surprise. He was always surprising people with his words and his deeds. Everyone who thought they had him figured out had a surprise coming.
Some days before they arrived in Jerusalem, just moments after Peter had confessed Jesus was the Son of God, when Jesus told his disciples he had to go to Jerusalem to die, Peter tried stopping him. Surprise. Jesus did not do that. He did not stop his journey toward Jerusalem and even called Peter Satan for trying to obstruct him.
During the week of the Passion, Judas thought he could precipitate the Messiah’s reign on earth by assisting in Jesus’ arrest. Surely Jesus would overturn the Roman occupation! Surprise. He did not do that. He did not even put up a fight when he was arrested.
As he was hanging on the cross, Jesus was taunted by both guards and one of the thieves. “Get off the cross and save yourself – and us!” Surprise. Jesus did not do that either.
And even as Jesus was raised from the dead, he did not first appear to Peter, to the remaining 11 Disciples, to the King of Israel or to the Roman Governor. Surprise. He appeared to two women who had come to finish the burial ritual. Not to the mighty. To the meek. To those rendering service. Jesus surprised people even on that day by seeking those who were generally ignored.
And Jesus continues to appear and accompany those we might never think of – he is at the side of hospital orderlies fighting the Covid 19 horrors. He is at the side of the old woman sequestered in a nursing home without family to cheer her. He is at the side of the grocery store stocker making survival possible for the rest of us. Look for Jesus in the surprising places. Always look for the surprise. If you don’t look, you’ll miss Jesus. Because that’s where he is.
Dear Lord, Thank you for loving us. Help us to see you in surprising places this week! Amen.
