MARY MAGDALENE< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

John 20:1-18

Anytime we allow His hand to pass over without holding on to Him, He will pass it on to who is available to catch His hand. Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons, was the first at the tomb where Jesus was laid. John 20:1, ÒNow 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.Ó Her findings made her the first to announce to the disciples that the Lord has been taken away from the tomb. Peter and the other disciples came and confirmed that the Lord was no longer in the tomb, but they could not wait, they went back to their own homes. Mary Magdalene stayed. John 20:11, ÒMary stood outside of the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stopped down and looked into the tomb.Ó In her weeping and waiting, Jesus eventually appeared to Mary. Jesus asked her why she was weeping and who she was seeking. Mary, a woman with ill-repute got commissioned by Jesus to go and declare that the Lord was ascending. John 20:17, ÒJesus said to her, ÔDo not cling to Me, for I have not ascended to my Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father and to my God and your God.ÕÓ A woman who had seven demons cast out from her was able to wait and receive a commission that could have been passed to any of the disciples if they have been able to wait. Jesus will send and use whoever makes himself or herself available. It is time to stop rushing to your own home. Let his peace give you rest, wait on Him where He has been waiting for you to receive Him and His hand will not pass you or leave you behind.