* The Promise Arose

But 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.”
   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!”
John 20:11-16 NKJV

Jesus knew Mary, even though she didn't recognize Him. As I pondered these verses about the Risen Savior, I kept wondering - Why didn't Mary know Him? Had grief blinded her? I can certainly understand that - or was it that she knew Him so well as the promised Savior that she wasn't able to see the Risen Savior? 

And then I wondered, "Do we do that?" Do we accept the written plan and promise and then not receive the actual execution - the reality of it? It's one thing to believe it in black and white, but it can be quite another to walk it out in faith...actually believing. Just something to think about at the end of the day that we celebrate the Risen Savior.

Prayer:

Father,

           Your Word tells us And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. We want to receive You and all that You have promised. Help us, O God, to believe the fulfillment of Your Plan and Promise and embrace it all! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen