Today's Passage - John 20:11-18

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 20: 11-18   ....The angel said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?"  "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."  At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.   He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"  Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."   Jesus said to her, "Mary."  She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").   Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"   Mary was trying to find Jesus' body but in vain; then Jesus appeared to her at that moment.  Even though Jesus was standing in front of her, she did not recognize Him. Why couldn't Mary recognize Jesus? Because the resurrected Jesus appeared as a spirit, different from the ordinary people; Mary, therefore, could not recognize Jesus. But amazingly, when Jesus called her name, Mary suddenly came to know this familiar voice.  Filled with sudden warmth in her heart, Mary turned around and shouted, "Teacher!"  I believe Mary was excited and filled with indescribable joy.   Jesus responded instead, "Do not touch me." The original text is actually "do not hold onto me"   Perhaps Mary was calling out in her heart, "Oh Lord, please do not leave me again. Your death has brought us such heartache. Do not leave us again.  Stay with us forever; I want to see you and follow you every day."  Yet Mary could not understand that Jesus had to return to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to this world to be with us.  Jesus, therefore, told Mary, "I have to fulfill God's will.  Do not hold onto me. It is only after I have accomplished God's will, God's heart would be satisfied; people's hearts would also be fulfilled with the coming of the Holy Spirit."   Brothers and sisters, may the Lord help us. Many believe because they wanted to hold onto the belief of Jesus, but overlooked what is truly the kingdom of God. Yes, we wanted the Lord to be with us, but He has his own way and God's will has to be accomplished, not only to our satisfaction, but that all the nations and their people would turn to Him.  Are we being considerate of God's desire?    May the Lord help us so that we can hold on to Jesus closely and follow Him!                                     Pray with Pastor Tong           Help us Lord that we may learn to follow you in our daily livings.  Often times we hold on to you just for our own satisfaction. May the Lord open our hearts so that we may know your desire and follow your footsteps.  With thanks we pray, in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!