Title: Seeds of Miracles
The Gospel of John (110) The Seed of Miracles (John 20:1-13)
<Do not forget the grace>
There is a statue of a dog named ‘Pido’ in a small town in Italy. One day, Fido fell into the water and was rescued by a man from the brink of death. He brought Pido home and raised him, and no matter how much he knew and loved his master, he followed him to the bus stop every day when he went to work and went to the bus stop every day to meet the owner.
One day, while returning on the bus, the bus was hit and killed by a bomb during World War II. Even that day, bloody was waiting for the owner at the stop, but the owner did not come. From then on, he did not leave the station for 13 years, waiting for his dead master, and eventually died there. Even the dog knows the grace of the owner who saved him. If you have received any kind of grace from someone like that, never forget that grace, and never forget the saving grace of the Lord.
In the text, Mary Magdalene meets the first resurrected Lord from among men. How did she become so blessed? Because he longed for the Lord earnestly. Early in the morning on the first day after the Sabbath, while it was still dark, she was the first to come to Jesus' tomb (v. 1). When Peter and John the Apostle came to the tomb and saw that the body of Jesus was missing, she did not leave the tomb, saying, “There is no Lord!” After being possessed by seven demons, she was healed, remembered the grace, and loved Jesus like a dog.
Who meets the Lord and experiences His grace? Those who love and yearn for the Lord will meet the Lord. Also, those who love and serve the Church, the body of the Lord, experience the grace and blessings of the Lord. Visit church often. Seek to pray, to serve, to visit often to see if you need anything. Also, no matter what trials you face, don't let the love of the Lord and the love of the church retreat and throw away your complaints and resentment.
Thinking of the grace of salvation, do not leave the side of the Lord like Mary Magdalene in the midst of any trials, and pray like this so that you may carry out the work that pleases the Lord to the end. "God! Give me the strength to be loyal to so many whimsy, to be more loyal than any loyal dog!” Let a dog be faithful until death. Just as people erected statues, if they are loyal to God, they will surely receive the Lord's love, grace, and blessings. But love the Lord unchangingly even if you are not blessed.
< Seeds of Miracles >
As Mary looked into the tomb weeping, two angels in white were sitting at the head and feet of Jesus' body (verse 12). To see the sudden appearance of two angels who had not been there before, even the most courageous man would be shocked and his liver would drop, but Maria did not show any signs of surprise. Then the angel asked, “Why are you weeping?” She replied, “We wept because they did not know where the body of the Lord was laid” (verse 13).
How bold are you? Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). If you love Jesus supremely, all fears in life will disappear and despair will disappear. Therefore, live with bold faith in the Lord. The risen Lord has promised final victory. Therefore, in life, do not look to the empty tomb and the field of failure, but look to the risen Lord. And don't look at despair, look at hope, don't look at the downside, look at the strength.
Living boldly does not mean being without blood or tears. Don't shed tears of sorrow, but shed many tears of love. When I was young, I was told that crying is stupid. In the world, those who do not cry are victorious, but those who know how to shed many tears of emotion and gratitude in front of the Lord are the victors. When grace abounded, it was usually when there were tears. In the same way, admit defeat and cry a lot in front of the Lord, but never shed tears in the face of other fearful events, hardships, and failures, and only think of devoting yourself to the Lord.
The three Marys who loved Jesus the most in the Bible are the Virgin Mary, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene. Among them, Mary Magdalene devoted herself quietly, following the Lord like a single-minded dandelion wherever He went. Together with several other women, she followed the long way from Galilee to Jerusalem to serve Jesus only to serve Him (Matthew 27:55-56). She had no intention of receiving anything from the Lord, only that she would give, give, and dedicate. That heart is the seed of miracles.