On Reflection

From the manse window

HOW good are you at waiting? I remember a TV programme where children’s personality traits were being assessed.

They were left alone with a plate of sweets in front of them and told that, if they could resist for a period of time, then they would have double the amount of sweets as a reward.

Some managed and were rewarded; others couldn’t. We live in a society where everything is available when we want it and it’s hard to resist the pull towards instant gratification.

But does God work that way? How often does the bible encourage us to be patient?

Just before Easter our bible study group finally came to the end of John’s gospel. One thing about the account of the resurrection stood out for me afresh – the fact that Mary Magdalene waited at the tomb and saw Jesus.

I love that God’s first revelation of his plan for incarnation came to a woman in the Virgin Mary and that his first revelation after resurrection also came to a woman, in Mary Magdalene.

Yet she wasn’t alone at the empty tomb. John records he and Peter were there once Mary told them that she’d found the tomb empty.

They came to confirm it for themselves. It must have been puzzling to see the graveclothes lying there: if someone had taken the body, why bother unwrapping it first? It didn’t make sense.

So what did they do? John says that they went home. To be fair, that’s what Mary did initially; she went to tell the disciples that the stone had been moved.

Maybe Peter and John ran back to tell the other disciples what they’d discovered, or maybe they were scared, even though they’d heard Jesus talk about resurrection on a number of occasions.

But Mary was in no hurry to run away this time. She stood outside the tomb weeping, and that’s when she saw Jesus. What a privilege – the first to see the Risen Lord!

Sometimes we’re in such a rush in our lives that we don’t spend time waiting for God to speak.

When I was working in full-time parish ministry I got by on arrow prayers when I should have been spending time with God.

Now, thankfully I have built that time for prayer and bible reading into my morning when I wait patiently to hear what the Lord has for me.

What if Mary had rushed away from the tomb? Would she have missed that moment with Jesus?

Our natural inclination is to get on with life and make things happen. We like to feel we’re in control when often God is looking for us to slow down and wait for him. And when we do, he reveals incredible things.

I’ve had just such a time of prayer this morning when it became more than words, and God was speaking to me about his goodness and greatness as I engaged emotionally.

The disciples had their own encounter with the Risen Lord later that resurrection day, but Mary had the first one – alone and personal. And she will always be remembered for it.

Next week: Janice Ross isn’t afraid of running out of steam!