LIVING IN THE POWER OF THE RISEN LORD III

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the  sepulchre, and we know not where they have liad him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, an came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, say the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre … Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your father, and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”

John 20:1-18, KJV

According to the account of John, three people went to the sepulchre – Peter, John and Mary Magdalene. It was very clear that despite following Jesus for three and half years, his disciples did not really understand his mission. They watched Jesus very closely and saw all the miracles he performed. Jesus cast out seven demons out of Mary Magdalene and that made all the difference in her life. She was deeply in love with Jesus, she became a true worshipper. Her sister, Martha was a worker.

Today, there are two classes of people in the Church – the workers and the worshippers. The Church raises workers, I am yet to see any Church that have worshippers-in-training classes, all they have is workers training. There is no training for worshippers. Martha was a worker, Mary was a worshipper. When Jesus visited their home, Martha was all over the place fixing things, running around in the kitchen and setting the table while Mary was at the feet of Jesus.

Martha was displeased with Mary and complained to Jesus. Jesus told her, Martha, you are preoccupied with things that don’t add up. But Mary has chosen the best part. That best part is the presence of God. When we get to heaven, we will realize that the best time we ever spent here were the times we spent in the presence of God. A lot of people are wasting their time focusing on everything that does not matter.

Today, the Church is full of workers but God is still looking for those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. True worship is not cheap. The foundation of true worship is love. You don’t teach a worshipper how to serve in the kingdom. In fact, a lot of people have redefined worship to mean the slow paced worship songs that we sing in the Church on Sundays. Worship is not what you do, worship is who you are.

TO BE CONTINUED.