October 2025 Writen by Amy Davies
Authentic Encounter
As we return to the story, we meet Mary outside the tomb, as she weeps, bent over to look inside, seeing two angels seated where His body should have laid. Mary is open and honest when asked the reason for her tears, she explains her thoughts that her Lord has been taken away to a place she does not know. Interestingly, as she turns to see Jesus standing there, she does not recognise Him, assuming He was the gardener. This raises a question for us all - how often do we expect Him to show up? Perhaps you already pray with a strong faith, convinced Jesus will come through for you, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who prays with faith just about as small as a mustard seed - often doubtful, so quick to negate my prayers by drowning once again in the swirling waves of the storm, shifting my gaze from Saviour to circumstance in an instance.
In Luke 24:5, the women are asked “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” which gets me thinking about how we can remain in the wrong places - we remain at the tomb, rehearsing our past, fearing our future and overwhelmed by life, when the truth is, Jesus is risen and hope is alive, if only we would move in step with Him - He’s already up and gone! The tomb is empty and we can live our lives in the freedom of this incredible truth.
So far I can see some clear life application in this profound encounter -
Firstly, I think we need to:
● Remember - remember all He has done - when I contemplate what led Mary to stay, to follow, to watch on as her innocent Lord was brutally killed before her, and to remain and return to the tomb - I can only think that she remembered - the miracle of her deliverance, the kindness in His eyes, His loving compassion to all He met. There is power in remembering what He has done for you too - if He has done it before, He will do it again.
● Remain - in spite of what vies for our attention, for what calls us away and demands our time - we find that secret place and we stay close to our Lord.
● Get raw - Mary wept at the tomb of Jesus. She was grieving. She felt emotion. And she let it out. Women are often required to be strong and to shoulder so many things in life, but there is also strength in emotion. It is ok to not be ok. Jesus is ready to receive us at our most vulnerable, if only we’ll let him. Somehow numbing the pain with scrolling, drink, chocolate, whatever it might be seems so much more enticing - but it’s only with the source of life we will find healing.
● Allow ourselves to be real - Mary was willing to share her sadness and confusion with the angel. She didn’t lock it up inside. We can share where we are at - society so often tells us to put on a brave face, but there is such a powerful witness in living in authenticity.
Back to the story, it is when Jesus calls her by name, “Mary” that she turns towards Him and cries out “Teacher!” Jesus tells us in John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me”. Mary had made her dwelling place in Him, she lived in relationship with Jesus and knew the call of her Lord. Do you recognise His voice? In the depths of your grief, pain, hopelessness and despair, can you hear Him calling?
Jesus goes on to give Mary an instruction so powerful, a great commission of her own -
And, in admirable obedience, off Mary went to bear joyful witness to all she had seen and heard.
Ready and Willing
So what does this mean for us?
● We rotate - away from our sin, away from the churning waves of circumstance, to the face of Jesus, positioned to be embraced by the loving arms of our Saviour.
● We revel - in Jesus - lift a joyful noise to the Lord, sing, dance, thank and praise Him. For He is good, even when our circumstances are not.
● We respond - in love, in action, in courage - sharing the story of our risen Lord and Saviour. We listen and we obey.
As one who was present, Mary allowed herself to be available to Jesus. Ready and willing to respond to His call, entrusted with spreading the greatest news to ever be told. I wonder what Jesus is asking you to do today? “But I’m too young, too old, too shy, too scared, not qualified…” - simply do what you can, just as you are.
In living their lives in Him, Mary and the female followers of Jesus stepped up and did what they could. As women of their time, they couldn’t speak before the Sanhedrin in Jesus’ defence, they couldn’t appeal to Pilate, stand against the crowds or overpower the Roman guards, but they could remain at the cross, follow Him beyond death, prepare spices for His body in burial. They chose to serve in small, yet immensely significant ways, and as a result of using the opportunities they had, they were those blessed to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.
So, women of God, be encouraged - you don’t have to preach from the pulpit or be a missionary, we each have our own unique gifts and ways in which we can walk in Him. Start with the little things, even if they go unnoticed - acts of random kindness, showing the love of Jesus, teaching your children a story of God, it could even be as simple as sharing a smile with a stranger. Who knows how we can bless others and share the good news, until we try using what we’ve got. Give it a go and see what happens!
