Listen to today’s devo!

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. (John 20:14)

Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman who is credited with many innovative developments in mass communication, electrical power, sound recording, and motion pictures. Many have tried to learn from his imaginative processes to discover his principles for experimentation and invention. Some of the concepts he worked on were left to gather dust on his lab floor; other experiments led to life-changing discoveries. He once said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” The realization of an idea comes in time, and some never push through to that end.

As we sit by what feels like an empty tomb, whether it be the remnants of a lost job or the cancer report in the doctor’s office, we find it difficult to see Jesus when he stands right in front of us. Like Mary, we struggle to realize Jesus in these events. Often, such a realization comes later, once we have hindsight and insight to bring clarity to our lives. Rarely do we have moments when all the many experiences we have had come together into one big “Eureka!”

The ultimate realization comes when we are able to see Jesus right where we are and in the gardeners and marginalized and broken around us—to notice God when he shows up.

Reflect on the past events where you missed seeing Jesus.

Rich Eckley is professor emeritus of theology at Houghton College (NY). He is an ordained Wesleyan minister, and enjoys—with his wife Lynn—entertaining four active grandchildren.

© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House.  Reprinted from Light from the Word.  Used by permission.  Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.