Out of Order
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” —John 20:14b
Banking on the snack or beverage machine, or the restrooms or gas stations along the highway, we have groaned with the chest falling, “Oh no!” experience when we read the sign, “Out of Order.”
I have a different take on the phrase, “Out of Order.” Our 11 AM Sunday worship services are not recorded at 11 AM Sunday morning. They happen earlier in the week so that it can be ready at 11 AM Sunday. So, that taping happened this past Thursday. Later that afternoon, I read and watched the Good Friday service our church put on Facebook thanks to a talented, caring Christian couple. Then, hours later, I recorded the Maundy Thursday Communion meal service.
Yes, Holy Week 2020 got out of order!
I find this significant because Mary Magdalene was out of order, too. Her whole world had flipped. Jesus? Gardener?
Your world has flipped, too. Admit this. When we do this, we can then appreciate how much like Mary we are. We expect Jesus to be where we want him, and how, exactly, he should look and sound.
Being out of order? That’s not such a bad thing. In fact, we may likely find Jesus more in the unexpected than what we think is the expected.
PRAYER: Lord, bless the unexpected this Easter season. We may not like it, but we can use this to open the unexpected and find You. Amen.
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