Briefing: Have you ever given up on something too soon? Maybe been a little too impatient?

Dispatch (Assignment): Read John 20:10-18.

On the Street: Have you ever been on call and cleared too early, only to have something happen after you left? Example: I responded to an aggravated robbery where the suspect ran into a residential area. There must have been 20 officers in this area looking for the suspect. We even had the helicopter up circling the neighborhood. After about thirty minutes, officers started leaving to answer other calls. Eventually, my partner and I were the last car in the area. I had one of those God inspired moments where I got a clever thought. I told my partner to drive out of the neighborhood very slowly, assuming if the suspect thought all the cops were gone he would come out of his hiding spot. Sure enough, as we were slowly leaving the area, I was turned around looking behind us and saw him run across the street. We turned around and caught him trying to break into a house.

When I read this section, I cannot help but think the disciples left the tomb too soon. Mary stuck around and encountered the angels sitting on the place where Jesus’ body had been placed. After she talked to the angels, she got the honor and privilege of being the first person to see the risen Christ. Have you ever heard the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? I don’t think this saying has ever been more true.

I also get the feeling the disciples should have stuck around. One of the things Jesus tells Mary to do is to go and tell His disciples. They were there just moments before but left before Jesus arrived. They just missed out on sharing this moment with Mary.

Is there anything in your life that you have walked away from? Has God called you to a particular ministry?

Investigational Resources: In verse 12, you have one angel at the foot and one at the head. This makes me think of the cherubim on the ark of the covenant.

Officer Safety Principle: Don’t stop looking for God. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV), “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV), “But if from there you seek Yahweh your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.”

from The Gospel of John Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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