H. L. Sheppard

Bulletin

April 2007

STANDING SOMEWHERE

IN THE SHADOWS

Anxious sounds of her tearful sobbing caught the early morning breeze and drifted somberly through the garden. Initial colors of early Spring time bore witness to the pain of this sensitive soul who sorrowfully agonized in her aromatic embrace. Through tear dimmed eyes she meticulously examined every corner of the stone mausoleum. His grave clothes were carefully folded and lying neatly where He was laid to rest only a few hours ago. But, He was nowhere to be found. His tomb was empty!

A troubling question filled her mind’s thought:

“Where is Jesus?”

And isn’t that the question that so often assails the child of faith during times of debilitating sorrow and titanic testing?

The others had come and gone. Even John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was not inclined to investigate further. He was probably certain that his Lord had risen, as Jesus said He would. But, Mary lingered still.

A torrent of warm tears trickled down her fevered cheeks. She was hurting. Now she felt forsaken. Her friends came with her to the cemetery to see an empty tomb. Mary stayed to search for its only occupant.

Suddenly, softly, from the shadows just behind her she heard a voice call out:

“…Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master (John 20:15-16).”

After everyone else had left the graveyard with that “Where is God” question still echoing off the garden walls, Mary stood still at the tomb, weeping, wondering, longing, hoping that she could find Him and that He would make sense of all that had happened in the last three days. Then, a tender voice behind her spoke to her despair. It sounded familiar. She couldn’t be sure. But yes, it was Him. He hadn’t gone anywhere, He was still very near. He wanted her to need Him, pursue Him, find Him.

Standing just outside your physical reach on the perimeter of your spiritual senses, just beyond the well-worn path at the edge of the garden, somewhere over in the shadows of your human reality, there is Jesus. His identity is slightly concealed by the dim light of the early morning hour. But, He is there just the same. His presence is not intrusive. His purpose is not to interfere, but He is there.

Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus, and you’ll know Him by the nail-prints in His hands.