John 20

The Risen Lord encounters each of us in the depths of our emptiness and fear, heals us, fills us with His Spirit, and calls us to rejoice in the new life He gives us.

"But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall." (1)

The Healer Rises

Before dawn, Mary Magdalene,
Saw the stone had been rolled away
She told Peter what she had seen:
"They've taken Him from where He lay."

To the tomb, ran Peter and John.
The burial cloths, set apart,
Bore witness to the Life's New Dawn!
John believed fully from his heart.

But Mary, weeping at the tomb,
Went in, and saw two angels there.
"Woman, why do you weep with gloom?"
"They took my Lord away somewhere."

Then Mary turned around to see
A man: "Woman, why do you weep?
Who are you looking for? Mary!"
"Teacher!" Her heart soared with a leap.

Mary went to the upper room,
And told His brothers what happened.
"I've seen the Lord! His empty tomb!
To His Father, He will ascend."

That night, the doors were locked in fear.
Jesus appeared to them and said:
"Peace be with you." Then He drew near
and showed Himself, risen, not dead.

They rejoiced when they saw the Lord!
"Peace be with you!", He said once more.
He breathed - His Spirit was outpoured.
On them - they were changed to the core.

Thomas, not there when He appeared,
Doubted their word and wouldn't believe.
The doors were locked, as they still feared.
The Lord returned so he'd perceive.

"Peace be with you. Put your hand here.
Believe what you see; doubt no more."
"My Lord and my God!" - he drew near
To worship Him as ne'er before.

"So you believe because you see?
Blessed are those who have not seen
And yet believe." was His decree.
As they were left, full and serene.

The Risen overcomes the gloom;
He enters through the walls of fear;
His Spirit fills the inner room,
Of hearts that believe and draw near.

Draw to the Risen Lord with joy!
All who receive Him, He'll employ.


May the companionship of the Risen Lord overcome our gloom, fear, and disbelief and fill us with the joy of new life.

1. Malachi 4:2


(c) Paul Buis, 2005