Angels Unawares

Angels Unawares! Oh, how Mary Magdalene loved the Lord Jesus. But, as we see her at the tomb, we find her so overwhelmed with grief that she does not even question the identity of the angels in white, and does not comprehend that the one she supposes to be the gardener is really Christ, until He speaks to her.

11. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12. And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.

14. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

John 20:11-14, KJV

Angels Unawares

Oh, how Mary Magdalene loved the Lord Jesus. But, as we see her at the tomb, we find her so overwhelmed with grief that she does not even question the identity of the angels in white, and does not comprehend that the one she supposes to be the gardener is really Christ, until He speaks to her.

Would we recognize angels if they came to speak with us? Would we recognize Christ if He stood before us? Tucked away in Hebrews 13 is this little verse.

2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

We do not expect to see angels, do we? We know they appeared in Old Testament times, and we know they appeared to the Apostles, but we believe that they have no need to appear to us in this day.

I find that curious. Many have experienced situations in which their very lives were at risk, and yet something unseen seemed to intervene to keep them safe. We are willing to admit, in such cases, that angels have walked beside us and protected us, but we refuse to consider that they may actually appear to us.

Mary did not even consider it strange that two men in white were standing in the sepulchre. Why is that? The angels, although we like to paint them so, did not have wings. They appeared as two humans.

What lesson can we take away from this? As Christians, let us focus on our God whom we love and serve. Let us seek, by His grace, to grow more like Christ each day. Let us pray that all of the worries and concerns of this life will pale in comparison to our love and service for God. Perhaps we may even have the opportunity to serve angels unawares.

Next: Rabboni, verses 15-16