Easter Tuesday
Acts 2:36-41
Jn 20:11-18
…she saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him.
Whenever I reflect on this passage, one question always comes to mind: Why couldn’t Mary recognise Jesus?
Was it because her eyes were blurred from tears after all the crying? Or had Jesus’ appearance changed so much after the resurrection that He was no longer immediately recognisable?
We know from Scripture how deeply Mary Magdalene loved Jesus. She remained at the foot of the Cross during His crucifixion, and she was the first to go to the tomb the next day, so early that it was still dark. Perhaps she simply wanted to be near Him, even if it was His lifeless body — to see Him, to grieve, to hold on in some way.
So when the tomb was empty, her devastation must have been overwhelming. Even that last physical connection to Jesus was gone.
Sometimes, when our expectations are shattered, we become so consumed by our own emotions — our grief, worries, and fears — that we fail to see what is right in front of us. Mary was not only grieving — she was also inwardly focused on her loss. When we turn inward, our vision narrows. We stop seeing clearly and miss what is around us.
Right now, I have trouble seeing the people around me. Literally. I have an eye condition and have been living with impaired vision in one eye for over 20 years. Until recently, I managed well because my other eye had near perfect vision. But my vision has been deteriorating, and now I see the world through blurred and distorted images. Glasses do not help, because it is an internal eye problem that cannot be fixed with external lenses.
These days, I often walk past acquaintances without recognising them — until they come really close, or call out my name, just as Mary did not recognise Jesus at first, but recognised Him when He called her by name.
It made me realise that recognition is not just about physical sight. It’s about relationship. Mary recognised Jesus not with her eyes, but with her heart. Similarly, I am now learning to recognise people not so much by sight, but by their voices — voices that are familiar to me.
The question I ask myself is this: is Jesus’ voice one of those familiar to me?
In John 10:27, Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. I know that in my daily life, I can be selective in what and whom I listen to — tuning in only to what I want to hear, or to the voices I prefer.
So when Jesus speaks — quietly, gently — do I recognise Him? Do I love Him enough that I can see Him with the eyes of my heart? Or do I miss Him completely, even when He is standing right before me?
Brothers and sisters, we celebrate Easter because Jesus loves us so much that He suffered and died for us — and rose again to give us new life. He is present, here and now, in our lives.
The question is: Do we recognise Him?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Esther Leet)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart to recognise You in my daily life. When my vision is blurred, or clouded by expectations, worries, or distractions, help me to hear Your voice and respond with faith and trust. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank You, Lord, for always being present, even when I fail to recognise You. Thank You for patiently calling me back to You. Help me to listen more attentively and to grow in a deeper relationship with You each day. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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