“Mary stood weeping outside the tomb… She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him…’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni!..’
“Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, [with] Thomas… Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands;.. and place [your hand] in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!'” John 20:11,14-16,26-28
“That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus,.. talking with each other about all these things that had happened… Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him… Then one of them, Cleopas, [said], ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened… concerning Jesus of Nazareth.., and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up… and crucified him?’… He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe..! And beginning with Moses.., he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself…
“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him… They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, [and] opened to us the Scriptures?..’ Then they told… how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
“As they were talking about these things, Jesus stood among them, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ They were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. He said, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see.'” Luke 24:13-16,18-20,25,27,30-32,35-39
Mary, Thomas, Cleopas and companion, the Twelve… one by one the followers of Jesus, shattered by His cruel, unjust death, at first failed but came to recognize His resurrected body. What they’d known in part Jesus revealed anew by His power and ministry.
We can manufacture expectations for where we think the Lord should show up and how He’ll behave. We want Him on our time and terms. But the Lord Jesus, always true to His character, has deeper and more far-reaching purposes for our understanding His majesty. To the disciples, He revealed himself by knowing their names, comforting fear, explaining Scriptures, and offering His scars. For us, He meets misunderstandings, sorrow, curiosity, and doubts too, with reminders that He knows and loves us, understands our needs, died for our sins, and is personally present for every aspect of our lives.
How has the Lord recently made Himself known in His Word? My life circumstances? Other people? Do I have only past experiences but dim current expectation or recognition? What am I doing to develop and maintain a close relationship with Him?
Where am I bereft? Confused? Hungry? Anxious? Dismayed? Jesus is alive and present for every pang! How will I seek and marvel at His glorious, living presence with me? (Psalm 46:1)
Lord, may I look for and delight in Your life in mine, to Your praise. 
As the rain and snow 