John 20:1-18 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Sharon Wood
New Life Christian Fellowship
Observation: We are family on mission! Happy Easter!! I see my God’s mighty power at work as Jesus beats sin and death and is raised from the dead. This in and of itself is more than enough, but God is generous, so I also see His overwhelming love for me as Jesus invites me into His family when He says, “My Father and your Father, My God and your God.” I hear Him sending me out on mission to “go and tell.” I am in Jesus’ family and He has purpose for my lifeJ As I write this, I am in awe that Jesus wants me in His family. I know this as a fact, but not sure I live it out day-to-day. I know that in my family I surrender my wants, my agenda, and my will for the benefit of the whole family. I hear God saying trust Me, I am your perfect heavenly Father, and there are some areas of your life that you have not yet surrendered to Me.
Action: My schedule is what I need to surrender to God; I know that it is too busy. To be truthful, I am surprised at how uncomfortable this is for me – I hadn’t realized that I’m living a life that in this area, by my very actions says, “I do not trust You to provide for me.” I currently work 1 full-time job and 2 part-time jobs, and while the income is nice, we do not need it to put food on the table. I want to be part of God’s family on mission and my overly busy schedule often keeps me from this. I will choose to trust God, by the end of April I will have retired from one of my jobs and will have a full day off each week.
Observation: Lord, I see that Your Resurrection is a victory and a change. You have not only defeated Your enemy and ours, but You have authored a new story, inaugurated a new reality, which You call family.
Action: Today I am praying that I can have opportunities to live more fully into this family. I am looking for whom You want me to “tell” and whom I can “invite” into Your life and mine. I will invite someone to come to my home today fir Easter dinner to do just that.
I hear today that Gods plan is ultimate and even in the most painful things; can Love for His children show in the truth of His promises if we just believe.
I will look to the example of my Fathers Love for me in the Resurrection of Jesus. I will share the example in my walk when questioned of what keeps me believing even in Times of pain. As a opportunity to share my faith in a non threatening way.
Father,
You have given so much; yet all you seek is my faith & followship of you. Shine a light over the moments where the good news of you&your promises can be shared with another.
Not in empty shoulds but intentional actions that provide a picture of Your Love &greater plan for purpose. Take my Life& make me a imperfect vessel of your truth. Let the painful moments be like fuel for my Faith; making it a strong Flame not a dim flicker.
Amen
I’m struck by how amazing this story is. How many times have I read or heard it? Jesus rose from the dead! It makes me especially happy today and thankful for the extended family I have because of His love. Today’s a celebration. Today, we’re in our happy place.
Observation: I’m struck by how Mary, in the midst of her grief, initially doesn’t recognize Jesus when he stands by her and starts talking to her. How many times have I been so overwhelmed with a situation that I don’t recognize Jesus is already there with me?
Action: To trust that Jesus is there when all I’m seeing is the chaos of a situation, and to be still and listen for Jesus’ voice and to recognize when He speaks
Thank you Sharon; I have had several interesting Kairos in the last couple of weeks including one during our worship service today at FPCConcord.
O: I have not really thought much about the incredible job Jesus 11 +1 disciples did to create so may believers. Think of the numbers that resulted from their determination to spread the Gospel. If it wasn’t for them, Jesus’ ministry would most likely have ended. I’ve thought a lot about the Great Commission may times but today, it seemed particularly challenging to me. Am I content to let others reach out? Am I willing to continue to be hesitant about fulfilling what Jesus has asked us to do? I mean REALLY working on it. Yes, my schedule is full – but it does extend the number of people I interact with who need to hear about Jesus.
R: I owe my salvation to Jesus and I owe those first disciples too, with a gratitude for the way they kept Jesus alive in ways beyond what they must have thought possible! My prayer with our family at Easter dinner today included thanksgiving for those first disciples and a need to pick up the Great Commission in a different way as a personal challenge to find ways to share the Gospel.
Plan: I need more intention about carrying out Jesus’ and his disciples zeal for spreading the Gospel. Some might say I do OK . I know I can do way more, and to do it more effectively: to grow the Kingdom of God and assist others to be saved. First, I need to keep praying about this. And as God speaks to me, I need to listen and consider what/where/how can I raise my own bar for discipleship in 2014.
Observation: I see that like Mary people are searching for you, in despair, and maybe not sure really what they are looking for . Because there you are, right there, in plain sight. She just didn’t recognize you.
Action: I need to help people recognize you. First, I have to realize they are looking for you. God, sharpen my discernment so I don’t miss them while they are missing you.