Text of the Day: Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. (John 20:11-18)
Reflection Questions:
1 — As you study the story of the aftermath of the resurrection, is what comes to mind hard to understand or believe?
2 — How would you explain the resurrection to someone who had never heard it before? How can you press upon them the incredible love that this exposes?
3 — Why, do you think, did it take the disciples a while to awaken to the fact that Jesus was risen?
Want to get in touch with a pastor?
Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvillage.com (Mike Rhynus)
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