Day Nineteen of Twenty-one "Son of God"
John 20:16-17
16“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
17“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.’”
John 20:1-18
1Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
2She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!”
3Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb.
4They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn't go in.
6Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,
7while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.
8Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—
9for until then they still hadn't understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.
10Then they went home.
11Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.
12She 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.
13“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.”
14She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him.
15“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.”
16“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
17“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.’”
18Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
SORTING IT OUT Had Christ, that once was slain Ne’er burst His three day prison, Our faith had been in vain But now hath Christ arisen! - George R. Woodward
As Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, He said “It is finished” (John 19:30). Yet what sounded like the end of the story was in fact only the end of the chapter. A greater story, more wonderful, powerful, and amazing than the disciples could even imagine, was about to unfold.
Jesus, who destroyed death on the cross, rose to life, bringing everlasting life to everyone. Hundreds if not thousands of people saw His resurrected form. He walked with His disciples, performed miracles, and told His followers to go and spread the Good News of the Gospel.
Can you imagine the joy of seeing Jesus risen? Mary Magdalene, who lost all hope, was comforted. Thomas, who doubted, had his faith restored. Peter, who denied Jesus, was forgiven.
And Jesus is alive today. That comfort, faith, and forgiveness are ours forever.
YOUR TURN We serve a risen Lord! Walk in the power of the resurrection today.
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