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 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)
We celebrate this Jesus — the One who conquered death and rose again, the One who sees us and calls us by name, the One who meets us in our grief and hopelessness.
He is risen.
He is life.
He is with us.
Our message to others today is the same as Mary’s then: we have seen the Lord! May we rejoice in this truth and may the power of the resurrection be evident in our lives! Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Happy Easter!
– from the (in)courage team
Leave a Comment
Michele Morin says
Yes, I was just reading in Matthew that the women received the news of resurrection “with fear and great joy!”
It’s amazing how those two emotions could live in one space at the same time, and it encourages me to press all the way through to rejoicing in so many areas of life where fear lives.
Thank you for all you do to encourage us here with words that point toward truth!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Dear (in)courage friend,
May the resurrection power of Jesus be in you to defeat fear, loneliness, sorrow, anger, hopelessness, and all the arsenal of the enemy. May we rejoice, together, that He IS Risen!! He is Risen, indeed! And in that fact, there is hope, healing, and the blessed promise of eternity with Him. May that bring us joy even amidst the trials of life.
Easter blessings,
Bev xx
Beverly says
With your permission I would love to share this with a team of moms and older kids who are in Africa right now going into orphanages to share love and hope. This was the Sunday School lesson I taught this morning, and I think your words would encourage them and give them boldness for what’s ahead.
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Beverly,
Certainly….I will pray for the moms and kids. I head up a Foundation that serves orphans in the Middle East….providing them with a school that gives them the hope of an education and the love of Christ. God bless those who look after the orphans and widows…..
God bless them and you,
Bev xx
Kathy Cheek, Devotions from the Heart says
It is my solemn prayer this Easter Sunday morning that the gospel message of Jesus Christ our Redeemer who lives will turn the world upside down again like it did two thousand years ago.
Happy Easter!
Kathleen K. says
Happy Easter everyone! We are so blessed. HE is risen. Praise The Lord!
Louise says
Amen and Amem!!!!
Carol says
I wonder how many times we have encountered Jesus and failed to recognize Him? Open our eyes Lord!
Beth Williams says
In Courage,
We had a sunrise service about the son rise. The empty tomb is our proof of a risen Lord. May we all live in a way that displays His love & compassion to the world. Let’s turn this world upside down with the good news that Jesus is risen!! Let’s spread joy & dispel all the fear & trembling in this world.
Joy to the World the Lord is come Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare Him room & Heaven & nature sing….He rules the world with truth & grace & make the nations prove the Glories of His righteousness & wonders of His love.
Joy everyone Have a blessed Easter!! 🙂