Focus
Close your eyes and open yourself as you relax into a peaceful state. Be willing to expose yourself for who you are as God created you to be. Breathe deeply as you prepare to hear God’s Word.
Read
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Reflect
The tomb is empty!
In today’s scripture, Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb of Christ just after sunrise on Sunday morning. The stone has been removed from the entrance to the tomb. His body is not there. Christ has overcome the grave!
Several years ago I participated in an Easter cantata for a sunrise service at the Hillsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The church had been decorated for Easter, and a beautiful wreath of lilies on the front door greeted us as we entered the sanctuary. Several children were pointing excitedly to the back of the wreath where a bird’s nest filled with three cracked eggs sat hidden among the lilies.
Because the service was ready to start, we shushed the children and ushered them to their pews. The adults assured them nature would take care of the eggs.
After singing the last notes of our Easter cantata, we moved toward the front doors to exit the building. While our cantata music had ended, the songs of the tiny birds had just begun. Breaking free from their shells, they had found new life. Their sweet chirping reminded us of the new life we find in Christ. What a beautiful way for God to help us celebrate such a glorious day!
Pray
Heavenly Father, thank you for the empty tomb. Thank you for your mercy tree and for the sweet sounds of the resurrection. Alleluia! Amen!
Go with God!
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