Monday Devo
Scripture:
Early 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. 2 She 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!”
Commentary:
20:1 The first day of the week is Sunday morning, which from then on has been the day that believers set aside as the normal day of worshiping the Lord (see Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). Mary Magdalene left before dawn to go to Jesus’ tomb to complete the burial preparations (Luke 24:1), which had to be left undone due to the beginning of the Sabbath. The Synoptic parallels indicate that other women were with her, as is also implied by the “we” in 20:2. while it was still dark. Cf. the slightly different points in time of the process depicted in Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2; and Luke 24:1. Matthew’s Gospel explains that the stone had been “rolled back” by “an angel of the Lord” (Matt. 28:2).
20:2 At this point Mary has no thought of resurrection. The plural we suggests the presence of other women besides Mary.
20:2 At this point Mary has no thought of resurrection. The plural we suggests the presence of other women besides Mary.
Questions:
- Clayton talked on Sunday about "running on empty." First Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples the tomb was empty, and then the disciples ran to see for themselves. They ran! They didn't eat breakfast first, the didn't make any excuses. They IMMEDIATELY ran to see. Peter and the "other disciple" actually raced to the tomb. Think of the excitement and passion it would take to get you to drop everything and take off running. When you think of the resurrection, does it stir any excitement in you? Or has the story of Jesus' rising from the dead become just something we talk about?
- An EMPTY tomb ignites RUNNING with BELIEF. Did you know that even the disciples, even Paul, even James, Jesus' own brother, didn't believe Jesus had risen from the dead until they saw it with their own eyes? They saw him alive and they touched him with their hands. That means we don't have to take anything on blind faith. The disciples didn't even do that. We can believe WITHOUT seeing because they believed AFTER seeing. What does this do for your faith? How much does it bolster your confidence in what you say you believe?
Pray:
- That Jesus' resurrection from the dead would stir up passion within you.
- That you would have even more confidence that Jesus did, indeed, rise from the dead.
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