Daily Devotionals

Easter 2022: Saturday

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. John 20:18

Some experiences, whether good, bad, hard, or sad, change us. One experience that changed me was moving schools in my tenth-grade year of high school. Suddenly I was in a brand-new place where I did not know anyone. Starting a new school stretched me and grew me in ways I did not even realize I needed to grow. It changed me. Maybe you can think of something you faced that changed you. These experiences are monumental in our lives, but nothing we ever face is more life-changing than the good news that Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin and death.

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of the way Jesus changes our lives in Scripture can be found in Mary Magdalene’s interaction with Jesus after He had risen from the grave in John 20. This interaction takes place shortly before Thomas’s reaction to hearing that Jesus had risen from the grave that we looked at earlier this week. John 20 tells us that Mary Magdalene, believing that Jesus was dead, went to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. Assuming that Jesus’ body had been stolen, she was very upset. Suddenly Jesus appeared, but she did not recognize Him. He asked her why she was crying. After a little bit of conversation, Jesus said her name, “Mary” (verse 16). When Jesus said her name, Mary immediately knew it was Him. Immediately, Jesus instructed her to go tell Jesus’ disciples that Jesus was alive. Obeying Jesus’ instructions, she “found the disciples and told them, ‘I have seen the Lord!’” and gave them a message from Jesus (verse 18). Jesus’ message changed Mary. It caused her to run with the message that Jesus was alive. 

My friend, just like Jesus’ resurrection changed Mary, it changes us as well. Because of His resurrection from the dead, He overcame sin and death. This means we can have eternal life with Him forever if we place our faith in Him. This is the best news we will ever hear, and it changes us. When we believe in Jesus and His resurrection and place our faith in Him, we are His children and a part of His family forever. This news is too good to keep to ourselves! Who can you tell about this good news today?

Moving toward action

Like Mary Magdalene, we are called to share the news that Jesus offers life and freedom from sin and death. One way to share this news is to invite people to church with you. Think of one person who you can invite with you to one of our weekend services. We cannot wait to worship with you!

Going Deeper

John 20:11-18 (NLT)

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.