Read John 20:1-31.
Can you imagine how everyone felt on that Sunday after Jesus died? Jesus had been dead for two days. From an outside perspective, it seemed all hope was lost. You can be sure that this was a bleak, sorrowful day to everyone who loved Jesus and was a committed follower of Him. We know, however, that although this day started on a sorrowful note, it did not stay that way. We know this because we have John 20.
In John 20, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb very early in the morning. As she walked up to the tomb, she noticed something very strange and alarming. The stone closing up Jesus’ tomb had been rolled away. Immediately, she ran to two of Jesus’ disciples: Peter and John (also known as “the disciple Jesus loved” in the book of John) to tell them. She thought that someone had taken Jesus. At that news, Peter and John themselves ran to the tomb to check out what had happened. They found the tomb exactly as Mary had described and saw the cloth Jesus had been wrapped in for His burial lying there. The two disciples left the tomb and went back to the place where they had been staying, but Mary stayed behind. She stood in front of the tomb, weeping. Two angels asked her why she was crying, to which she replied, “Because they have taken away my Lord… and I don’t know where they have put Him” (verse 13). Then, she turned around and saw Jesus, risen from the dead, but she did not recognize Him. She thought He was a gardener. He asked her, like the angels, why she was crying. She said, “Sir… if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him” (verse 15).
At this point in Mary’s conversation with Jesus, she still did not realize it was Him she was talking to. Suddenly, Jesus said her name. “Mary,” He said, and she immediately knew she was talking to Jesus. After their reunion, Jesus told her to go tell His disciples what she had seen (verse 17). Her message was simple: she told them what she saw. She went to them and said, “I have seen the Lord!” (verse 18).
Just like Jesus instructed Mary to spread the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, we too are called share His good news that Jesus is alive. As followers of Christ, we get to be the people to share His good news to those who do not know Him. Will you, like Mary, run with the good news that Jesus is alive and offers salvation to all who believe in Him?
If you have placed your faith in Jesus, your call is to share the good news of Jesus with those who do not know Him. You can do this by sharing your story of how God has changed you. You have been challenged throughout this study of John to write down your story and practice it. Now, it’s time to share your story. Think today of one person in your life who does not know Jesus. Today, tell them your story of how God has changed your life.
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