10 Then the disciples went back to their homes’ 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- Put yourself in Mary’s place. The person you most loved and was closest to, the person who knows and understood you best, has died. Now his body has disappeared. What are you thinking and feeling?
- When was the last time you were in a cemetery? How did it make you feel to be there? How would you have felt if you suddenly realized someone was behind you? How would you react? (Mary assumed it was a “groundskeeper/gardener.”)
- Mary sees the angels and they ask, “Why are you crying?” Jesus then asks her, “Who is it you are looking for?” She has no expectation of seeing Jesus. Mary always leads with her heart – “tell me where, and I will go get his body!”
- Think of a time when your child has been lost, or someone who has been gone comes home and you just tearfully hold them tight and don’t want to let go. Mary was in that place as she held Jesus! Jesus speaks her name! How must that have felt to Mary?
- Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 – what does Paul teach us about the Resurrection of Jesus?
Prayer
Jesus, I want your resurrection to personally inspire my faith and my love for you. You spoke Mary’s name and she knew. When I was baptized, the pastor spoke my name and placed Your name on me. In that moment faith became personal for me. Move me to study and learn and continue to “look for you” at the empty tomb. There I will find the one truth that calls me to believe and to follow you as my Savior. In these times when we cannot be with one another and social distancing is the norm, I look forward to the day when, like Mary, I can wrap my arms around you and hold on to you as Mary did. I thank and praise you for giving your life to save me and guaranteeing that I, too, will rise from the dead. Holy Spirit, strengthen my faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen
Greek Words of the Day
English Word: saw | Transliterated Word: theoreo (theh-o-reh-o
The be a spectator of , discern (literal, figurative [experience] or intensive [acknowledge]: –look on, perceive, see, watch
English Word: cling | Transliterated Word: haptomai (hap-tom-ahee)
Properly to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations): – cling, handle, have sexual relations, touch
From hapto, to connect, bind. To apply oneself to, to touch; generally.
Family Engagement Activity
Today, Call someone that you haven’t spoken to in a while and during your conversation, mention this study that you have been doing and some of your learnings. Make sure you tell them you love them and how you long to see them again!
Going Activities To Consider
Going Deeper in Resurrection Apologetics: Do some reading and research about the resurrection. Read: The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona. Watch this Youtube Video Presentation by Dr. Habermas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMGLPR5X8MM Read: The Case for Easter by Lee Strobel
Consider the family activity, above.