SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 DEVOTION

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022

TEXT: John 20:11-23

11. Mary stood outside the grave crying. As she cried, she got down and looked inside the grave.

12. She saw two angels dressed in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had lain. One angel was where His head had lain and one angel was where His feet had lain.

13. They said to her, “Woman, why are crying?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord. I do not know where they have put Him.”

14. After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus.

15. He said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the man who cared for the garden. She said to Him, “Sir, if you have taken Jesus from here, tell me where you have put him. I will take Him away.”

16. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned around and said to Him, “Teacher!”

17. Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to Me. I have not yet gone up to My Father and your Father, and to my God and your God!”

18. Mary Magdalene went and told the followers that she had seen the Lord. She told them the things He had said to her.

19. It was evening of the first day of the week. The followers had gathered together with the doors locked because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Mary you have peace.”

20. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the followers saw the Lord, they were filled with joy.

21. Then Jesus said to them again, “Mary you have peace. As the Father has sent Me, I also am sending you.”

22. When Jesus had said this, He breathed on them. He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23. If you say that people are free of sins, they are free of them. If you say that people are not free of sins, they still have them.”

(New Life Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: ATTITUDE TO THINGS THAT MATTERS

Today’s passage is on the sacrifice that Mary made to be the first to see the risen Christ from the death. Simon Peter and John had left the tomb and went back to their homes not being sure of what had happened that the tomb was empty.

Mary stayed back weeping and still focused her eyes inside the tomb to be able to see the two angels in white. Mary was bordered by the appearance of the two angels but where they had taken Jesus to.

At her back stood a man who asked Mary what she was crying for. Mary did not care to answer him but assumed him to be part of those who has hidden the body of Jesus.

The call ‘Mary’; changed the atmosphere of tears to joy due to her attitude towards what matters. Read vs. 19-23 and you will see that it was Jesus who engaged His disciples unlike Mary who persisted and finally had her needs addressed.

QUESTION: What is your attitude to eternal things that matters?

PRAYER: Thank you Father, for women like Mary who set a precedence for us to insist on holding unto what matters, Amen.

 

Remain Blessed                                 

ECWA Food For The Day, 2022.