I Have Seen the Lord!

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

I Have Seen the Lord!

Date: Sep. 27, 2018

Passage

John 20:11-18 (ESV)

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 20:18

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

1. Woman, why are you crying? (11-15)

The two disciples went back while Mary remained crying. As she wept, she looked into the tomb and saw two angels. They asked her, "Why are you crying?" Then she saw Jesus standing there asking, "Who are you looking for?" She answered that she cried because she was looking for the dead Jesus and his body was taken away. Actually, she had no reason to cry, because Jesus had risen and was just behind her. We Christians also have no reason to cry, because Jesus has risen and he is just beside us.

2. Go instead and tell them! (16-18)

Jesus then called her by name, "Mary." Then she recognized him saying, "Rabboni!" which means "Teacher!" and wanted to hold him forever. Jesus did not allow her to hold him because he had not yet ascended to the Father. Instead Jesus gave her a joyful mission to go and tell that he has risen and is going to his Father and their Father. The risen Jesus changed Mary from a sorrowful into a joyful woman, from a meaningless woman into a missionary. Her hope now was to be raised again and go and stay with God as her Father forever.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus! You are raised from the dead. Your resurrection, ascension and command enable us to be joyful missionaries to all nations. We have hope of being with the Lord God as our Father forever in his kingdom.

One Word: Jesus has risen!

Peter is Rescued

Acts 12:1-17

Key Verse: 12:11

When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Today's Question

How do we keep the Sabbath holy?

See answer and references