Before the Resurrection: When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like We HopedSample

Over the past 2 days, we have examined the events leading up to the Resurrection of Christ in terms of how it would have felt to be one of the disciples, the shame of Peter, and where we fit into this story. On our final day, we are diving into the women coming to the tomb and the hope of breakthrough for each of us.

In John 20, Mary Magdalene finds herself weeping outside the tomb of Jesus. She just watched her Savior die a painful death, one that ultimately would have shaken her faith, and now she returns to find that His Body has been moved - or possibly even stolen. Thinking that she is talking to the gardener, she even offers to go with him to get Jesus’s Body.

We know the rest of the story. We know that it is then that Jesus addresses Mary - revealing Himself as her Beloved Savior.

But, let’s take a moment to imagine if she never came to the tomb. What if Mary stayed back in fear? What if Mary, upon seeing that Jesus’s Body was gone, never said a word about it? What if she just gave up? What if she left before the angels addressed her?

Mary would have missed the moment. She would have missed the breakthrough.

And it brings about the question - have we ever missed something that Jesus was about to do in our own lives because we had our eyes elsewhere? Are we so focused on the details of Easter or the struggle in our daily lives that we miss the moment to see breakthrough?

Take a moment to reflect on the question we asked you on Day 1 … How do you feel this Easter season?

Now, take a moment to pray with us:

Lord,

It is so hard to keep our eyes on You - even as we celebrate the Resurrection. Thank You for showing us that we are in good company among Your friends in the Bible. Would You fix our eyes towards You this holiday season? Will you help us to focus more on You? We love You so much and feel so thankful to be Your children. We confess when we get it wrong and ask for You to help us reconcile that. We pray that we glorify You well this season so that more may know You - in Jesus's Name.

Amen.