The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 31 March 2024 – Encountering The Risen Jesus
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TOPIC: Encountering The Risen Jesus
READ: John 20:1-18 (NKJV)
- On the first [day] of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw [that] the stone had been removed.
- Then she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciples, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
- Peter, therefore, went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.
- So they ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
- And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying [there;] yet he did not go in.
- Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying [there]
- and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded together in a place by itself.
- Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also, and he saw and believed.
- Yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
- Then, the disciples went away again to their own homes.
- But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down [and looked] into the tomb.
- And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
- Then they asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
- Now, when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing [there], but she did not know that it was Jesus.
- Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
- Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
- Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and [to] My God and your God.’ “
- Mary Magdalene told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and [that] He had spoken these things to her.
THE MESSAGE:
Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before our text today, we saw the suffering, persecution, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ. He was buried in a remarkable tomb closed with a big stone and under the watch of soldiers to prevent His resurrection (Matthew 27:62-66). However, these human efforts could not hinder God’s plan, and Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. Mary Magdalene, a faithful disciple, came to the tomb early on the third day but found it empty. She quickly called Peter and John’s attention to this. After that, Peter and John came and saw the empty tomb, the only contents of which were the burial linen used to wrap the Lord’s body. Shortly after, they left without any further inquiry but with the assumption that some persons may have taken His corpse away. The persistence and uncommon love of Mary made her stay behind, and she had her first encounter with the risen Lord.
Casual seekers will never see the Lord, only the empty tomb. Those who diligently seek the Lord with all their heart will experience His divine love and encounter. As we celebrate the Risen Lord, let us wait for Him to reveal Himself to us so that we may discover the power that raised Him from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus will only be meaningful if we experience Him and become saved.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, give me the grace to seek You a little longer so I can encounter You, Amen!
