THINK TOGETHER.
What does it feel like when you see a friend that you haven’t seen in a long time?
READ TOGETHER.
John 20:11-17. 11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb… 14she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus 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.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus 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.’”
The Mary in this story is Mary Magdalene, not Mary, Jesus’ mom. The Bible tells us that before Mary knew Jesus, she had a terrible life. In fact, she even had a demon living inside of her. That’s scary! But when Mary met Jesus, he healed her, forgave her, and he set her free from that demon. Mary loved Jesus very much. That’s why when Jesus died she was devastated. She was even more devastated when she got to Jesus’ tomb and found his body missing. John 20:11 says that she stood weeping outside the tomb.
But like he did before, Jesus is about to change Mary’s life forever. How? By rising from the dead, and then appearing to her.
First, Jesus rose from the dead. We read about that on Day 93. Even death couldn’t stop Jesus. His perfect life did not deserve death, so God raised him from the dead. Jesus has conquered death and sin so that we too can live forever perfectly with him. Yay!
Then, Jesus appeared to Mary and his disciples. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead and then disappear. He met Mary in the garden. He revealed himself to her. He spoke with her. He gave her a hug and told her what to do next – but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (We’ll talk more about what ascending means in a few days)
Rise. Appear. This is not only what Jesus did, but this is what everyone who trusts in Jesus will do too. We will rise from the dead and then we will appear with Jesus. Listen to how the Apostle Paul says it here:
Colossians 3:4. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
When we trust in Jesus to save us he becomes our life. Our eternal life with God. One day Jesus will appear to us again, just like he did to Mary in that garden. That day when Jesus appears, all who believe in him will appear with him. Those that died will rise from the grave, just like Jesus. And those who are alive still will join him where he is and appear with him in glorious victory over sin and the Devil once and for all.
What a great day that will be!
Because of Jesus we will appear with him in glory.
With Jesus we can look forward to the day when he returns and makes everything perfect again.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Make Colossians 3:4 your family memory verse.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, I can’t wait for you to appear so I can see you and know you like Mary did. Come quickly. Amen.
TLICfamily 