The Conqueror of Death “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord.’” John 20:18 -- It was the third day since the body of Jesus had been laid in a new tomb. Because of the Sabbath laws, completion of the burial preparations had to wait until the first day of the week. When the women and Peter and John arrived at the tomb early Easter morning, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb’s entrance. Two angels were at the tomb and chided them for seeking the “living among the dead” (Luke 24:5). He had risen, even as He had promised. John tells us the beautiful story of how Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. When she didn’t recognize the Lord, perhaps because her eyes were filled with tears, Jesus simply said, “Mary.” Marry answered, “Rabboni,” which means “Teacher.” The joy and glory of Easter for us is that Jesus calls each of us by name. He Himself said, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). Because He conquered death, we, too, shall rise when he returns on the Last Day. (Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of eternal life to us. Grant that we may live lives reflecting our love of You and our gratitude. Amen.) -- John 20:11-18 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 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,[a] “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. Footnotes: John 20:16 Or Hebrew .. Add parallel Psalm 116 English Standard Version (ESV) I Love the Lord 116 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed, even when[a] I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord! Footnotes: Psalm 116:10 Or believed, indeed; Septuagint believed, therefore
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:56:21 +0000
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