This is our final devotion. Today you hear the resurrection story – Jesus has risen from the dead. Alleluia.

Take your time to read the final two chapters of John today. Read John chapters 20 and 21.

You'll find in these chapters the reason this gospel was written "so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and through believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

Let this story shape you, strengthen your belief, fill you with hope and empower you to love your neighbor.

Lauren Wrightsman

John 20:15-18

Sunday, April 1

15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" 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 Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because 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 she told them that he had said these things to her. – John 20:15-18

I have a friend who is horrible at keeping secrets! (We all have one of these, probably!) She has unwittingly shared news of pregnancies, new jobs...we have all learned not to share anything with her until we want it to become public knowledge. We love her anyway and joke that Jesus should have appeared to her at the resurrection because then the entire world would know that he has come back to life!

Jesus says to Mary, "Go, and tell my brothers – tell everyone what you have seen!" This is news too good NOT to share. How many of us, however, actually share the news of Christ's resurrection? I heard someone once say, "We loudly proclaim our anger and impatience, but only whisper of our salvation," as if it is a secret that we should keep.

Jesus came to Mary – Mary went to the disciples – and from there the good news of Christ's resurrection was told. Go! Tell the story! Tell anyone who has ears to hear, "I have seen the Lord!"

Questions for reflection:

• In what ways do you share the news of Christ's resurrection?
• How can you make your proclamation louder?

Prayer:

Resurrected Lord, help me to proclaim your resurrection to those I know and to those I meet so that they, too, may hear the great news of your love for us. Amen