You know how you can read a story you think you know, and then you read it again and see something you've never seen? You know how you can read about the same event 100 times and then on the one hundred and first hear something so striking and new that it makes you wonder if you slept through the other times? Maybe it's because you started in the middle of the story instead of at the beginning. Or perhaps it's because someone else reads it aloud and pauses at a place where you normally wouldn't and POW! It hits you. You grab the book and look at it, knowing that someone copied or read something wrong. But then you read it and well, what do you know... there it is! Well, it happened to me. Today. Only God knows how many times I've read the resurrection story. At least a couple of dozen Easters and a couple of hundred times in between. I've taught it. I've written about it. I've meditated on it. I've underlined it. But what I saw today I'd never seen before.
What did I see? Before I tell you, let me recount the story. It's early dawn on Sunday morning and the sky is dark. Those, in fact, are John's words. It was still dark… — John 20:1 It's a dark Sunday morning. It had been dark since Friday. Dark with Peter's denial. Dark with the disciples' betrayal. Dark with Pilate's cowardice. Dark with Christ's anguish. Dark with Satan's glee. The only ember of light is the small band of women standing at a distance from the cross — "watching from a distance" (Matthew 27:55). Among them are two Marys. One the mother of James and Joseph, and the other is Mary Magdalene. Why are they there? They are there to call Jesus' name. To be the final voices He hears before His death. To prepare His body for burial. They are there to clean the blood from His beard. To wipe the crimson from His legs. To close His eyes. To touch His face. They are there. The last to leave Calvary and the first to arrive at the grave. |
|
|
She was the last at the cross and the first at the grave. |
She was the last at the cross and the first at the grave. |
|
|
So, early on that Sunday morning, they leave their pallets and walk out onto the tree-shadowed path. Theirs is a somber task. The morning promises only one encounter: an encounter with a corpse. Remember, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary don't know this is the first Easter. They are not hoping the tomb will be vacant. They aren't discussing what their response will be when they see Jesus. Their dreams have been dashed. They have absolutely no idea that the grave has been vacated. - In James 1:5, we read, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (NKJV). What fresh insights do you need from God today for a problem you are facing?
- In what ways are you feeling stuck or stagnant in your walk with God? In what areas of your life do you need to encounter "the God of surprises"?
Mary Magdalene's tears show us that she didn't wake up that Sunday morning expecting Jesus to be alive. Her Lord was dead, and she was devastated. Yet, even though He was executed on a cross — a shameful way to die — she wasn't ashamed of Him. She wasn't angry with Him. She didn't betray Him. - She was the last at the cross and the first at the grave.
Mary Magdalene embodies loyalty. No matter what other people said about Him, what she understood of Him, or what hopelessness she felt, she chose to stand by Jesus. She served Him till the end... or what she thought was the end. This lesson, as we look at her faith, let's ask God to give us Mary Magdalene devotion. Let's ask God to help us stand by Him and serve Him no matter what life brings or how hopeless we feel. Let's ask Him to allow the resurrection story to stir fresh excitement in our hearts and remind us of the devotion our risen Savior deserves. |
Prayer for the Week Jesus, You are alive! You are worthy of our devotion! Today, we pray that You will give us a steadfast and unswerving love for You, like Mary possessed. May the promise of the resurrection outshine any hopelessness we feel and any challenge we face. Amen. |
|
|
No matter what we are going through, we can ask the Lord for the grace to have loyalty to Him as Mary modeled. Whether we expect disappointment or a miracle, we know that Jesus is worthy of our faithfulness and love. ~ Devotionals Daily |
|
|
Do you wonder how God could possibly use you to change lives? |
Ten Women of the Bible Updated Edition |
|
|
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS |
Do you ever feel like a second-class citizen in this world? Do you wonder how God could possibly use you to change lives? For women in Bible times, these weren't even questions they thought about. Being overlooked, marginalized, having your contributions discounted because you're a woman... it's just the way things were. In this ten-lesson workbook, Max Lucado tells some of his favorite accounts of women in Scripture and the remarkable way God broke down cultural barriers to use them in the unfolding of His story. Thee stories in this study show us there is a God who sees us where we are and loves us for who we are. He is the one who hovers over all the pages of the Bible, shaping lives, rescuing hearts, healing sicknesses, raising what was dead to life, and passing out high callings to those who choose to follow him and have faith in him. |
|
|
You will discover... - Sarah, the woman whom God promised would give birth to a nation, but who tried to rush things when God's promises didn't seem to be coming to pass.
- Rahab, a prostitute in the Canaanite city of Jericho, who would save herself and her family through her faith in the one true God of the Israelites.
- Abigail, a woman forced to play peacemaker by the barbaric behavior of her husband.
- Esther, a young queen whom God placed in the Persian court for "such a time as this" to prevent the genocide of the Jewish people.
- Mary, the young virgin pledged to Joseph, whom God would choose to give birth to Jesus, the promised Messiah who would save the world.
- The Samaritan Woman, who would meet this Messiah at a well one day. His words would forever after change her life.
- The Canaanite Woman, who made God smile with her wit and faith, and who received from Jesus an answer to her prayer.
- Mary of Bethany, a friend of Jesus who witnessed the resurrection of her brother, Lazarus, and then anointed Christ in anticipation of his death and resurrection.
- Mary Magdalene, who followed Jesus despite the injustice of a world that judged her for her past and said she would always be considered a failure.
- Sapphira, a woman in the early church who, along with her husband, made the unfortunate (and deadly) decision to lie to the Holy Spirit.
|
|
|
What Our Readers Are Saying |
"Wonderful book to study women in the Bible" — Laurie C. |
"Good read; questions are great for reflection." — Felicitas S. |
"Love learning about strong women in the bible." — Tammy T. |
|
|
Each lesson includes: - Five daily in-depth Bible studies to help you explore the stories in Scripture
- Daily points to remember to help you summarize the key points
- Daily prayers to help you focus your thoughts and move into your quiet time
- Weekly memory verses to help you hide God's word in your heart
- Additional notes to help you lead a group through the study
Ten Women of the Bible is a standalone workbook, ideal for both individual use and for study in a small-group setting. |
|
|
| Finding Peace in God's Embrace |
| |
In the Footsteps of the Savior Online Bible Study |
In the Footsteps of the Savior Online Bible Study |
Walk where Jesus walked! In In the Footsteps of the Savior with Max Lucado, get ready for adventure through some of the most prominent cities, towns, and locations in the New Testament. Filmed on location in Israel, this study invites you to experience the stories of the Bible like never before. By studying these events and locations, we can connect with Jesus in a brand-new way. The Holy Land is waiting for you. Will you join us? Join In the Footsteps of the Savior Online Bible Study and get access to six teaching videos and other helpful tools—all FREE when you sign up! | |
|
this devotion with someone who needs it today |
|
|
FREE U.S standard shipping with code MIRACLE thru 03/08/26 at 11:59pm, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Points earned through our loyalty program can be stacked with most promotional offers, including seasonal and special promotions, with the exception of welcome codes or other select offers at our discretion. Eligibility for stacking may vary based on specific promo code terms. We reserve the right to determine which promotional codes can or cannot be combined with loyalty points. |
*Sale price ends on 02/28/26 at 11:59 PM. Limited quantities available. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. Free Standard Shipping for U.S. orders over $35 excluding Alaska and Hawaii. |
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment