Devotional: Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Table talk: Jesus appears to Mary after his resurrection and asks her to share the good news.
Read John 20:11-18
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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.

Say: Mary was a good friend of Jesus. She was so sad that he had died. When Jesus appeared to her, Mary was crying. Instead of telling her to stop crying or that everything would be okay, he asked her why she's upset. Jesus was with her in her sadness. Mary didn't recognize she was speaking with her friend Jesus until he called her by her name. Jesus sees and knows each of us in this personal way. He knows your name, and he is always with you.

Tell: Each person can share what it means to you that Jesus is with you in the good times and with you in your sadness.

Ask: Why was Mary so sad that Jesus’ body was gone?
Why is it important that Mary recognized Jesus when he said her name?
What does this say about their relationship?
What does it mean that Jesus told Mary he was ascending to “my Father and your Father”?

Pray: Father, thank you that you are with us in our sadness. Thank you that you know us personally and love us perfectly. Help us to love you wholeheartedly like Mary. Help us to share the Good news.

Ministry activity for the week: Practice Gratitude!
Talk about or write down in a journal what you can be thankful for at this time.