WILL YOU ACCEPT THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD?
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her. Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.
Mark 16:9-13 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
The resurrected Jesus first shows Himself to Mary Magdalene. That is an interesting choice. This is a woman that had a life transforming encounter with Jesus that freed her from seven demons. She had been with the other ladies that came to the tomb to give His body a proper preparation for burial. It appears that the other women went back into town but Mary stayed in the garden. Mark doesn’t give us the narrative of their encounter but from the other writers we can read the story. Jesus pauses in His post resurrection work to bring comfort to a woman in a traumatic moment. He senses her pain and brings comfort. Then Jesus shows up on the road and walks with two men who were believers They don’t recognize Jesus as He talks with them and explains the prophecies about the Messiah’s death and resurrection. Something happens on the inside and they realize this man is Jesus. All three of these individuals run to tell the other disciples who are behind locked doors for fear of what might happen next. The fear of the disciples blocks them from accepting the good news of the resurrection. How often do our fears block us from accepting God’s good news? We get locked behind the doors of fear and miss the life of Jesus.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to live free from fear. Help me to live in anticipation of Your work in and through my life.
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