Key Thought

John and Peter have made the most amazing discovery in the history of the universe and what do they do? They go home! They go home? Why didn't they go out into the streets of Jerusalem and shout the news? Why didn't they tell everyone within earshot that Jesus was alive again? I'm not sure, but there is something powerful and centering about what they did: "they went home." Our faith must be lived and shared at home. We must try to make sure it works there, is demonstrated there, and is shared there. Faith must work with the people who know us, know our hearts, and know our disappointments. The Gospel always starts where we are and radiates out. So they went home. Maybe it's time we worried more about taking our knowledge of the resurrected Lord home -- first!

Today's Prayer

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Lord God Almighty, please help my influence and my character at home to be a blessing to my family. Help them see the power of the resurrected Lord in what I do, what I say, and how I treat them. Give me the influence and the integrity to inspire faith among those I love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Early on Sunday morning Mary Magdalene went to the tomb {where Jesus' body was}. It was still dark. Mary saw that the large stone {that covered the entrance} was moved away. So Mary ran to Simon Peter and the other follower (the one Jesus loved very much). Mary said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We don't know where they put him." So Peter and the other follower started going to the tomb. They were both running, but the other follower ran faster than Peter. So the other follower reached the tomb first. The follower bent down and looked in. He saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came from behind him. Peter went into the tomb. He saw the pieces of linen lying there. He also saw the cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up and laid in a different place from the pieces of linen. Then the other follower went in. This was the follower that had reached the tomb first. He saw what had happened and believed. (These followers did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from death.) Then the followers went back home. But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. While she was crying, she bent down and looked inside the tomb. Mary saw two angels dressed in white. They were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One angel was sitting where Jesus' head had been, and the other angel was sitting where Jesus' feet had been. The angels asked Mary, "Woman, why are you crying?" Mary answered, "Some people have taken away {the body of} my Lord. I don't know where they put him." When Mary said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Mary thought that this was the man that takes care of the garden. So Mary said to him, "Did you take Jesus away, sir? Tell me where you put him. I will go and get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Jewishlanguage, "Rabboni." (This means "Teacher.") Jesus said to her, "Don't hold me. I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my brothers (followers) and tell them this: 'I am going back to my Father and your Father. I am going back to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went to the followers and told them, "I saw the Lord!" And she told them the things Jesus said to her.

— John 20:1-18 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.