What Jesus Did! 'My Lord!' — John 20:11-13

Sunday, December 13, 2026

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. "Dear woman, why are you crying?" the angels asked her.

"Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have put him."

— John 20:11-13 NLT

Key Thought

What would make you surrender your faith in Jesus as Lord? One of the things I have always appreciated about Mary Magdalene is her determination to hang on to Jesus as her Lord in the middle of her sorrow, pain, confusion, and loss. As far as Mary knows, Jesus is dead, yet he is still her Lord. So often we qualify our faith in Jesus' lordship based on our outward circumstances. If things aren't going well, we question why he is ignoring us and our prayers. Sometimes, if we are honest, we question his role as Lord. Let's remember Mary at this moment of confusion and horror. Let's follow her example and hang on tenaciously to the conviction that Jesus is Lord even when (and especially when) we don't understand what is happening!

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, I do believe that your Son and my Savior, Jesus, is Lord. Strengthen me by the power of your Spirit so that I never relinquish that conviction no matter what the circumstances of my life are. In Jesus' mighty and glorious name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

7 Related Resources by Heartlight

Held in Hope by a Memory
Article by Phil Ware
What do you remember this week? The resurrection of Jesus changes everything, but mostly us.
UNPREDICTABLE: MY Lord!
Article by Phil Ware
In the middle of this mess, would you still have called Jesus Lord? Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus from the Gospel of John called unpredictable, and focuses on Mary Magdalene calling Jesus Lord in the middle of all sorts of grief, sorrow, despair, discouragement, loss, and hopelessness and is given the gift o
Easter Clothes
Article by Rick Brown
What kind of clothes did Jesus wear that first Easter Sunday. Rick Brown reminds us what is important about the clothes we wear on Easter and that Jesus appeared to Mary as a gardener.
Resurrection 2.4: When We Hear His Voice
Article by Phil Ware
Mary heard his voice call her name and that one word changed everything for her! Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus' resurrection called resurrection 2.0, this week focusing on Jesus' word to Mary!
See All 7 Related Resources about John 20:11-13

Illustration

Illustration of John 20:11-13 NLT — "and I don't know where they have put him."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, December 13, 2026

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Frederick Lewis Donaldson:
"The seven social sins: politics without principle, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality,..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Song of Songs 2:8
"This was a golden name which the ancient Church in her most joyous moments was wont to give to the Anointed of the Lord. When the time of the singing...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Unbound'
"Dear Precious One, Yesterday I talked to you about the importance of My grace leading you to forgive those who have wounded you. That is hard. Today...."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God Protects Christians so We Can Testify'
"Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!