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

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Illustration

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

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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.

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