April
4, 2026
Theme: The First Eyewitness Of The Resurrected
Today’s Scripture: John 20:11-18
Scripture: 11 Now Mary stood outside
the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and
saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the
head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her,
“Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I
don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At
this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not
realize that it was Jesus.15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? “Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried
him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus
said to her, “Mary.” She
turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means
“Teacher”).17 Jesus said, “Do
not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my
brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary
Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the
Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Thought: In
John 20:11–18 we find Mary Magdalene standing outside the tomb, weeping. The
stone had been rolled away, the body of Jesus was gone, and her heart was heavy
with grief and confusion. Even when she saw the angels and then Jesus Himself,
she did not recognize Him at first. Through tears and sorrow, her vision was
blurred. But everything changed when Jesus spoke her name: “Mary.” (John 20:16) In that moment, grief turned to recognition, despair turned to
hope, and mourning turned to mission. Mary became the first witness of the
resurrection and was sent to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, thank You for meeting us in our
moments of sorrow and confusion. Just as You called Mary by name, remind us
that You know us, love us, and walk with us each day. During this Lenten
season, open our eyes to Your presence and fill our hearts with resurrection
hope. Give us the courage to share the good news of Christ’s love with others. In the name of the risen Jesus we pray. Amen.
Positive Practice: Take a quiet moment today to listen for Christ
calling your name. Spend a few minutes in silence and prayer, remembering that
the risen Jesus knows you personally. Then share a word of hope or
encouragement with someone—just as Mary shared the good news: “I have seen
the Lord.”
Lenten Emphasis: Lent reminds us that sometimes we stand
where Mary stood—between sorrow and hope, between the cross and the empty tomb.
There are moments when life feels confusing, when God seems silent, and when
tears blur our vision. Yet the risen Christ is often closer than we realize.
Like Mary, we discover that Jesus calls us personally and lovingly by name. The
journey of Lent invites us to move from grief to grace, from the cross toward
resurrection hope. Even in our tears, Jesus is present, calling us, comforting
us, and sending us forward with good news.
Mission Emphasis: -
HBCUs: Support HBCUs by praying for
students on uncertain paths and offering mentorship or financial support. Your
encouragement reminds students that they are not walking alone.