John 20:11-18

Jesus Appears

Daily S.O.A.P. Prompts

S – What verse stands out to me today?

O – What is God revealing about Jesus?

A – How should this change my life today?

P – What is my prayer in response?

Scripture

(John 20:11-18, NLT) 11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 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. 13 “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.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. 

Observation

• The two disciples had gone home. Mary stayed and lingered. In the lingering, two angels appear to her. 

• The angels ask her a question: “Dear woman, why are you crying?” 

• The moment after she replies that someone took the body of her Lord, she turns and notices someone standing there. At this point, Mary doesn’t know it is Jesus. 

• Again, the same question: “Dear woman, why are you crying?”

• Mary thinks he is the gardener, but the moment after Jesus says Mary's name, she recognizes who she is speaking with in the garden. 

• Jesus instructs Mary not to cling to him because he still has to “ascend” to the Father and to go and tell the other disciples (brothers) that she has seen the Lord. 

Application

• My favorite part of this text is when Jesus says Mary's name and she recognizes Jesus. God knows my name and calls me by it. The God of the universe knows my name. 

• We can now “cling” to Jesus through the Holy Spirit because his work has been finished. 

Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for calling me by name to yourself. It means the world to me to know that you know my name and use it. I desire to know you more fully. Every time you call my name, may I answer with, “Here I am, Lord!” Whatever you need, the answer is always, “Yes!” I love you so much. In Jesus' name, amen! 

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