URC Daily Devotion for 2-08-2025

St John 20: 1 – 10

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’  Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb.  The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,  and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.  Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;  for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.  Then the disciples returned to their homes.

Reflection

We can’t begin to imagine the emotions of Mary, Peter, and the unnamed “other disciple” in this early account of the resurrection.  Mary’s plans turned to panic with an empty tomb; did she think the body had been stolen or did she believe He had risen?  Peter and “the other disciple” came running.  Were they disbelieving of what another Gospel calls “idle talk” or did they need to see for themselves?  They didn’t find much but believed.  

With around two millennia of history we know this story as the cornerstone of our faith.  We meet every Sunday for (what is meant to be) a celebration of the resurrection.  The explosion of the resurrection sends ripples through time and space.  The energy it unleashes changes lives; frightened disciples became fearless prophets, a murderous zealot became an effective evangelist, Galilean fishers became nomadic preachers and pastors.  The ripples moved generations of people to become missionaries, to build up the Church, and love those in need.  Eager disciples reformed the Church when things got jaded and sought ever new ways of making the new life of Jesus available to all.  We’ve felt those ripples too and have responded, each in our own way, to the energy, call, and commitment that they bring.  

We may find, like Mary, our panic turns to faith or like Peter we may see and believe.  Like the saints of every generation we find our ancient hungers are satisfied in Jesus our risen Lord. As we are caught up in the wave of energy that ripples, even to us, we dismiss the idle talk in our lives and believe – knowing that we are forever changed by that Easter morning so long ago.

Prayer

Risen Lord Jesus
as we seek you in the garden and deserts of our lives,
meet us, free us, refresh us,
and enable us to follow You. Amen.