Resurrection Stories
John 20
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Who Found who?
- Woman
- Mary
- Hearing her name transforms grief to joy
Mistaken Identity
- Gardener?
- Ironic
- Master?
- Teacher?
Teacher and Lord
- John 13:13-17
John 13
13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
"I have seen the Lord."
- Doing what?
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
-Mary Oliver
Questions to Consider
- Have you ever been consumed by grief?
- Have you ever failed to recognize Jesus in front of you?
- How has the risen Christ revealed himself to you?
- Who have you told about it?
- Who will you tell this week?
Liturgies
Resurrection Prayer:
May we live like resurrection is real,
even in the places that still feel like death.
May we be more surprised by hope than overcome by despair.
Let joy find us, like morning light breaking through clouds.
And may we carry your rising, Jesus, not as a trophy,
but as a burning truth that changes everything.
Wayfinders Family Blessing
Gracious God,
We gather before You as a family, grateful for Your loving presence with us.
Bless our children:
Guide them in Your truth and lead them in Your ways.
Help them to walk in faithfulness, seeking Your will in all that they do.
May Your Spirit empower them to love one another deeply,
to forgive as You have, and to extend grace and mercy to all.
May the lessons they learn and the stories they share grow their love for you.
Help them to know how deeply loved they are by you and this church.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
