Rise Daily: April 1

Rise Daily: April 1

THIS WEEK’S THEME & PASSAGE

Encountering the Risen King (Easter) – John 20:1-18

This week’s sermon from the series “Where We are Going: The City and the Mission“

THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE

Memorizing scripture is a way to keep God’s word close to our hearts. Each week we will select one verse of scripture to remember as a community.

Romans 8:11

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

THE WORD

Each day’s devotion will focus on one part of the week’s passage.

John 20:18

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

MEDITATION ON THE WORD

In our busyness and distraction, it is easy to skim through our reading rather than taking it in. Yet we believe this is the inspired word of God. Take a moment to pause, thank God for the scriptures and ask him to speak to you through them today.

Mary Magdalene initially seems an unlikely candidate for Jesus to choose to be the first person to see and proclaim him risen. After all, Luke 8:2 tells us that in their first meeting, Jesus cast seven demons out of her! Wouldn’t she have a tarnished reputation? Is this the kind of person you trust as your primary witness for an event of this magnitude?

Tim Keller points out the wisdom of Christ in choosing Mary for this honor:

There is no clearer way Jesus Christ could be saying on Easter Sunday that his salvation comes to people not on the basis of pedigree, not on the basis of merit, not on the basis of religion, not on the basis of morality, not on the basis of achievement. [Here] is what he is trying to show us. The person who [understands] her weakness most profoundly is the one who, when she experiences the love of Jesus Christ, becomes the most profoundly fearless.1

In the infinitely wise mind of God, the only mind that sees the relationship of everything to everything else, Mary was his perfect choice for that mission. Something about the totality of her being and life experiences, illuminated by God’s loving grace, made her the choice to God, who could have chosen anyone. She was artfully designed for his unique reasons. And as unfathomable as it might seem, the same holds true for each of us.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

1. Timothy J. Keller, Faith; the Complete Guide. (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, November  7, 1999).

THIS WEEK’S RISE REFLECTION

When we look to the resurrection we find a beautiful freedom to serve others. Through Christ’s example we are free to serve in the radical, loving ways in which he has served us. We hope that this Rise season will serve as a catalyst for gospel renewal not only on an individual basis but also in multiplying expressions of philanthropy, justice, mercy, reconciliation, integrity, and hope all across New York in ways that advance the common good for everyone in this city.

TODAY’S PRAYER

For your Heart: Pray that you would profoundly experience the love of Jesus Christ and become profoundly fearless through a deeper understanding of the resurrection.

For your Church: Pray that we would be a community of people who see all people for being artfully designed for his unique reasons.

For our City: Pray that our city would see the church as a community where we openly talk about the pressures of pedigree, merit, beliefs, morality or achievement, and that our city would see Christians as people who do not get consumed by those pressures.