by Susan Johnson-Clayton, Financial Secretary
Being a Witness for Jesus
Read John 20:1-18
This is the story of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb.
After Jesus’s death on the cross, His followers are lost, dejected, and in despair. They had put their faith and trust in Jesus. Clearly, He wasn’t the Son of God, as He had claimed. He was done, He was “dead” dead. Andy Stanley states in his book Irresistible that, “Hope died when Jesus died” (296). Not because of what Jesus taught, but His claims about Himself. How dejected and defeated they surely felt, including, maybe especially, Mary Magdalene!
So comes Mary.
What she expected - to prepare Jesus’s dead body for burial.
What she found – an empty tomb.
“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.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’)” (John 20:15-16 NIV).
Mary’s hope returned!
Easter celebrates the resurrection of our personal Savior and Lord, Jesus. It brings us the “hope” (meaning certainty of future events to come, NOT “wish”) of eternal life. It is the source and reason for the Christian faith, and the Church.
Challenge
Witnessing for Jesus can be intimidating, but just sharing your experience and the reason for your hope in a sensitive circumstance can be encouraging and uplifting to someone who needs hope. Reviewing the events and steps that have brought you to your current place in your faith journey can help you prepare. Will you take some time to do this?