The resurrection of Jesus marks not just the start of a new week, but the dawning of a new creation—a spiritual “eighth day” that breaks the old cycles of death and despair. Just as the ancient Hebrew pictograph for the number eight symbolized a doorway, Jesus’ resurrection is the doorway into new life, hope, and a future beyond the limitations of this world. The disciples and Mary Magdalene came to the tomb in darkness, but what they found was the first light of a new era, a promise that through Christ, every ending can become a new beginning. [10:49]
John 20:1-18 (ESV)
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away 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.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had 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 went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 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.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for 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.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Reflection: Where in your life do you need to let Jesus’ resurrection open a new doorway of hope or possibility, trusting Him for a new beginning even when you feel stuck in darkness?
When confusion and darkness cloud our lives, our imaginations often run wild with worry, leading us to assume the worst just as Mary did at the empty tomb. We are tempted to lean on our own understanding, but God calls us to trust Him fully, even when circumstances seem impossible to explain. The wisdom of Scripture reminds us that our perspective is limited, and that true peace comes from acknowledging God and letting Him direct our paths, especially when we cannot see the way forward. [20:28]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: What is one situation right now where you are tempted to rely on your own understanding instead of trusting God? How can you surrender that to Him today?
In moments of doubt and uncertainty, the key to clarity and faith is remembering what God has already spoken. The angels at the tomb reminded the women to recall Jesus’ words, and as they remembered, their confusion turned to understanding. When we are perplexed or afraid, returning to the promises and truth of Scripture grounds us, renews our hope, and helps us see God’s hand at work even in the darkest times. [22:43]
Luke 24:4-8 (ESV)
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words.
Reflection: What is one promise or truth from God’s Word that you need to remember and hold onto today in the midst of your current challenges?
Looking into the empty tomb, Mary saw not just grave clothes but a powerful picture of atonement: sin and death have been dealt with once and for all by Jesus. The two angels at either end of where Jesus had lain echo the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, showing that Christ’s sacrifice is complete and sufficient for all. When we face trials or fears, we are invited to look again at what Jesus has accomplished—our sins are forgiven, death is conquered, and we have the assurance of eternal life with Him. [36:45]
1 John 2:2 (ESV)
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Reflection: When you are overwhelmed by guilt, fear, or uncertainty, how can you intentionally “look into the tomb” and remind yourself of what Jesus has finished for you?
Mary’s encounter with the risen Jesus was deeply personal—He called her by name, and her sorrow turned to joy. This personal relationship with Christ is what transforms us and compels us to share Him with others. The more time we spend with Jesus, hearing His voice and drawing close, the more our lives will reflect His presence and the more naturally we will want to tell others about Him, just as Mary did. [43:25]
John 10:3 (ESV)
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Reflection: How can you make space today to listen for Jesus’ voice calling your name, and who might you share your experience of Him with this week?
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb in darkness, weighed down by grief and confusion. She found the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus missing, and her imagination immediately leapt to the worst possible scenario—someone had taken her Lord. In her distress, she ran to tell Peter and John, who raced to the tomb and found only the linen wrappings left behind. The resurrection was not something anyone expected, and in their confusion, the disciples and Mary struggled to make sense of what they saw.
This moment of darkness and uncertainty is something we all experience. When life is confusing or painful, our minds often fill in the blanks with worry and fear. Yet, as Mary and the disciples discovered, the truth of Jesus’ resurrection breaks through our darkness with new light and new beginnings. The ancient Hebrew letter for “eight” is a doorway, symbolizing new life and resurrection. Jesus’ rising on the “eighth day”—the first day of a new week—marks the start of a new creation, a new reality for all who believe.
Mary’s journey at the tomb is a picture of how we come to faith. At first, she is dominated by her imagination and worry, unable to see the truth. But when she remembers Jesus’ words and investigates the evidence—the empty tomb, the folded grave clothes—her understanding deepens. The Greek words used in the passage show a progression: from simply seeing, to gazing in wonder, to discerning and believing. True faith comes not just from observing, but from deeply investigating and applying the truth of Christ’s resurrection to our lives.
Inside the tomb, Mary sees two angels at either end of where Jesus’ body had lain—a powerful image of the mercy seat, where atonement was made in the Old Testament. The empty grave clothes and the absence of Jesus’ body declare that sin and death have been defeated. Before we can face the world outside, we must first look into the tomb and remember what Christ has accomplished for us.
When Jesus calls Mary by name, her eyes are opened. She recognizes Him, and her sorrow turns to joy. Jesus sends her to tell the others, and her witness is born out of personal encounter and belief. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we are changed, and the more we are compelled to share Him with others. The resurrection is not just an event in history—it is the doorway to new life, hope, and purpose for each of us.
John 20:1-18 (ESV) — Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away 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.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had 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 went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 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.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for 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.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
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