Transformed by the Resurrection: A Personal Encounter

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection as a Personal Encounter

The resurrection of Jesus is not merely a historical event but a personal encounter that transforms lives. It invites each of us into a relationship with Jesus, who calls us by name and meets us in our brokenness. This encounter is deeply personal, as it was for Mary Magdalene, who found healing and purpose through her interaction with the risen Christ. The resurrection signifies a movement from death to life, from lost to found, and from brokenness to wholeness. It is a present reality that empowers us to live boldly and embrace the transformation Jesus offers. [05:04]

John 20:16-17 (ESV): "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."'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel broken or lost? How can you invite Jesus into these areas to experience His transformative power today?

Day 2: From Lost to Found

Mary Magdalene's story illustrates the power of the resurrection to move us from lost to found. Her encounter with the risen Jesus shows that even in our grief and confusion, Jesus is present, offering comfort and hope. Mary went to the tomb driven by grief, but she left with a renewed sense of purpose and identity. The resurrection assures us that Jesus meets us in our darkest moments, calling us by name and offering us a path to healing and restoration. [11:07]

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV): "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'"

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt lost or overwhelmed. How did you experience Jesus' presence and comfort during that time, and how can you seek His guidance in similar situations today?

Day 3: Witnessing the Miracle of the Resurrection

The stone was rolled away not for Jesus to exit, but for us to enter and witness the miracle of the resurrection. This act invites us to look into the empty tomb and see the transformative power of Jesus' victory over death. It is a call to linger at the empty tomb, to listen for His voice, and to embrace the transformation He offers. The resurrection empowers us to live boldly, to be messengers of hope and restoration in a world that desperately needs it. [13:41]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How can you take time today to "enter the empty tomb" and reflect on the miracle of the resurrection? What does this mean for your life and your relationship with Jesus?

Day 4: Embracing Our True Identity

Our identity is not found in our roles or achievements but in who Jesus is and what He has done for us. When we understand that Jesus calls us by name, we can embrace our true identity and live boldly for Him. This understanding frees us from the pressure to define ourselves by worldly standards and allows us to find our worth in Christ alone. As we navigate our own journeys, may we find comfort in knowing that Jesus meets us in our brokenness, calls us by name, and transforms us for His glory. [24:07]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: In what ways have you been defining your identity by your roles or achievements? How can you shift your focus to embrace your true identity in Christ today?

Day 5: Living as the Message of the Resurrection

We are not just messengers of the resurrection; we are the message. Our lives, transformed by the power of the resurrection, testify to the hope and restoration found in Jesus. We are called to live out this truth in a world that needs it more than ever. As living testimonies of the resurrection's power, we have the opportunity to be beacons of hope and restoration, sharing the love and grace of Jesus with those around us. [28:03]

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."

Reflection: How can your life be a living testimony of the resurrection's power today? What specific actions can you take to share the hope and restoration found in Jesus with those around you?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we reflect on the profound truth that we each have one life, a singular journey that is deeply personal and intimately connected to the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a personal encounter that transforms our lives. We explore this through the story of Mary Magdalene, a woman who experienced profound transformation through her encounter with the risen Jesus. Mary, once broken and isolated, found healing and purpose in Jesus. Her story reminds us that the resurrection is about moving from death to life, from lost to found, and from brokenness to wholeness.

Mary's journey to the tomb on that first Easter morning was driven by grief and a longing to be near Jesus, even in death. Her encounter with the empty tomb and the risen Christ illustrates the power of the resurrection to meet us in our lostness and transform us. The stone was rolled away not for Jesus to exit, but for us to enter and witness the miracle of the resurrection. Jesus calls us by name, just as He called Mary, inviting us into a personal relationship that restores and redeems.

In this one life, we are called to linger at the empty tomb, to listen for His voice, and to embrace the transformation He offers. The resurrection empowers us to live boldly, to be messengers of hope and restoration in a world that desperately needs it. We are not just carriers of a message; we are the message, living testimonies of the resurrection's power. As we navigate our own journeys, may we find comfort in knowing that Jesus meets us in our brokenness, calls us by name, and transforms us for His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. The resurrection is a personal encounter that transforms our lives. It is not just a historical event but a present reality that invites us into a relationship with Jesus, who calls us by name and meets us in our brokenness. [05:04]
2. Mary Magdalene's story illustrates the power of the resurrection to move us from lost to found. Her encounter with the risen Jesus shows that even in our grief and confusion, Jesus is present, offering comfort and hope. [11:07]
3. The stone was rolled away not for Jesus to exit, but for us to enter and witness the miracle of the resurrection. This act invites us to look into the empty tomb and see the transformative power of Jesus' victory over death. [13:41]
4. Our identity is not found in our roles or achievements but in who Jesus is and what He has done for us. When we understand that Jesus calls us by name, we can embrace our true identity and live boldly for Him. [24:07]
5. We are not just messengers of the resurrection; we are the message. Our lives, transformed by the power of the resurrection, testify to the hope and restoration found in Jesus. We are called to live out this truth in a world that needs it more than ever. [28:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:04] - The Significance of the Stone
[07:51] - Mary Magdalene's Backstory
[11:07] - Encountering Grief and Loss
[13:41] - Linger at the Empty Tomb
[24:07] - Called by Name
[28:03] - Transformed by the Resurrection
[29:38] - Mary Magdalene's Boldness
[32:32] - Invitation to Prayer and Transformation
[34:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship Invitation

Sermon Clips

When we open the Bible, we don't open it for like some just theological information. We don't open it for some like extra knowledge just by itself. We open the Bible to meet someone. We open the Bible to hear a living voice. And it's powerful to our lives today, to those around our lives, and to every life. Powerful. John chapter 20, verse 1. Early on the first day of the week, being Sunday, early, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene, that's who we're going to look at. [00:03:40] (38 seconds) Edit Clip

The stone was moved so the people could look in. The people needed to know he's not there. Jesus could have moved the stone and closed the door behind him. That would have been good manners. Don't let any wild animals get in there. He could have closed the door behind him, but he didn't. The stone was moved so that the people could look in and so that you could look in. It's really important. It's a really key moment. [00:05:54] (26 seconds) Edit Clip

Easter is not about bad people becoming good people just not it's about people who were dead coming alive it's about looking at your life with lifelessness purposelessness going into life that is full and whole it's about going from who I once thought I was to who and I know I can be in him it literally is a resurrection story in and through our lives the easter story is not about making your life it's okay now and make it awesome it's so much more than that [00:14:15] (36 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus said to her here's the moment Jesus said to her Mary Mary Mary she turned toward him because it was her name she turned toward him and in Aramaic she cried out Rabboni which means teacher she she hears a name and she cries it out she it's just just that moment and if you just could just think about what was her condition what is her story where is she and all of a sudden she hears a word that she has heard multiple times in those previous few years Mary it's personal Mary [00:22:54] (51 seconds) Edit Clip

If Jesus is alive, then everything we believe is true. If Jesus is alive, then death has been defeated. If Jesus is alive, then heaven is not just a dream. My eternity can be secure. If Jesus is alive, then my sin really is forgiven, wiped clean. He is faithful and he is just, and he will forgive me my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. If Jesus is alive, then everything he said is true. [00:31:00] (30 seconds) Edit Clip

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