Day 20

Read John 20:11–18. This moment is the exclamation mark of the resurrection of Jesus. And the irony is, Mary, the first person to see evidence that Jesus had risen from the dead, did not even recognize Jesus standing in front of her. Mary showed us an important lesson: our pain can either lead us to Jesus or make us miss him. It was her mourning that led her to the empty tomb, but it was also her mourning and her unmet expectations that made her unable to recognize him, even though he was standing right in front of her. Here is the best part: even though she can’t see it’s him because of her anguish, Jesus calls her name in the middle of her pain, and it changes everything. So today, if you are dealing with pain from a loss, a disappointment, or an unmet expectation, Jesus is not far—he is calling your name. Jesus conquering death gives us hope in our deepest pain. Let us look up to him, for he is not dead; he is surely alive, and that changes everything.

Prayer
Jesus, help me see you in my pain, and through the power of your Holy Spirit, give me the hope and strength I need to keep going.