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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize it was Jesus. 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.” John 20:14-15

Read: John 20:15-18
Listen: John 20

TODAY’S MESSAGE

In her confusion, Mary stands outside Jesus’s tomb crying. She is so focused on searching for his body that she doesn’t recognize Jesus before her. His followers simply can’t compute a risen savior because they don’t understand his mission. They expected Jesus to rescue the Jewish people from Rome. But Jesus had a much bigger mission. He came to rescue all people from sin and death. Mary searches for a corpse and finds a risen king.

Like the disciples, we struggle to understand Jesus’s mission. Although we might not say it out loud, we often have unspoken expectations for our life. For instance, we might look to comfort and earthly blessing to bring the deep satisfaction we seek. When we face challenging things, it can cause us to question God. However, our faith is not in these things—it’s in a risen savior. Whatever we struggle with, the resurrection tells us it’s not over. We find the life we seek in our risen king, Jesus.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Worship our risen king through the song, “Exalted Over All.” As you listen, may you be reminded that there is one name exalted overall. One name that is higher than any other name. All your searching for hope, meaning and forgiveness is found in that same name—our risen savior Jesus Christ.

2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.

August is PRAYER. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.