MIDWEEK MEDITATION

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 

They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. 

John 20:1-10

Scattered and fearful. Those who had followed Jesus were still in shock. They had put their lives on the line to follow Him, and now He was gone. They still did not understand His words and the words of scripture that predicted He would rise again, for He had to rise again. They and generations of disciples would continue to meditate on that very truth. Join the disciples and the Church throughout the ages in celebrating our risen Lord. Take a few minutes today to both read and reflect on the following statements:

Jesus had to rise from the dead: because of Jesus' resurrection, we know that what He said was true. 

Jesus had to rise from the dead: because of Jesus' resurrection, we can have our sins forgiven.
 
Jesus had to rise from the dead: because of Jesus' resurrection, we know that death has been defeated.