Easter Sunday Devotional

Friends of WPUMC:
Happy Easter! Join us this morning for Easter worship on Facebook Live at 9:30am. Like our page, “Washington Park UMC”. Grace and peace to you as we walk this valley together.

Scripture: John 20: 1-10
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed 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.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who 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 returned to their homes.

Pastor's Message

After the men left, Mary Magdalene took time at the open tomb to weep and grieve.  It was in those moments that the Risen Christ appeared to her (John 20: 11-18). It was in her darkest moment that Jesus appeared and offered her hope and a new day! Mary ran from that encounter, telling all that she had “seen the Lord”. 

What is offering you hope today? What helps you know that a new day will dawn, bright and new and full of life? Cling to that hope – embrace it with abandon. The darkness can never overcome the light. Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

Listen to a musical prayer, Lord Jesus Christ. Click on the Play button below.

Prayer
Almighty God, through your only Son you overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. Grant that we who celebrate our Lord’s resurrection, by the renewing of your Spirit, arise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.