Happy Easter!  Jesus is Risen, He is Risen, Indeed! 

Thanks so much for joining us for Day 47 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Contact us at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 20:1-10

“… the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” (v 1)

The Father: “Don’t you see, little one? I can roll away the stones.  I can bring the dead places in your heart back to life. On your own, you cannot do it. The stones are too heavy for you. You are too weak.

Is that hard for you to hear? For all of your life, you have seen your weakness as a disadvantage, or something to be ashamed of. But, “my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). When I see your weakness, my Spirit is attracted to your heart. When you surrender your weakness to me, you give my Spirit permission to come in and roll away the stones.

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

Oh, child, how I long to do this for you! Surrender. Let it go. Be weak. It is ok, you are safe here with me. I will not trample you; I will not belittle you or shame you.

No, I will cradle you in my arms, and pour out my Spirit into your heart. He will come in and roll away the stones and bring the dead places back to life!

“O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (1 Cor 15:55)

Have no fear, take courage! I am a God who keeps His promises. I am a God who brings the dead back to life.”

Prayer: Father, it is unfathomable to me that You love me in my weakness. My whole life I have tried and failed to be self-reliant and strong, yet You tell me to surrender. Today, in the joy of the Resurrection, I surrender my whole heart to you, weakness, sin, talents, and all. Bring the dead back to life in me, that I may say with a full heart bursting with joy:  Christ is risen! He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.