Friday - Because He Lives

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This is week 1 of a 7-week journey, following Jesus for the 50

days between the resurrection and Pentecost. We will pray through seven different

encounters with the risen Jesus. As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts

and minds before the Lord.

Consider putting to memory John 20:31 as we take this journey together:

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,

and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

This week we look at Jesus’ first interaction after His resurrection: Mary Magdalene.

Mary first met Jesus when he set her free from the torment of multiple demons. She

became a faithful follower of Jesus, providing support for his ministry from her own

resources. And when others were running in fear, Mary is seen at the foot of the cross,

watching her Lord be crucified. Her encounter with Jesus at the tomb is one of the

most tender moments in the Gospels.

John 20:11-18

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look

into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had

lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you

weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know

where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus

standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why

are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she

said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I

will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in

Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me,

for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am

ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary

Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he

had said these things to her.

A Word of Encouragement

Mary came to the tomb in sorrow, but she left with a message: “I have seen the Lord.”

Jesus did not simply comfort her and leave her there. He entrusted her with good

news. The one who came grieving became the one who went declaring.

That is one of the beautiful patterns of grace in the Christian life. Jesus meets us

personally, but He never intends for His grace to stop with us. This means your story—

no matter how messy—has a purpose. The places where He has met you, forgiven

you, and restored you can become places of testimony. You do not need to have all the

answers. Like Mary, you simply need to be able to say, “I have seen the Lord.”A Prayer of Thankfulness

Jesus, thank You for not leaving Mary in sorrow.

Thank You for turning her grief into joy and her confusion into clarity.

Thank You for the beauty of Your resurrection power.

Thank You that You do not only save people; You also restore and send them.

Thank You that You delight in using ordinary people to bear witness to extraordinary

grace.

Thank You for the ways You have revealed Yourself to me.

Thank You for every prayer You have answered, every burden You have carried, every

sin You have forgiven, and every time You have been faithful to me.

Thank You that my failures do not disqualify me from being used by You.

Thank You that my weakness does not limit Your power.

Thank You that my story, even with all of its broken places, can still become a

testimony to Your goodness.

A Prayer of Intercession

Lord, I pray for those in my life who need to encounter the risen Christ.

I lift before You family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and others who are far

from You or weary in heart.

Reveal Yourself to them. Soften what has grown hard. Heal what has been wounded.

Awaken faith where there is spiritual numbness.

Bring hope where there is despair. Bring light where there is darkness.

I pray for those who are trapped in shame, bitterness, fear, addiction, unbelief, or

hopelessness.

Would You make Yourself known to them with mercy and power?

I pray for my church and for believers everywhere: make us faithful witnesses.

Fill us with both truth and tenderness.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in the way we live and the way we speak.

A Prayer of Petition

Jesus, use me as Your witness. Give me courage to speak of You naturally and

faithfully.

Give me wisdom to recognize moments where I can point someone toward You.

Give me compassion for people who are hurting and humility in the way I share.

Let my life reflect the reality that You are alive.

Free me from fear of people. Free me from insecurity that keeps me silent.

Free me from the lie that I have nothing worthwhile to offer.

Teach me to speak simply, clearly, and sincerely about what You have done in me.

Help me live in such a way that others can see Your grace at work.

Closing Prayer

Mary’s encounter with Jesus was deeply personal, but it was also purposeful. Those

who have seen His grace are invited to share His grace. During these last few

moments, pray for specific people in your life who need Jesus, and ask the Lord to

begin to show you ways to represent Him in their lives. How can you love them in ways

that cause them hunger to know the Lord the way you do.