Resurrection Power

0:00You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Mark 16.6 Welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread. Resurrection power was written by Patricia Reban and read by Joyce Stinkins. Mark 16.1-8 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb, and they asked each other, who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb. But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the

1:04right side, and they were alarmed. Don't be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. Trimbling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Resurrection power, written by Patricia Reban At $100, Loretta's utility bill was much higher than usual. But the Lord will provide, she told her son. That same day, she received a text from her youngest brother.

2:06Loretta, you are always encouraging me and I want to thank you. Look in your mail for something from me. That afternoon, in her mail, she found a gift card from her brother for $100. A miracle? Not to some, perhaps, to Loretta, however, the co-incidence felt miraculous. She always expects the living God to provide for her. Her outlook highlights a lesson in the resurrection story of Jesus. After the Sabbath, three women bought spices to annoy Jesus' body in the tomb. But walking there after sunrise, the women expected not a miracle, but a problem, saying, who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? Embedded in their question was a curious doubt, especially from these women, including Mary Magdalene, who had traveled with Jesus and witnessed his power.

3:09All of them, however, were looking that morning for a dead Jesus. Instead, he has risen. He is not here, they were told. That declaration explains what we can expect from the living Jesus. His miraculous resurrection power. He is alive. When we face heavy stones that need moving, he will be with us and help us. He's not in a tomb. He is risen indeed. Let's pray. Risen Jesus, we rejoice in your victory over the grave and praise you for the gift of salvation, one through your death and resurrection. Fill our hearts with grateful celebration, trusting that the living Christ who moves stones still moves in our lives with power and love.

4:14It's in your glorious name that we pray, amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. How have you witnessed God working in an amazing way? What does it mean to you to live out Jesus' resurrection power? On behalf of the entire our daily bread ministry's family, I'd like to wish you all a blessed and joy-filled Easter.