04.04.2021 | JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
John 20:1 – “Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”
John 20:2 – “Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’”
John 20:11 – “But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb.”
1. PRESS THROUGH THE SORROW
John 20:12 – “And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”
John 20:13 (NLT) – “’Dear woman, why are you crying?’ the angels asked her. ‘Because they have taken away my Lord,’ she replied, ‘And I do not know where they have put Him.’”
Psalm 30:5b – “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
John 16:20 (NLT) – “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.”
2. HEAR HIS VOICE
John 20:14 – “Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know it was Jesus.”
John 20:15 (NLT) – “’Dear woman, why are you crying?’ Jesus asked her. ‘Who are you looking for?’ She thought He was the gardener. ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘If you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.’”
John 20:16 – “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say Teacher).”
Isaiah 43:1 – “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.”
John 10:11a – “I am the Good Shepherd.”
John 10:3 – “The sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.”
John 10:27 – “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
3. SHARE HIS JOY
John 20:17 – “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father and to My God and your God.’”
John 20:18 (NLT) – “Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, ‘I have seen the Lord!’ Then she gave them the message.”
Mark 16:15 (NLT) – “And the He told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’”
Acts 13:52 – “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Discussion Questions:
1. When you face loss or pain in your life, what is your first response?
2. What does it look like for you to embrace grief?
3. What have you found on the other side of grief?
4. What is one area of pain or loss in your life in which Jesus wants to reveal Himself?
5. What do you need to confide in Jesus about?
6. Do you take time regularly in the secret place with Jesus? Do you take time to listen to Him?
7. Have you experienced the resurrection joy of Jesus Christ?