My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: Daily Heartlight -- March 23, 2008

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March 23, 2008

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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

Faith Awaiting a Dawn, by Phil Ware

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary
Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed
from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other
disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord
out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were
running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb
first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying
there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and
went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying
there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus'
head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the
linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first,
also went inside. He saw and believed

(John 20:1-8 TNIV).

I am so glad God put a Sunday in each week, because the first day of
the week is that routine reminder that we especially notice today:
Jesus rose from the dead on the first Sunday after Passover ... and
nothing has been the same since!

This simple recounting of part of the resurrection story is precious
for me because it talks about the events of that first Sunday that
forever changed all Sundays that have followed. Two simple things stand
out for me in these few verses. I hope they bless you this Resurrection
Sunday.

Dawn burst through the power of darkness on that Sunday morning!

First, Jesus is dead and buried. In every way common to mortals, hope
is lost ... the future is destroyed ... and the past three years of
relationship with someone Mary has called "Jesus" is wasted. Yet Mary,
in a tenacious love filled with unconscious anticipation, refers to
Jesus as "Lord." She clearly does not know that he is raised from the
dead -- she thinks someone has stolen his body. "Lord!" Her name will
be Jesus' identity because of what has happened. Mary had faith that
was just awaiting a dawn. That dawn burst through the power of darkness
on that Sunday morning!

Second, the mysterious "disciple whom Jesus loved" races to the tomb to
see if the Lord's body is stolen. While he outran Peter to the tomb,
his thoughtfulness gave him pause while Peter rushed inside. As the
beloved disciple saw the abandoned death shroud that once held Jesus'
lifeless body, he slowly entered the now unneeded tomb, saw the truth,
and believed. He had faith that was just awaiting a dawn. That dawn
burst upon him as he saw the remnants of death's grip left behind by
the risen Lord.

May God bless you this day so that your faith may see God's dawn!

The gospel of God ... regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life
was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness
was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the
dead: Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:1-4).

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Daily Heartlight -- March 23, 2008