1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, hey there, friends, I'm Jody Nisnick and 2 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: happy Easter. He is risen. He has risen. Indeed, whether 3 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: you listen to this on Easter or at another time, 4 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: my prayer is this quiet moment of reflection will help 5 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: you celebrate and rejoice as you contemplate the resurrection and 6 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: what it means for your life. Will begin our meditation 7 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: after a brief word from our sponsors. Before we begin 8 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 1: our meditation, I want to invite you to head into 9 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: the show notes, where you will find a link to 10 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: download the free I Am Companion journal that I've made 11 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: for this series. It has each scripture that we are 12 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: meditating on, all of the reflection prompts, and it gives 13 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: you space to take notes on your prayers and meditation time. 14 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 1: I do hope you'll take advantage of this free resource. Well, 15 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: with that, let's get started. Well, let's begin with a 16 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: few deep in and out breaths. And as you breathe 17 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: deeply in, just notice God is here and let that 18 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: fill you with joy today. And as you exhale, also 19 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: notice what's weighing on you right now. Ask God to 20 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: hold it. You will keep taking those deep in and 21 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: out breaths and let me pray for us. Lord Jesus, 22 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: thank you. Today is the day we reflect on and 23 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: celebrate your resurrection, the day when everything changed, the day 24 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: when you defeated death and you defeated sin. Lord, thank 25 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: you for what this means in our life. That we 26 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: are a new creation in you, that we are restored 27 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: in relationship with you, and that we are invited to 28 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: walk in an abiding life with you, a life of fruitfulness, 29 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: a life of abundance. Lord Jesus, as we meditate today, 30 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: guide and lead us, fill us with joy for the 31 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: new life that we have in you. We pray this 32 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: and the name of Jesus, Amen well. Today is a 33 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: day for rejoicing because through the death and ready erection 34 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: of Jesus, sin and death have been overcome. Today. Our 35 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: passage describes the first encounter with Jesus after his resurrection. 36 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus's followers, has gone to the 37 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: tomb to care for Jesus's body and to hold vigil 38 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: The stone, though had been rolled away and the body 39 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: was missing. Mary ran back to where the disciples were, 40 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: and she told Peter and John, who then ran to 41 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: the tomb to see and verify her account. When they 42 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: saw that Jesus was not there, they went away bewildered. 43 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: Mary stayed though, and this is where we pick up 44 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: the passage. As you listen, allow this account to unfold 45 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: in your imagination. Don't worry about getting all the details right. 46 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: That is not the point. It is to enter into 47 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: this story, to slow down and to see what God 48 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: helps us notice in this account. Our reading is John 49 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: twenty Verses eleven through eighteen in the New Living Translation. 50 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 1: Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, 51 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: she stooped and looked in. She saw two white robed angels, 52 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: one sitting at the head and the other at the 53 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: foot of the place where the body of Jesus had 54 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: been lying. Dear woman, why are you crying? The angels 55 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: asked her, Because they have taken away my lord, she replied, 56 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: and I don't know where they have put him. She 57 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, 58 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:08,679 Speaker 1: but she didn't recognize him. Dear woman, why are you crying? 59 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: Jesus asked her, who are you looking for? She thought 60 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: he was the gardener. Sir, she said, if you have 61 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: taken him away, tell me where you have put him, 62 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: and I will go and get him, Mary, Jesus said. 63 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: She turned to him and cried out, rabboni, which is 64 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: Hebrew for teacher, don't cling to me, Jesus said, for 65 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 1: I haven't yet ascended to the father. But go find 66 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my 67 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: father and your father, to my God and your God. 68 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them I have 69 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: seen the Lord. Then she gave them his message as 70 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 1: I read the second time, Allow yourself to step into 71 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: this moment with Mary. Take notice of anything that feels 72 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: meaningful to you, perhaps an emotion, a phrase, or something else. 73 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: I'll give you space to reflect on it. After the reading, 74 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, 75 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: she stooped and looked in. She saw two white robed angels, 76 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: one sitting at the head and the other at the 77 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: foot of the place where the body of Jesus had 78 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: been lying. Dear woman, why are you crying, the angels 79 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: asked her, Because they have taken away my lord, she replied, 80 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: and I don't know where they have put him. She 81 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, 82 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: but she didn't recognize him. Dear woman, why are you crying, 83 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: Jesus asked her, who are you looking for? She thought 84 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: he was the gardener. Sir, she said, if you have 85 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: taken him away, tell me where you have put him, 86 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: and I will go and get him, Mary, Jesus said. 87 00:07:55,640 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: She turned to him and cried out, Rabahoni, which is 88 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: Hebrew for teacher. Don't cling to me, Jesus said, for 89 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find 90 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my 91 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: father and your father, to my God and your God. 92 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them I have 93 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: seen the Lord. Then she gave them his message. Take 94 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: a moment to reflect on what you notice, asking the 95 00:08:41,960 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: Lord how this applies to your life right now as 96 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: I read a third time, imagine the encounter again. This time, 97 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: ask God to help you celebrate what his resurrection means 98 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: and to know how you should move forward with this 99 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: life change information. Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, 100 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She 101 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: saw two white robed angels, one sitting at the head 102 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: and the other at the foot of the place where 103 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: the body of Jesus had been lying. Dear woman, why 104 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: are you crying, the angels asked her, Because they have 105 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: taken away my lord, she replied, and I don't know 106 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: where they have put him. She turned to leave and 107 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:52,079 Speaker 1: saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't 108 00:10:52,160 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: recognize him. Dear woman, why are you crying? Jesus asked her, 109 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: who are you looking for? She thought he was the gardener. Sir, 110 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: she said, if you have taken him away, tell me 111 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: where you have put him, and I will go and 112 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: get him, Mary, Jesus said. She turned to him and 113 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: cried out, rabboni, which is Hebrew for teacher. Don't cling 114 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: to me, Jesus said, for I haven't yet ascended to 115 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: the father. But go find my brothers and tell them 116 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: I am ascending to my father and your father, to 117 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: my God and your God. Mary Magdalene found the disciples 118 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: and told them I have seen the Lord. Then she 119 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: gave them his message. Take a moment to sit in 120 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: gratitude with Jesus, thanking him for who he is, his resurrection, 121 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: and asking him how he wants you to move forward 122 00:12:16,240 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: with this life changing information. Lord Jesus, thank you, Thank you, 123 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: for your resurrection, for everything that means, for the life 124 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: that it brings us. Thank you for this tender account 125 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: between Mary and Jesus recorded for us, for her not understanding, 126 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: but for when you spoke her name, everything made sense. Lord. 127 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: All it takes is a word from you, and often 128 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: things make sense. So we pray that as we sit 129 00:14:55,760 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: in the glorious truth of your resurrection, the reality that 130 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: we have life in you, we ask that you would 131 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: speak to us like you spoke to Mary, that you 132 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: would say our name and love, and that you would 133 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: tell us how we are to move forward sharing this 134 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: life changing news with those around us. Gracious Lord, we 135 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: thank you again for what today means, because it changes everything. 136 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: We pray this in the name of Jesus, our risen Savior. Amen. 137 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: Well friends, if you are new to the So Much 138 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: More podcast, or if you're new to the season of LINT, 139 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: I want to invite you head into the show notes 140 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: and grab the free I am Meditation Journal. I unpack 141 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: a little bit more about what LINT is and why 142 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: Christians have been practicing it for a very long time. 143 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: You'll also see in the notes my partner Life Audio, 144 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: and I encourage you to check them out at lifeaudio 145 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: dot com. Finally, if you are enjoying these meditations, one 146 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: of the greatest things you can do for me is 147 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: either share these with a friend or follow on Apple 148 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: Podcasts and Spotify, and if you're able, leave a review. 149 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: All of those things, they just go a really long 150 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: way and spreading the word and in helping get these 151 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 1: meditations into the hands of those who might need them. 152 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: As always, my friend, thanks for joining me on so 153 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: much more because we really do believe Jesus has so 154 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 1: much more to say to us, and this is one 155 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: way we are creating space to listen.