Good News – The Presidential Prayer Team

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory. – 1 Chronicles 29:11

Mary Magdalene: A. Moody Stuart, a Scottish pastor wrote, “She was privileged to follow Jesus to Jerusalem, to look on His cross, to watch at His tomb, to be the first witness of His resurrection, and even to be sent by Him as the messenger of His word, an apostle to the apostles themselves.”

Jesus healed her of seven demons. Then Mary left her home in Magdala to become one of His disciples. She even supported Him financially in His ministry. Mary was present at the mock trial and His arrest. She saw and heard the religious leaders clamor for His blood as Pontius Pilate pronounced a death sentence of crucifixion, although he found no fault in Him. Mary listened with a broken heart as He hung on a cross until the Roman soldier declared Him dead.

Mary was at the tomb early on that first Easter morning. She peered into the cave. Seeing it was empty, she wept. Alone and feeling lost, she thought someone had taken His lifeless body away. If Mary had found what she was looking for, there would certainly be reason for despair. But instead, the resurrected Lord appeared to her and gave her the honor of being the first person to proclaim the Good News. Jesus has risen from the dead!

So, despite how grim the media and politicians may paint the conditions in this nation, remember that because of Christ’s resurrection, you have hope today, tomorrow and for eternity. And pray for opportunities to share that Good News. Remind people that Jesus rose from the dead, so He certainly can overcome any personal or national crisis.

Today’s Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Matthew 28:1-15

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

¹¹While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. ¹²And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers ¹³and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.