What Jesus Did! 'Don't Cling to Me; Go and Tell' — John 20:17-18

Thursday, December 15, 2022

"Don't cling to me," Jesus said [to Mary outside his tomb], "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" Then she gave them his message.

— John 20:17-18 NLT

Key Thought

One of the biggest tasks we have as Jesus' disciples is not to cling to Jesus - not to cocoon ourselves in church where we feel the presence of the Lord but avoid going to tell others about him. We have a message of hope and of a never-ending life to share with others who are trapped in hopelessness and despair. As disciples, we are not to spend the majority of our time in holy pep rallies, but we are to spend our time and efforts in the world, touching its hurt and offering hope in a Jesus who lives in us and can live in them. Jesus accompanies us when we go and share that message and when we go and serve those who are broken, just as much as he does when we meet together as his people. So let's get out there and give others his message in word and deed.

Today's Prayer

Father, help me not be just part of a watered-down faith that spends so much time on sharing Jesus with itself and avoids entering the world to serve as Jesus served and to show by our actions that Jesus is alive today. Help me share Jesus' message with those around me, not arrogantly or self-righteously, but with genuine concern and through authentic service. In Jesus' name, and for Jesus' sake, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

8 Related Resources by Heartlight

Joy Comes Because Jesus Comes
Article by Max Lucado
You have not lived one moment when you were not loved. Max Lucado reminds us that Jesus appeared to Mary and what this exchange means to all of us.
Easter Clothes
Article by Rick Brown
What kind of clothes did Jesus wear that first Easter Sunday. Rick Brown reminds us what is important about the clothes we wear on Easter and that Jesus appeared to Mary as a gardener.
UNPREDICTABLE: MY Lord!
Article by Phil Ware
In the middle of this mess, would you still have called Jesus Lord? Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus from the Gospel of John called unpredictable, and focuses on Mary Magdalene calling Jesus Lord in the middle of all sorts of grief, sorrow, despair, discouragement, loss, and hopelessness and is given the gift o
We Have Seen the Lord
Article by Tom Norvell
Have you seen Him lately? Even though they did not recognize Jesus at first, he was with those early disciples all along. All they had to do was keep looking for him.
See All 8 Related Resources about John 20:17-18

Illustration

Illustration of John 20:17-18 NLT — "I have seen the Lord!"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, December 15, 2022

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Jesus Sees and Cares' (Re. 5:6)
"Then I [John] saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the..."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by St. Augustine of Hippo:
"God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Stacking the Deck Against Paul' (Acts 24:1-2)
"Five days [after the Roman troops took Paul from Jerusalem to Caesarea,] Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Psalms 47:4
"Believer, if your inheritance be a lowly one you should be satisfied with your earthly portion; for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!