He's Risen

In John 20, you read about Mary Magdalene weeping at the empty tomb (John 20:11). And in verse 14 you read about how she does not recognize Him, "At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus" (John 20:14). How often do the experiences of depression and anxiety mimic these feelings that Mary Magdalene might have felt? She was returning to the tomb and found it empty. She could not understand what had happened, and where He was. I imagine a few different emotions arising in this moment: sadness, anger, fear, and confusion. Depression and anxiety can mimic these emotions at times. And when she turns around He is there. She does not recognize Him. But that does not change the fact that He is there. Right where she needed Him to be. And He is there for you in each of those moments, right where you need Him to be; even when you do not recognize Him.

Further along in John chapter 20, you read about Thomas. Thomas was not present when the other disciples had seen Jesus. And then... But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). There have been times that depression and anxiety make you feel like Mary Magdalene. And there have been times that depression and anxiety make you feel like Thomas. Mary Magdalene wept in the absence and confusion of Jesus being "gone." Thomas on the other hand doubted what the others said because he wanted to see for himself and not just be told. And overcoming depression and anxiety can look like both. At times it is not enough to know that He is with you in these moments, even when you might not recognize Him, you want to recognize Him, touch Him, see Him with your own experiences. But know this. Thomas not believing the others did not change that He had risen. Jesus still was where He was with the others even with Thomas' doubt. And He is still with you even in your moments of doubt as well.

On Good Friday, He went to the cross and lay in a borrowed tomb. Sunday came and He is Risen. He conquered the grave so that you would not have to face that kind of death. Depression and anxiety, while honest and true experience, do not have a grip on you. He took that to the grave with Him and He left it there when He rose. Every moment that mimics depression and anxiety He told you you would experience because He said that there would be trials and tribulations as part of this world, but to take heart because He has overcome the world. His rising proves that He overcame the world. He overcame the depression and anxiety. He is Risen. Because Sunday came.

His rising not only validates a place for you in eternity with Him, it also models the daily overcoming to you might be going through as part of this world. The moments of depression and anxiety that might knock you down, have nothing on your ability to overcome and RISE, as He first showed you in the gospel. Take His rising as your own guide and reminder that He is with you. He is for you.

Repeat after me: He. is. for. Me.

Scripture:

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb-- John 20:11

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.-- John 20:14

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But takeheart! I have overcome the world.” -- John 16:33

Questions:

How has depression and anxiety made you feel similar to Mary Magdalene? Similar to Thomas?

How does His rising from the dead change your experience of depression and anxiety?

What do you need to rise from currently in this season of life? How can you use His modeling to help you do this?

Prayer:

Father, thank you for sending your son to die on the cross so that we might be able to have a personal relationship with you. Heavenly Father, it is through this sacrifice that we are able to know that there is more to life than the experience of depression and anxiety. I pray for each and every person that is struggling in some way today and pray that the resurrection gives them hope and comfort. You sent your son to take our place. A death He did not deserve. And He conquered the grave. Death has no hold on Him. And through Him, we too can conquer our own struggles and can know that death has no hold on us. I pray for those who need to see you like Thomas. And I pray for those who weep like Mary. In your son's name, Amen