Recently I heard someone say-“the only time our family gets together is weddings and…” can you guess? Funerals. There’s nothing wrong with this and in fact I believe it’s wonderfully healthy to gather together when a loved one dies. It’s not surprising that funerals happen in the first or middle part of the day. I’ve never been to a night funeral, I’ve never done a grave side service after dark-or before dawn-I wonder if anyone would come? People tend to get creeped out to be in a dark grave yard.

But Mary Magdalene wasn’t creeped out. This devoted follower of Jesus went to a grave in the dark b/c her love for Jesus compelled her to go. I wonder if she inspired the verse John later wrote in 1 John 4:18 when he said “there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out” Mary was rather fearless that dark morning and her bravery paid off in a powerful way, as we will see today…

This is your point to ponder:  Mary was adopted into her forever family on Easter morning and you can too!

BONUS MINI POINT: God’s love is stronger than death-B/C HE IS RISEN…

Now open your Bibles to the Gospel of John 20:1-10…