For the Family
Easter: Joy Come in the Morning
Family Worship
Imagine The LORD'S Joy!
The Lord's followers were overjoyed when they realized that He had risen. We take joy in the Lord's resurrection and His leading us all toward the happiness of heaven. But have we stopped to imagine the Lord's joy? These reflections (from a Family Lesson on John 15) give us six ways to consider the Lord's joy.
Imagine on the Lord's Joy Reading and Reflection for Families or Individuals
Mary Magdalene Sees The LORD (all ages)
Read the story in John 20:1-16 about Mary Magdalene going to the tomb and later seeing the Lord standing nearby.
Discuss the story of Mary Magdalene Seeing the Lord
· What did Mary expect to find in the tomb?
· What did she do when she saw that the stone was moved away?
· What did Simon Peter and the other disciple, John, find?
· What did Mary Magdalene see in the tomb that the disciples did not see?
· Did the angels tell her that the Lord was risen?
· How did Mary Magdalene learn the joyous news that the Lord was risen?
· When did she recognize the Lord? When He called her name, "Mary".
· And what did she call Him? "Rabboni" or Teacher.
· Why did Mary see the risen Lord first?
Compare this with the story in Mark 16: 9-11. When did the disciples believe that the Lord was alive and had risen?
Families might also enjoy He Is Risen, a picture book with text from Matthew 27 and 28 and lovely illustrations by Shanon Smith.
Related Activities
Make an Easter Representation
Make an Easter Diorama
Picture the Lord Appearing to Mary Magdalene
Make A Joyful Noise Unto The LORD!
Joy is delight, happiness, great gladness, and the expression of these feelings. One way we express joy in worship is by singing songs of praise to the Lord. Here are some joyful hymns that might enhance your family worship at Easter time:
"Joy Comes in the Morning" by John and Lori Odhner
"When Very Early in the Dawn"
"Morn of Joy and Morn of Praise" by the Rev. Frank Sewall
Joy Comes In The Morning (all ages)
In Matthew 28, we read "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb."
In Mark 16, we read "Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen." In this account, it was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome who brought spices to anoint the Lord's body.
And the story continues: "Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons."
In Luke 24, we read "Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared."
In John 20, we read "On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb."
For Reflection:
When the Lord was born, the shepherds learned of His coming while watching their flocks by night. The wise men followed the Star at night to find the Lord. The Lord came when the world was in state of darkness. When He died on the cross it was night. It was also night time when the Lord was taken by the soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane. Why was it night at those times? The people who hated the Lord were in a state of spiritual darkness. And the Lord's followers were confused. But the Lord rose on Easter morning. And as He rose on the third day, the light dawned.
Why does the Easter story emphasize the time of day that the Lord rose? What does morning symbolize? Morning pictures the coming and presence of the Lord. Dawn promises the coming of the Lord, and the sunrise symbolizes His actual arrival or presence (see Arcana Coelestia 2441). In contrast, night pictures a focus on self rather than the Lord. The black darkness symbolizes the absence of love and truth in our lives-a state of obscurity.
Worship the Lord at Sunrise
Watch the sunrise, then have a simple worship service. (One format would be saying the Lord's prayer, reading the quotes from the Word, and singing a song.) If your climate is too cold to be outdoors and you can't see the sunrise from your home, you can still have a worship service in the early morning focusing on joy coming in the morning.
Optional: You may wish to follow up with a special breakfast. Those people living in a warmer climate, may even choose to have a picnic breakfast!
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