And the teaching text today comes from John chapter 20 verses 11 through 18. This is what it says.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, Woman, why are you crying?

They have taken my Lord away, she said.

And I don't know where they have put him. At this, she turned around and she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.

Jesus said to her, Mary, she turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, Raboni, which means teacher.

Jesus said, do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.

Go instead to my brothers and tell them,

I am ascending to my father and your father,

to my God and your God.

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news.

I have seen the Lord, and she told them

that he had said these things to her.

This is the word of the Lord.

You may be seated.

Well, happy Easter.

It is a joy to be able to worship with you tonight and to preach God's word.

I do want to let you know that tonight's message

is specifically designed for people that would not call themselves Christians or are wrestling

deeply with their faith about whether or not they can believe in God. So if you're a Christian church

is normally for you, you can eavesdrop in on this one. This one is designed for people who are

struggling, wrestling, or exploring their faith. I want to answer the question which you may be thinking,

...