“He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.” – Rom. 4:25
Every day is lived in the shadow of the cross and the hope of the empty tomb.
Tag Archives: resurrection
Thy Word Hath Quickened Me
“This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy word hath quickened me.” – Psa. 119:50
God’s word will resuscitate you, bring you back from the dead, and revive you.
Perfect Peace
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” – Isa. 26:3
We all want peace. What about perfect peace?
Perfect peace comes only from God and knowing His Son, Jesus.
God is able and willing to keep you in this divine calm.
It comes only to the one who keeps their mind stayed on God. Of course, that’s easier to do when you trust Him.
Trust God.
Stay your mind on Him.
And God will keep you in His perfect peace.
Holy Week: Resurrection Sunday – The Empty Tomb
“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.'” – Matt. 28:5-6
Today’s events in history are the linchpin of the Christian Faith. Everything hinges on this day.
The women (women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Salome, and Mary the mother of James) go to the tomb of Jesus only to find it empty.
Jesus appears to the first of over 500 people that He would visit before His ascension.
Without the Resurrection, we have nothing: it’s not the tomb that is empty, it would be our faith that is EMPTY!
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the mostpitiable.” – 1 Cor. 15:14-19
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the mostpitiable.” – 1 Cor. 15:14-19
Sunday’s events are recorded in Matthew 28:1-13, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-49, and John 20:1-23.
Holy Week: Saturday – His Body in the Tomb
“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.” – John 19:38-42
Holy Saturday is the somber day of reflection where Jesus’s physical body lay in the tomb.
Jesus’s enemies, the chief priests and Pharisees visit Pilate asking him to fortify the tomb, which he does.
Jesus’s followers have scattered and spent the day in profound grief, shock, and fear (John 20:19).
However, Sanhedrin members Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus boldly come forward to take care of their Savior. It’s noted that Nicodemus brings an exorbitant amount of burial spices (100lbs!), proving his conversion.
The Light has gone out and the world is darker more than ever in its absence.
However, Sunday is just around the sunset and the world would never be the same!
Saturday’s events are recorded in Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56, and John 19:40.
Holy Week: Good Friday – The Crucifixion, Death, & Burial of Jesus
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matt. 27:46
Holy Week: Good Friday – The Crucifixion, Death, & Burial of Jesus.
This is the most brutal day in history. At 3pm, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of Humankind, the Son of God – gave up His spirit.
“‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” – Luke 23:46
The sun goes dark, the veil is torn, the earth quakes, the rocks split, the graves open.
“So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” – Matt. 27:54
Friday’s events are recorded in Matthew 27:1-62, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:63-23:56, and John 18:28-19:37.
And Peter
Two of the sweetest and tender words in the Bible are “and Peter.” What’s so loving about those words? It is actually a special message. It is a special message meant to comfort Peter.
In typical Peter fashion, he had been the first to defend his loyalty and the first to discard it. He boasted the loudest (I would die first!) and fell the hardest (3 times?). If Peter was anything, he was consistent, wasn’t he? The man always did it big. He won big (walking on water!) and He lost big (really, 3 times, man?!).
So, of all the Apostles, Peter was probably the most ashamed of abandoning Christ at the last moments. He didn’t just run away – he cursed Jesus’s name! Jesus knew this about His servant. Jesus knew Peter was probably beating himself up something terrible. So, He had the angel give a extra message to Peter.
“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.'” – Mark 16:7
I’m sure this message brought tears of relief to the eyes of Peter.
Go tell His people… AND Peter.
Especially Peter.
Make sure Peter knows.
Tell Peter in particular!
Jesus knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows when you have dropped the ball and are beating yourself up about it. He doesn’t like that. He just wants you to come back to Him. Just as He made sure to send this special message to Peter, Jesus has a special message for you too. He has a special message meant to comfort you.
Read Mark 16:7 and replace Peter’s name with your own.
“But go, tell His disciples and ______”
May God’s Love be with you
Ref: Kerry Shook’s Easter message, 2014
The Hard Truth
My posts are generally pretty light. I believe in Jesus’s greatest commandment: Love each other as I have loved you, John 15:12. However, I don’t want to shortchange you. So, here it is, The Hard Truth:
If you are not saved, this is the best it’s gonna get. This is your heaven. So live it up. ‘Cause it’s only gonna get worse. A lot worse.
I’m talking Epic worse.
If you are saved, this is the worst it’s gonna get. This is your hell. So keep your chin up. ‘Cause it’s only gonna get better. A lot better.
I’m talking Epic better!
While you walk and breathe, it is never too late to turn back to the Father. He is anxiously waiting on the edge of the field for his child to return, Luke 15:20. But once God sanctions your heart to beat it’s last, then that’s all she wrote. Game Over. No do-overs.
Then there will be judgement. God is all about Love. But, God is also all about Justice. “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Cor. 5:10
That’s it. No candy-coated happy-go-lucky froufrou. No God is a pushover that will let me get away with being a spoiled little brat my whole life.
God “hates with a passion” those who are wicked, Psalms 11:4-7. That’s the NIV. The KJV says, “his soul hateth” the wicked. Psalms 5:4-6 says God “detests” the bloodthirsty, the deceitful, and those who tell lies. “Evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in Your Presence. You hate all who do wrong.”
Jesus said “If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” John 15:10. Let us never forget that we serve a Loving God but also a God of Justice. This is serious business.
Sorry for the tough love but tickling your ear doesn’t do you any favors. And you know what, I’m not sorry. So, there.
May God’s Love be with you
Short Distance Relationship
Long distance relationships stink. Anyone who’s ever gone through one will tell you: They are hard and most of them don’t work. Hey, relationships are tough no matter what. Add distance to the equation, and you are almost doomed.
You wouldn’t make a relationship with someone you loved long distance on purpose, would you? Why make a relationship harder if it doesn’t have to be? You want the person you love as close as possible. If it was in your power to close that gap, you would. Right?
Jesus wants a close, SHORT DISTANCE relationship with you. He wants to be the first person you turn to in need. He wants to be there to comfort and guide you. He doesn’t want to be a world away. He doesn’t want to be the fourth or fifth or sixth person you go to. He knows what’s best for you, He knows God’s plan for you, and He wants nothing more than for you to succeed… so He can spend even more time with you.
It is you and I that create the distance. I say, “create,” because, it isn’t there until we put it there. We disconnect. We disengage. We cut the lines of communication. Jesus is always there. Always waiting. Always hoping. He is there waiting and hoping that we reach out to Him.
Skype is cool. Facetime is really neat. But there’s nothing quite like spending time with someone in person.
Take out your daily planner and set aside 10 mins every morning. 10 mins to just catch up with the Lord. Now, once it’s on the schedule, it’s on the schedule. There’s something about actually writing it down that makes it… more official. Know what I mean? You can’t break it… unless, of course, something more important than Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God comes up… then, by all means, take it instead. (Thanks to my Pastor, Dr. Rev. David Cyphers for this practical application.)
Long distance relationships stink. Jesus doesn’t want that. James 4:8 says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” It’s in your power to close the gap. All it takes is that first step.
May God’s Love be with you
A Verse A Day 