Easter Certainty…Jesus Solidifies the Evidence
Devotions this week based on the Easter Message: “Certain Hope for Uncertain Times”.
The body was gone. The tomb was empty.
The angels had said, “He’s not here. He’s alive.”
But what if no one ever saw Jesus alive?
Would you still believe it? Would the testimony of the angels and a group of women convince you that Jesus rose from the dead? Or would you have a bit of skepticism…or a lot of skepticism?
I would be skeptical if there were only reports of Jesus’ being alive and no sightings of Jesus being alive. (Just another Bigfoot legend?)
Circumstantial evidence is good, but it’s hard to build a convincing argument JUST on circumstantial evidence.
The thing that takes circumstantial evidence and makes it solid evidence is eye witness accounts. In this case what validates the empty tomb and the message of the angels is the sighting of Jesus.
Jesus knew this. He knew the reality of his resurrection would be lost if he didn’t take time to show himself alive to not just one person, but to many people. Here’s him showing himself alive to the women who got up early and went to the tomb at sunrise.
Matthew 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The initial report was the tomb was empty. This intrigued Peter and John to run to the tomb to validate the empty tomb. But what solidified the evidence of the day was people seeing Jesus alive.
There could be no confusion. His body wasn’t stolen. His body wasn’t misplaced. His body was very much alive. The focus shifted from seeing the empty tomb (circumstantial evidence) to seeing the living Jesus (solid evidence).
Our faith is not based on an empty tomb. Our faith is based on a living Jesus. The message that Jesus gave the women to share with his brothers, his disciples was not “The tomb is empty” but “Go to Galilee; there they will SEE ME.”
Jesus wanted to solidify in the hearts and minds of his disciples too that he was alive.
He did this for our sake too. He wanted us to put our hope, not in an empty grave…but in the living Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
Apply: Consider the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What evidence is convincing to you of Jesus’ resurrection? What questions do you have? Let’s dialogue: pastor@crossandcrowntx.com. In the message I also mentioned Lee Strobel’s “Case for Christ” to delve further into the evidence for the resurrection. Have questions? Take time to read it!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for taking time to show yourself alive not just to Mary, but to many of your followers. Each eye witness account builds my trust and confidence of the reality of your resurrection. Amen.
Easter Certainty…Jesus Says My Name!
Devotions this week based on the Easter Message: “Certain Hope for Uncertain Times”.
Uncertainty leads to anxiety.
We all can relate. As individuals, families, and communities we’ve been under a lot of stress these past months. Covid and its affects. Racial Tensions. Political tensions. Teaching from home. Quarantining…and more. All of these events have had opportunity to create uncertainty in our hearts and minds and as a result…a level of anxiety.
We are not the first.
Uncertainty has always been a catalyst for anxiety. The day Jesus rose from the dead was a day filled with uncertainty and as a result anxiety for the followers of Jesus. But Jesus didn’t want that anxiety to continue…so he steps into these individuals world to bring certainty amidst their anxiety. This week we’ll look at some of those appearances.
First Mary.
Mary was crying. Distraught as she didn’t know where the body of Jesus was. She was only concerned about paying her last respects and now the body was gone. The one she followed. Her teacher, her master was dead and now the body stolen. Anxious? Fearful? Yes, but Jesus doesn’t leave her in her anxiety. Read what happens (John 20:10-16)
10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 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.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 “Woman,” he said, “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.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
All it took was Jesus saying her name and all the uncertainties, anxieties and worries of the moment went away. She didn’t find the body of Jesus, Jesus found her and by saying her name affirmed his love, his care, and assured her he WAS very much ALIVE.
This account is a great reminder of how Jesus loves to come into our anxieties and fears when we think we are alone, blaming someone else for the circumstance, or just simply unsure of what the future holds and Jesus speaks your name, “Mike.” (Insert your name here!)
Sometimes that’s all it takes. Hearing Jesus whisper your name reminds us and reassures us he is with us, loves us, and is right there for us in the middle of our anxieties and stress.
Apply: What are the situations that you are going through and trying to control and deal with? Before you run frantically forward, pause and hear Jesus say your name and remind you that he is there to love you, encourage you and carry you through the challenges and stresses of life.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for coming alive on Easter assuring all of us that our relationship with you is secure by your love and grace. Whisper in our hearts our name in the midst of our anxiety to replace it with certainty. Amen.
Holy Week Thursday: Watch and Pray
Devotions this week will touch on an event which took place on this day of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday Message: Lead Me to the Cross…Follow the Donkey…Find the Cross!
As hard as I tried, I couldn’t.
Evening service at church as a kid…long conversation after a long day…watching a movie…yep, even praying.
I’ve fallen asleep doing all of these…even as hard as I tried to stay awake. Sometimes you just can’t.
I get why the disciples fell asleep. It was a long day…let alone a long week and it was only Thursday. Long days of teaching in the temple. Seems like little on Wednesday, but then preparing the Passover meal. Filled by conversations about betrayal and denial as well as Jesus speaking of a new covenant in his body and blood. Stomachs full. Stress high. They just couldn’t keep their eyes open.
I get it. I more than likely would have done the same thing…even when Jesus asked me to “Watch and pray” with him.
Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Jesus knew the weight of what falling into temptation created. He was carrying the sin of every individual who gave into temptation. Jesus knew the power of temptation. He too had been tempted in every way. The difference? He didn’t sin. The writer to the Hebrews says,
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Jesus knew how hard Satan works to pull a soul away from him. He already had Judas, Jesus didn’t want to lose any more. Not just the disciples, but you and me. So he directs us to “Watch and pray.”
Watch out for the things that spiritually wear you out.
Watch out for the temptations Satan uses to lead us away from Jesus.
Watch out for the blind spots in your heart, in your mind, in your ego that Satan exploits.
Pray for God’s Spirit of strength to overcome temptation.
Pray for forgiveness Jesus gives as he gave his body and blood for you.
Pray for God to show you the way out of temptation.
The spirit IS willing, but our flesh is weak.
Apply: What specific temptations does Satan get you with? Watch out to avoid situations that may make these temptations easier. Pray for strength of God’s Spirit to find the way to say “No” to temptation. Watch your Savior give himself for you to forgive you when you fall into temptation.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your gift of forgiveness in your body and blood. Empower me by your Spirit to be always vigilant to “Watch and pray” so I don’t fall into temptation. AMEN.
Holy Week Wednesday: Silence.
Devotions this week will touch on an event which took place on this day of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday Message: Lead Me to the Cross…Follow the Donkey…Find the Cross!
Everyone likes peace and quiet…unless…
You know that eerie realization as a parent when you were conversing with adults and the group of kids that was a dull roar in the background all of a sudden goes quiet. Unfortunately, often an inspection of what caused the silence isn’t good. This kind of silence often ends with punishment or consequences because the kids got into something they shouldn’t have.
This is the silence of Wednesday of Holy Week.
It’s kind of an eerie silence.
Palm Sunday was a joyous procession with a crowd and shouts of “Hosanna!”
Monday righteous anger drives out the money changers from the temple drawing the ire of the religious leaders.
Tuesday was a busy day of teaching on the destruction of Jerusalem and Jesus’ second coming.
Wednesday…Silence.
But the hushed nature of the day was not because there was peace in Jerusalem. There was a plot brewing.
Tuesday ended with this:
Matthew 26:3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. 5 “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
What would change their minds?
The “sly way” to arrest Jesus came to them. How could they say, “No”? Judas was the willing accomplice. If the price was right…he was in. The concern for a riot among the people diminished when they had a plan to have Jesus delivered into their hands.
Matthew 26:14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Judas’ actions were brewing for a while. At the root was not a hate of Jesus, it was a stronger love of money. So when did the love of money become stronger than love of Jesus? We don’t know for sure, but perhaps what tipped him over the edge was the anointing of Jesus with very expensive perfume.
John 12:4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Worship of Jesus got in the way of lining the pockets of Judas…so Judas decided to get rid of Jesus to line his pockets with 30 silver coins.
We can be like Judas running along and following Jesus. We can listen to Jesus’ teaching, participate in his ministry, and understand his purpose and impact. Until we don’t. When our heart goes silent on Jesus, greed or other desires move in.
Watch out for the silence. Sometimes it’s a cover for sin.
Apply: What sin is lurking in the silence of your heart? Let the example of Judas warn us to turn from it and back to Jesus. Jesus died for Judas, but Judas never turned back for forgiveness. Jesus is faithful. As we confess to him he will forgive you. He died for you.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for exposing the sin that lurks in the silence of my heart. Lead me to return to you in repentance to receive your forgiveness and strength to overcome. AMEN.
Holy Week Tuesday: Are you Prepared?
Devotions this week will touch on an event which took place on this day of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday Message: Lead Me to the Cross…Follow the Donkey…Find the Cross!
Are you prepared?
John Wooden, a legend coach of the UCLA Bruins, would tell his team, “What opportunity strikes, it’s too late to prepare.” This statement motivated his team to put in the work, hone their skills, and understand the strategy of the game. Why? Because when the opportunity or need for a certain play, a clutch basket, or a defensive stand came to win a game or a championship, it was too late to stop and practice. Preparation had to happen before the reality came.
In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus spends a good part of Tuesday of Holy Week instructing his disciples on how to be ready for his return. While there will be signs that the end is near (ones we see regularly even today), the specific day and hour is unknown. Here’s what Jesus said to watch for:
Matthew 25:4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
We like to procrastinate. It may feel good in the moment to put off something, especially if you don’t want to do it. However, I am learning that you never know what is going to happen, even if you know a deadline, so better to get the project done as soon as possible…and don’t procrastinate.
Jesus teaches on the end of times to remind us to always be ready. He doesn’t want his return to catch us unprepared.
Matthew 25:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
So how do we prepare? We stay close and regularly connected to Jesus. Take to heart the words of Jesus. And put into practice the work of Jesus.
Like a student who regularly does his homework and reads the material assigned, there is no anxiety when the teacher decides to give a surprise quiz, so the believer who trusts in Jesus as Savior, regularly reads the words God has given to us, and puts into practice the love of Jesus…he/she has nothing to fear when Jesus returns. In fact that day will be one we anticipate and look forward to rather than dread and worry about.
Luke 21:25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Apply: Take time to read Matthew 24 & 25. What do you see happening today? Is it possible Jesus could return today? Are you ready? What commitments can you make to yourself and Jesus to be better prepared for the day of his return?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for encouraging us and teaching us about what it means to be prepared for your return. Help us to stay close to you, regularly take in your Word, and be about your work while we wait. AMEN.