“We have made the cost of conviction so high that capable, principled people retreat from public engagement entirely.” William J. Bennett

LORD, help me to love that which you love, and hate that which you hate.

Let that be my conviction, proclaimed without apology.

Mike

“The One who is limitless…is limited only by One.” Think about that!
God’s grace is His expression of love by limiting Himself. He does not need to offer His undeserved favor to us. He does so willingly and freely.

Today…be at peace. Be encouraged.
You are loved!

Mike

“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb” (Matthew 28:1).

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it” (Matthew 28:2).

“. . .when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away” (Mark 16:4).

“. . . the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay’” (Matthew 28:5,6).

“’The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again’” (Luke 24:7).

The Scriptures record 12 times that Jesus was seen by and interacted with people after His resurrection.  The Apostle Paul records in 1 Corinthians 15:5,6: “. . .he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”

On the Road to Emmaus

The Gospel of Luke records (24:13-35) that two people, “. . .One of them, named Cleopas”, “were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.  This was the day of the Resurrection of Jesus. “Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ . . . Jesus of Nazareth they replied.” 

They explained who Jesus was and what had happened in the last three days.  They expressed their hope that Jesus “was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”  Jesus, after listening to them, began to explain to them, “. . . beginning with Moses, and all the Prophets, . . .what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”  

When approaching the village they “. . .urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening. . . So he went to stay with them.”  Jesus sat at the table with them, “took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,. . .”.

They were open to and desired truth!

“Their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”  Several things happened before their “eyes were opened”.  They were clearly going through a time of doubting and despair.  The Scripture described them as “downcast”.  They had lost hope.   Yet they were willing to talk about it and listen to someone who was clearly an authority regarding the man, Jesus.  “’Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us (v.32)?’”  They desired truth!

They invited Jesus in!

Their desire for truth resulted in them inviting Jesus to stay with them.  Not only did they simply invite Him in, but they also desired fellowship with Him.  They sat at the table with Him, listened to Him give thanks, and were willing to receive the bread he broke for them.  The breaking of bread, and serving a meal is typically the responsibility of the master of the home.  Perhaps it was this simple act of allowing Jesus, the guest, to assume the leadership at this meal, in their home, that opened their eyes to who He was.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.”

Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

May we, on this Resurrection Day of celebration, open the door and invite Jesus into our hearts, our homes, and our lives.  May we break bread with Him, learn from Him, and allow Him to be the Master of our home.

Today, be blessed.  Be encouraged; He is Risen!

Mike

The Gospel’s record very little about this day:

“. . .The Chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate” and asked that the tomb of Jesus be secured to prevent His disciples from stealing the body and telling “the people that he has been raised from the dead” (Matthew 29:62-66).  A brief but very important account!

“When the Sabbath was over…” (Mark 16:1).

“. . .they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment” (Luke 23:56).

John says only, “Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there”; but said nothing about the Sabbath (John19:42).

Each Gospel account refers to a man named Joseph of Arimathea

Since the Gospels record very little about the day before Jesus’ Resurrection, this morning I decided to read each Gospel account relating to the burial of Jesus, on “the Jewish day of Preparation” – the day before the Sabbath beginning at sundown after Jesus’ crucifixion.  Each account refers to a man named Joseph of Arimathea.  Arimathea was a town about 5 miles North of Jerusalem.  Joseph was described briefly in the Scriptures as: “a rich man. . . who had himself become a disciple of Jesus” (Matthew 27:57); “. . .a prominent member of the Council. . .” (Mark 15:43); “. . .a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action” (Luke 23:50); “. . . a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews (John 19:38).

“Secretly”.  I thought about that statement. 

Our Pastor, at Good Friday services, mentioned it as well.  What brought Joseph to the point of revealing his belief in Jesus?  This was most likely at great risk to his standing in the Council as well as the community.  We are not told.  The Scriptures say he apparently had access to Pilate; not something an ordinary Jew would have, and requested access to Jesus’ body for burial in his own, private, “new tomb in which no one had ever been laid”.

I thought about what it “physically” meant to have access to Jesus’ body.  Gathering materials to carry Jesus’ body.  Walking to Golgotha.  Climbing up on the cross, removing the spikes, lowering Jesus’ body, which was still covered in fresh blood, carrying the body to the tomb, and preparing the body with “spices” and “stipes of linen”.  John records that the “mixture of myrrh and aloes” weighed “about 75 pounds.”  This was no easy task!  All done openly in the view of others and at great risk.  What gave Joseph the courage to reveal his belief? 

Desperation is necessary to be truly amazed at the Grace of God.

As I read my Bible this morning, I came across a handwritten note from many years ago.  It said, “Desperation is necessary to be truly amazed at the Grace of God. We must see God’s Grace within the context of our brokenness.”  My notation referred to Luke 22: 62 and Matthew 26:75, referring to Peter after he denied Jesus three times – “And he went outside and wept bitterly.”  Peter was desperate!  But it was that moment of brokenness that ultimately revealed to Peter God’s Grace and forgiveness.

I looked up the definition of desperation in the Cambridge Dictionary: the feeling that you have when you are in such a bad situation that you are willing to take risks in order to change it.

Peter, ultimately risked everything, which later cost him his earthly life, but secured his eternal life.  Would he have embraced that risk without going through the desperation experience first?

For Joseph, up to the point of Jesus’ crucifixion, his secret discipleship of Jesus was no different than Peter’s denial of Jesus.  Peter’s weakness and brokenness were both revealed in a moment of desperation, which resulted in a sacrificial obedience to Jesus.  Joseph’s weakness (fear of the Jews) was revealed in a moment of desperation as a witness to the crucifixion of Jesus, which resulted in courage and sacrificial obedience to Jesus.  Peter’s obedience resulted in the sacrifice of his earthly life.  We are not told what Joseph sacrificed, but there are legends about him doing great things for Christ.  His actions that day also fulfilled prophecy – Psalm 16:10.

I am no different than Peter or Joseph, relative to weakness and brokenness.   There have been many times that I prefer to not reveal my belief in Jesus.  And, in retrospect, I see many periods of desperation in my life, though not enjoyable to go through, have revealed areas of weakness and brokenness in my character, which have resulted in obedience to Jesus and amazement of the Grace of God.  He loves me, even in my brokenness, and promises, through my belief in Jesus, to walk alongside me in this life and the life after.

As we end this week of anticipation of the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection, may we be amazed that God would offer His undeserved favor (Grace) to us through His Son Jesus.

Be blessed.  Be amazed; you are loved!

Mike

The Friday before. . .

“. . . seizing him, they led him away…”

“Peter followed at a distance.”

“’Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”’

“The men. . . began mocking and beating [Jesus].”

“. . . the chief priests and teachers. . . are you the Christ. . . the Son of God?’  ‘You are right in saying I am.’”

“. . .Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’  ‘Yes, it is as you say, Jesus replied.’”

“Herod. . . ridiculed and mocked him.  [Then]. . .sent him back to Pilate.”

“[Pilate]. . . ‘I have examined him. . . and have found no basis for your charges against him.’”

“. . . the chief priests, rulers and the people. . . kept shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’”

“He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. 

“The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and set it on him.  Again and again they struck him. . .  and spit on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.”

“It was the third hour when they crucified him. At the sixth hour [noon] darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.  Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”

“’Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’”

“’I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

“’It is finished.’  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which one had ever been laid…they laid Jesus there.”_{(scripture from Luke and John)}

I realize there is Christian, in-house, debate about the actual day of the week that Jesus was crucified.  However, there is universal agreement regarding why He was crucified, and that He was resurrected on the 1^st day of the week (now called Sunday).

The reason He gave His life: Love!  “This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us. . .” (see 1 John 3:16) . We missed-the-mark (sin), and rebellion.  Our self-centered desires and decisions to reject God’s way and go our own way.   “This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” (John 3:16 – The Message).

The consequence of our sin:  Death. “For the wages of sin is death. . .”. (Romans 6:23a). Our relationship with our Creator was broken because of our rebellion (see Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:21-26).

The consequence of the crucifixion: Our debt is paid (Colossians 2:13,14).  It was nailed to the cross and forgiven.  Sin no longer has control of our lives.  “For we know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Romans 6:6).

The hope and the promise: Eternal life is now the promise given to those who put their faith and trust in Jesus. “. . .but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b).

Jesus’ selfless sacrifice was a demonstration of God’s love for us.  Jesus was the Lamb of God (John 1:29) who willingly bore our sins on the cross.  He took the punishment that we deserved.  “. . .God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Today, be blessed; be encouraged.  You are loved!

Mike

The Thursday before. . .

“’Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.’”

“And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it. . .’This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”

“In the same way,. . . he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”

“’. . .the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.’”

“. . . ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’”

“’Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.’”

“’Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’”

“. . .this is your hour-when darkness reigns.’” _{(Scripture references from Luke and John)}

And so begins this evening, the “Triduum” – “Three Days” – commemorating  Jesus’ trial, death, and resurrection.  My daughter, as a Father’s Day gift, took me on a trip to Israel. We walked the “Palm Sunday Road” and spent time in the Garden of Gethsemane.  

We stood on the location believed by many to be where Jesus’ “trial” was held and placed our hands on the walls of what is known as “The Sacred Pit”, a dungeon, hewn out of solid rock, 15 feet square and 20 feet deep where Jesus was believed to be imprisoned in darkness by the High Priest Caiaphas.  

We walked the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) and even descended 35 feet below the current street level to walk on rock pavement, upon which Jesus may have walked. 

We viewed two places believed to be the possible locations of Golgotha and stood within a rock-cut tomb believed by many to be Jesus’ burial and resurrection site.  The tomb was empty!

May you be blessed and encouraged during this Triduum period.  The “darkness” has been defeated.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Mike

The Thursday before. . .

“’Now that I, our Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.’”

“And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it. . .’This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”

“In the same way,. . . he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”

“’. . .the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.’”

“. . . ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’”

“’Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.’”

“’Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’”

“. . .this is your hour-when darkness reigns.’” _{(Scripture references from Luke and John)}

And so begins this evening, the “Triduum” – “Three Days” – commemorating  Jesus’ trial, death, and resurrection.  My daughter, as a Father’s Day gift, took me on a trip to Israel. We walked the “Palm Sunday Road” and spent time in the Garden of Gethsemane.  

We stood on the location believed by many to be where Jesus’ “trial” was held and placed our hands on the walls of what is known as “The Sacred Pit”, a dungeon, hewn out of solid rock, 15 feet square and 20 feet deep where Jesus was believed to be imprisoned in darkness by the High Priest Caiaphas.  

We walked the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) and even descended 35 feet below the current street level to walk on rock pavement, upon which Jesus may have walked. 

We viewed two places believed to be the possible locations of Golgotha and stood within a rock-cut tomb believed by many to be Jesus’ burial and resurrection site.  The tomb was empty!

May you be blessed and encouraged during this Triduum period.  The “darkness” has been defeated.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Mike

The Wednesday before . . .

“. . . the Chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. . .”.

“Satan entered Judas. . ., and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them. . .”.

I read these words with some dismay.  How could Judas, one who walked with Jesus, betray him?  But then I remember, that which I have known for a long time; it is my sin, my rebellion, my listening to Satan’s lies, my betrayal that Jesus died for.

Be blessed.  Be encouraged.  Because of Jesus’ willing sacrifice, we have been provided the way of reconciliation.  Our betrayal, through Jesus, can be forgiven.  (Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21).

Mike

The Tuesday before…

“He [Jesus] was teaching the people in the temple courts. . .. He went on to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard . . . the owner of the vineyard sent his son [to the tenants of the vineyard] . . . they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. He [the owner] will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.'”
 
[Jesus continued] ‘. . . give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.’  ‘Watch out that you are not deceived.  For many will come in my name . . ..’  
‘ ‘Nation will rise against nation…great earthquakes, famines and pestilences…men will hate you because of me’.  ‘By standing firm you will gain life’.

Each day Jesus was teaching . . . and all the people came early in the morning to hear him.”

May we be among those who each day come to Jesus to hear Him teach. May we be among those who stand firm.

Be blessed; be encouraged.  Death has been defeated!

Mike
(Read Luke 20:1-21:38 for context)

The Monday before…

“He entered the temple…’My house’…Every day he was teaching…all the people hung on his words” Luke 19:45-48.

May we today, this week, every day, in wonder-filled anticipation, hang on His Words!

Mike

PS. I considered writing “hang on to” rather than “hang on”; but realized that “hang on His Words” reminded me of our need to die to self. It is Jesus, The Word (John 1- Logos, the Reason, the Fullness, the Completeness, the Infinite, the Meaning), that provides the Way to die to self. I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:17; “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come”
May we hang on His every word!