John 20:11-13
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
What does Sunday morning look like at your house? (You can go ahead and tell me it’s none of my business … you are getting too nosey … too personal … I’ll understand.) Do you wait to the last possible moment to roll out of bed? It’s not a work day. Do you run out of the house … jump in the car … still finishing the last touches on your make-up or tying your tie? Do you arrive at church, just in the nick of time and if the light caught you, a minute or two late?
Mary was up early on Sunday morning and the first to arrive at the tomb. It was Mary who got the first inkling that something special had happened there. It was also Mary who was the last to leave. John and Peter had come to see what happened but soon turned and went home. Not Mary. She hung around and because she did, received a special visitation from heaven.
Do you have a clock on the preacher? It’s time for him to wind this up. I can’t be late getting in line at the restaurant or miss the NFL Sunday kickoff.
I wonder what we miss when we rush away from worship, chasing our busy schedules? Sunday is His day. Early Sunday morning, HE ROSE. It should be every day, but especially on Sunday, let Him rise again in your day. Let Mary Magdalene be your model for Sunday morning.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
RUNNING FOR JESUS
John 20:1-10
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Resurrection
1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home.
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; … run and not get weary;…” – Isa. 40:31
When Mary Magdalene saw the stone rolled away, she ran. When John and Peter heard about the stone being disturbed, they ran.
There is a lyric from a song by the Mississippi Mass Choir:
I’ve been running for Jesus a long time;
I’m not tired yet.
What is your response to the resurrected Christ? Are you wearing out your running shoes?
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Resurrection
1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home.
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; … run and not get weary;…” – Isa. 40:31
When Mary Magdalene saw the stone rolled away, she ran. When John and Peter heard about the stone being disturbed, they ran.
There is a lyric from a song by the Mississippi Mass Choir:
I’ve been running for Jesus a long time;
I’m not tired yet.
What is your response to the resurrected Christ? Are you wearing out your running shoes?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
SECRET FOLLOWERS NO MORE
John 19:38-42
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Burial of Jesus
38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus showed up on Calvary hill to claim the body of Jesus after He was crucified, their secret was out. Pilate knew. The soldiers who performed the crucifixion knew. The other Jewish leaders knew. Anyone of the crowd who still remained around the Cross saw these two, previously secret disciples, take away the lifeless body of Jesus. They no longer cared who knew they were believers.
Do we hide our faith? In this secular, lost world, do we think it’s wise to maintain Christian anonymity? Do we try to keep peace at home, at work, at play by being secret disciples? The day came when Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t care who knew. So it will be with us. Jesus is coming back. When that happens, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Don’t wait. Show your faith today and every day.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Burial of Jesus
38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus showed up on Calvary hill to claim the body of Jesus after He was crucified, their secret was out. Pilate knew. The soldiers who performed the crucifixion knew. The other Jewish leaders knew. Anyone of the crowd who still remained around the Cross saw these two, previously secret disciples, take away the lifeless body of Jesus. They no longer cared who knew they were believers.
Do we hide our faith? In this secular, lost world, do we think it’s wise to maintain Christian anonymity? Do we try to keep peace at home, at work, at play by being secret disciples? The day came when Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t care who knew. So it will be with us. Jesus is coming back. When that happens, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Don’t wait. Show your faith today and every day.
Monday, October 13, 2008
FULFILLED PROPHESY
John 19:28-37
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Death of Jesus
28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”[a] 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.[b]) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[c] 37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.” [d]
Footnotes:
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Death of Jesus
28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”[a] 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.[b]) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[c] 37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.” [d]
Footnotes:
- a. John 19:28 See Pss 22:15; 69:21.
- b. John 19:35 Some manuscripts read can continue to believe.
- c. John 19:36 Exod 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20.
- d. John 19:37 Zech 12:10.
I usually remove the footnotes but today, the footnotes are the point I want to drive home. In these brief nine verses from the Apostle John, we find six Old Testament references from the Law (Exodus and Numbers), from the poetic books (Psalms – 3), and from the prophets (Zechariah).
We refer to ourselves as New Testament churches, living in the dispensation of grace. How true! The best proofs of the truths of our New Testament faith are found in the Old Testament scriptures. The odds that one man, Jesus, could fulfill the 315 Old Testament references to Him and His life, death and resurrection, is a tremendously big number. If He only fulfilled eight of these prophesies, the number would be 1 in 10 to the 17th power or 1 in 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.
Jesus loves me, this I know because the Old Testament tells me so! Of course … the New Testament too.
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