Today’s Reading: Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:44 -53

Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” – Luke 24:44-49

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. – Mark 16:19-20

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God. – Luke 24:50-53

The disciples enjoyed their time with Jesus but, just as he had foretold, his time with them came to an end. They may not have felt ready, but he had been preparing them for this moment throughout his whole ministry. He told them over and over again that he would go away, and he laid out for them the importance of believing IN him in order to spend eternity WITH him.

YOU MUST BELIEVE

Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come…You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” – John 8:21-24

“…But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” – Luke 13:5b

YOU MUST REPENT

Believing that Jesus is the Messiah is only the first step in finding salvation. Even the demons believe in God (James 2:19). Jesus made it clear that there needs to be a change in direction — that our faith needs to be reflected in our actions. Repent of your old way of life and follow Jesus into a new way. Repent — change direction; do a 180 degree turn. Stop the momentum of your bad decisions and head the other way.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? – James 2:14

And when an unbeliever comes to faith in God, repenting of their sins, there is much rejoicing in heaven. Jesus who is eternal, Jesus who had witnessed it firsthand, told his listeners that the angels of God celebrate when the prodigal returns home.

“I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Luke 15:10b

YOU MUST BE READY

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Luke 12:35-40

The peace experienced at the ascension of Jesus exists when we hold tight to the promise that He will come again. So believe He is who He said He is, repent of your sins so that your faith is evidenced by your deeds, and be ready for His return.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” – Luke 12:48b

Today’s Reading: Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35; John 20:30-31

Jesus appeared to many people after his resurrection, including two men who were walking to a village outside of Jerusalem called Emmaus. As they walked, they discussed everything that had happened in Jerusalem. Jesus joined them in the conversation, but they were so caught up in their grief and dismay that they did not recognize him. He was intentionally showing up for them, but they did not see him; he chose to walk alongside them during a very difficult moment in their lives and they did not take note of his presence.

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:25-32

I DO NOT WANT TO MISS A MOMENT OF THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IN MY LIFE.

I pray I do not become so distracted by my own worries and grief that I forget to turn my attention to the One who gave His life for me. I want to sit at the table with Jesus and recognize His presence as we break bread together. When Jesus shows up for me, I want to be paying attention.

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. – John 20:30-31

The miracles and conversations recorded in the gospels barely scratch the surface of all that those around Jesus would have experienced. Imagine the long conversations as they sat around an evening fire or walked from town to town. Consider how many miracles and healings the disciples would have witnessed in those three years; yet these stories were recorded for a specific purpose – so that we might believe and, by believing, experience eternal life.

I DO NOT WANT TO MISS THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE I LACK THE FAITH TO BELIEVE.

I love the study of the gospels because I love the main character so much! I also love what comes next because Jesus continues on as the main character, even after He has ascended into Heaven. He continued to work THROUGH His disciples just as He continues to work THROUGH us today.

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. – Philippians 2:12-13

Do you wonder what is ahead for you? Rest in His presence and enjoy some time with Him this morning. He will lead you and work through you according to His plan.

Today’s Reading: John 21:1-14

John tells one more story — the story of the morning Jesus made breakfast on the beach for some of his closest friends. On this day no one questioned who He was or what He was doing; they simply rested in the knowledge that he was the Lord and that he was alive. They had no idea what this next chapter of their lives would look like, but they were willing to do whatever Jesus wanted them to do.

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?

Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there – Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and the two other disciples.

Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. – John 21:1-3

I imagine the disciples did not know what to do with themselves. Jesus had already appeared to them twice since His resurrection but He was not with them at the time. I imagine they were kind of sitting around in silence, unsure of what to do next. Perhaps out of the awkward silence, Simon Peter stood up and declared, “I’m going fishing.” It was what they knew, what they had done before they followed Jesus, and what they returned to for comfort when they were unsure of what life held for them next. It must have sounded like a good idea to the whole group because they quickly joined in and followed Peter to the boat.

BUT SOMETIMES OUR NORMAL FEELS UNFAMILIAR.

Something was different this time. The men who knew fishing because they were fishermen were unable to catch any fish. What was going on? Why were the fish not biting on this beautiful early morning? The life that had previously been marked with familiarity and comfort now brought no results, because it was no longer their life.

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them – fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. – John 21:4-14

I connect with this story because I love my morning time with Jesus. He does not make me a delicious breakfast of fish and bread, but He does feed me. He faithfully shows up in my life when I am wondering what is next. I ask myself — What does my day hold and what does God want me to do today? And when circumstances in my life are leaving me uncomfortable and I miss the familiarity of what I know, I do what I know to do — I trust in my Jesus to nourish and provide for me.

JESUS CAN HAVE MY “NEXT” BECAUSE I TRUST HIM.

Is there a situation or decision in your life that you need to bring to breakfast and give to the Lord this morning? Allow Him to fill you with His Spirit and rest in His presence before you start your day.

Today’s Reading: Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” — John 20:19-23

Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them. If he had been there, he would have seen Jesus for himself. But Thomas was not in the room. His absence caused him to miss out on an opportunity to experience the risen Savior.

The disciples told Thomas what Jesus had said and what they had seen, but Thomas struggled to believe. He needed to see Jesus for himself — to see the nail marks in his hands and to touch the wounds where Jesus had been pierced. Thomas, still deep in his grief, needed proof in order to let go of his doubt and allow himself to believe that Jesus was alive.

Jesus appeared to Thomas, showing Him his wounds and calling him to believe. And because Thomas had not heard him say it to the other disciples, he took the time to say it again to this doubting disciple — “Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:26b-29

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR JESUS TODAY?

There are many who were raised in the church yet still struggle to believe in Jesus and His Sovereignty. Today, I ask them and I ask you the same question Jesus asked Mary and the question I challenge myself with today, “Who are you looking for?”

Jesus is ready and willing to reveal Himself to us today but we will miss it if we do not expect it – if we live today without expectation that Jesus will personally reach out to us. Things will happen and we will call them coincidences. God’s blessings will pour out on our life and we will call ourselves “lucky”. Evidence of Jesus will be all around us and we will say, “I wish God would show Himself to me.” I don’t want to miss out on seeing God today.

We have been studying the gospels for several months now — accounts of Jesus’ life that were written so that we can believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. It is in believing that he is who he says he is that we fully experience life in his name. Jesus’ call to Thomas to believe brings me back to one of the first verses I ever memorized and a verse we looked at towards the beginning of the book of John. It’s familiar to all of us and probably the most well-known verse in the Bible.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Who are you looking for today? Will you join me in walking into our day with confidence that Jesus will reveal himself? Will you believe that Jesus is alive and actively involved in your life? And then, when we do experience Jesus today, let’s follow the same instructions He gave Mary and pass on the message to others – “I have seen the Lord!”

Today’s Reading: Mark 14:66-72, 16:14; Luke 22:54b-62, 24:12; John 18:12-27, 20:3-10, and 21:15-25

HE WAS LOOKING FOR JESUS

It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened. – Luke 24:10-12

What was going through Peter’s mind as he stood inside the empty tomb? Was he reminded of his denial as he walked away in bewilderment? He had come looking for his friend but Jesus was nowhere to be found. There was so much he wanted to say — so much he wanted to apologize for. Perhaps his mind went back to the broken promises he had made to Jesus.

Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter – before the rooster crows tomorrow, you will deny three times that you even know me.” – John 13:36-38

And that is exactly what happened. While Jesus was being questioned in front of the high priest, Peter was in the courtyard being asked if he was one of Jesus’ disciples. “No,” he said, “I am not” (John 18:17b). As Simon Peter stood by the fire to warm himself, he was asked again if he was a disciple of Jesus. He denied it again but someone there recognized him from the olive grove where Jesus was arrested. Again Peter denied it and immediately a rooster crowed (John 18:25-27).

Can you relate to how Peter must have been feeling at this moment? I have some memories I regret — moments when I should have responded differently or spoken up for Jesus. I have missed opportunities to represent Jesus in a situation. I know the feeling of guilt when the Holy Spirit tugs on my heart to do something and I freeze, the moment lost forever. I know all too well the feeling of realizing I have sinned and I need Jesus’ forgiveness, even though I do not deserve it. Because Peter was an emotional and passionate man, I imagine he experienced all of this to a higher degree than I can comprehend.

HE NEEDED TO TALK TO JESUS.

After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, he appeared to his disciples and said the words that must have been like salve on Peter’s wounds, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). Yes, peace was exactly what Peter had been without for three days and exactly what he needed from Jesus.

Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” – John 20:22

Peter had experienced the privilege of watching almost every moment of Jesus’ ministry – the healings, the sermons, sins forgiven, the false accusations – and yet he denied Jesus on that dreadful Friday afternoon when His Savior needed him the most. And now Jesus was giving the man who needed forgiveness the ability to forgive. Did Peter feel unworthy of this gift? Was this conversation with Jesus in response to Peter’s need for restoration?

Jesus asked Peter three questions and allowed him to individually answer each of the three questions. He gave Peter the opportunity to state his commitment to Christ three times, just as he had denied Jesus three times.

Today’s Reading: Mark 16:1-11; Luke 8:1-3, 24:1-11; John 20:1-2, 11-18

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. – Mark 16:1-4

I wonder how long it took them to react to what they were seeing. The large stone was no longer at the entrance of the tomb. When they entered, they found that Jesus’ body was no longer there. Luke describes the women as puzzled. And as they stood there trying to figure out what had happened, two men clothed in dazzling robes suddenly appeared to them.

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” – Luke 24:5-7

WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AMONG THE DEAD FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ALIVE?

“Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. – Mark 16:7-8

[Mary Magdalene] 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!” – John 20:1-2

Mary Magdalene followed Simon Peter back to the empty tomb. Overwhelmed with emotion, she stood outside the tomb and wept. Consider with me all of the emotions Mary must have been feeling. Now, consider with me how special this next moment must have been for Mary — a woman marked by her past, forever known as the one who had been possessed. How did she see herself? If she had ever struggled with feeling unloved and unimportant, I wonder if those feelings went away when Jesus chose her to be the first person He appeared to after His resurrection – even before returning to His Father. I imagine this encounter with Jesus changed Mary’s life, much like my own encounter with Jesus forever changed my life.

WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept she stooped and looked in. 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. “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.”
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. – John 20:11-18

WHO AM I LOOKING FOR?

I find great significance in Jesus’ question to Mary and I ask myself the same thing – Who am I looking for? Am I looking for Jesus? Am I expecting Jesus to reveal Himself to me today? Am I expecting to hear from the Spirit, to encounter God’s presence in my life today? Am I following Jesus today with a willingness to serve Him? Do I live with the daily recognition that Jesus is alive and actively involved in my life?

Jesus, here I am with a heart willing to experience you today as we celebrate your resurrection! Open my eyes to the ways in which you are working in my life and in the lives of those around you. Strengthen my faith and help me to see my value in you no matter how others define me. May you be glorified today in the lives of believers around the world as we celebrate the reality that you conquered death and rose from the grave. We serve a Risen Savior! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42

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. – John 19:38a

The gospel accounts of Mark, Luke and John help us put together the hours after Jesus’ death. Each account adds more detail to who Joseph of Arimathea was, and what it took for him to go to Pilate to ask for the body of his friend.

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. – Luke 23:50-51

John tells us that Joseph had followed Jesus secretly out of fear of the other religious leaders. He believed in who Jesus said he was, yet did not stand up for Jesus among his peers. But tonight, when even Jesus’ disciples were nowhere to be found, Joseph was courageously approaching the Roman governor who handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. – Mark 15:43-45

Joseph was not the only religious leader among the Jews who believed in Jesus. With him that night was Nicodemus, the Pharisee who had come to Jesus at night to ask him questions. Jesus took the time to explain to him what it meant when he said that you must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. In light of this moment on Friday afternoon, consider the truth Jesus had previously revealed to Nicodemus that night:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. – John 3:16-21

COME TO THE LIGHT

Here Nicodemus was, stepping into the light to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus. The Sabbath had not yet begun, which means it was not after sundown. The sun may not have been shining on that Friday afternoon, but Nicodemus had found the courage to serve Jesus, and here he was going down in history as the man who supplied the myrrh and aloes for Jesus’ burial.

When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. – John 19:38b-39

Consider with me how difficult it must have been for these two men to take Jesus’ body down from the cross. It was an honor for them to serve Jesus in this way, but it was probably the most difficult thing they had ever done. To remove the nails from his hands and feet, to extract the thorns from his brow, to apply the ointment and wrap the linen cloth around his body…

Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 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. – John 19:40-42

But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.
But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. – Isaiah 53:9b-12

Today’s Reading: Mark 15:33-41, Luke 23:44-49, John 19:28-37

By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. – Luke 23:44-45

For three hours, the world was completely dark. There was no light being cast from the sun — no shadows or shade. The Light of the World had come down to mankind, yet they did not receive all that Jesus had to offer them.

He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. – Isaiah 53:3-6

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD BEAR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS?

Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” – Mark 15:34

How often have we felt some level of abandonment on our hardest days? We sit in what feels like a heavy blanket of darkness. and we long for God to show Himself. We beg Him to shed light on our situation and make His presence known. We call out for God to rescue us, we hunger for a word from the Lord, and we thirst for a sip of living water.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 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. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. – John 19:28-30

It was finished. Jesus had done what he had been asked to do. The Son of God had accomplished the task that had brought him down from heaven.

At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. – Matthew 27:51-52

When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” – Mark 15:39

Surely the testimony of this one Roman officer reflected the thoughts of all who witnessed that moment. Creation itself was responding to the death of Jesus. Things were happening that could not be explained away. People who had died were now alive! Whether you were in the temple or still on the hill called Golgotha, it could not be denied that God was responding to the death of His Son.

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 Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe. These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and “They will look on the one they pierced.” – John 19:31-37

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO DIE?

No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. – Isaiah 53:7b-9a

Today’s Reading: John 19:25-27

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. – John 19:25

Luke tells us that there was a small group of women who often followed Jesus from town to town along with the disciples. Each had their own personal story of how Jesus had healed them of disease or freed them from the evil spirits that were controlling their lives. They were so thankful for what Jesus had done in their lives that they gave sacrificially in order to help support the ministry of Jesus. Among these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of the manager of Herod’s household, and Susanna (Luke 8:1-3).

At the foot of the cross, we again see a small group of women who faithfully stayed by Jesus’ side, even in his death. While others were running in fear, these women were ministering to the needs of Jesus’ mother as she watched her son suffer. Again we see Mary Magdalene, along with Jesus’ aunt and Mary the wife of Clopas.

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. – John 19:26-27

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIS MOTHER FROM THE CROSS?

I cannot imagine the deep sorrow Mary was experiencing as she sat at the foot of the cross, but I do know the love of a mother for her child. Studies show that there is no grief as intense as the loss of a child; not even the loss of a spouse surpasses the sorrow of losing a son or daughter.

When the angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary to let her know she would conceive and give birth to a son, Mary had no idea the joy this baby boy would bring her. She did not know what it would be like to watch him grow and hunger for the study of scripture. I imagine she was a proud parent as she listened to him teach and watched him heal those who were brought to him. As a mother, I imagine she also worried when she saw how the religious leaders challenged him and tried to trap him with their questions.

THE LORD IS WITH YOU!

The angel had said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28). Mary had found favor with God! What must that have felt like to be the one chosen to be the mother of God’s son. Perhaps the memory of that day played through her mind as she watched the son she loved dying on the cross.

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” – Luke 1:29-33

Confused and disturbed — these are adjectives that could probably be used to describe Mary as she watched Jesus’ crucifixion. The angel had said he would be very great, and he was! The angel said he would reign forever, so why was he dying? Did Mary understand that his death did not mean that his Kingdom was coming to end? Perhaps she remembered back to the words of Simeon on the day she and Joseph had presented their baby to the Lord, as the law required. The Holy Spirit was on Simeon that day as he held Jesus in his arms and celebrated the coming of the Messiah.

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” – Luke 2:34-35

BUT HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?

This question Mary asked the angel when he prophesied the birth of Jesus seems to fit well in today’s passage. Scripture does not tell us what Mary was saying as she grieved at the foot of the cross; we do not know what she was thinking or the questions she was asking. But Mary knew God to be faithful. The angel had told Mary that the word of God will never fail, and I imagine she was holding onto those words as she experienced the deepest grief she had ever known.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. – Luke 1:38

When Mary accepted God’s plan for her life, she accepted everything that would come with it. Her pregnancy before the engagement was over would be talked about; her character would be questioned. But Mary took each moment in Jesus’ life and pondered them in her heart, thinking about them often (Luke 2:19).

Jesus had brought great joy into her life, and the world had brought great sorrow. This same dichotomy is felt by us today. But when we receive Jesus as our Savior, we accept everything that God has planned for us, while acknowledging the reality that we are in the world but not of it. So as we soak in the remembrance of what Jesus did for us on that Friday long ago, let us take this time to recommit our hearts to the highs and lows of this spiritual journey.

The Lord is with us! The word of God will never fail, and his Kingdom will never end!

Today’s Reading: Mark 15:22-32, Luke 23:26-43, John 19:17-22

So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). – John 19:16b-17

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD WALK THIS ROAD?

After the beating he had received, it is hard to fathom that he would even have the strength to bear the weight of the cross. Imagine the pain of the wood against the open sores on his back; imagine the pain of the thorns digging deeper into his head. This walk to Golgotha would have been physically painful, but also spiritually heavy as he carried not only his cross but mine.

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD CARRY MY CROSS?

They led Jesus away, walking up a road leading to the place called Golgotha. At one point, the soldiers either had some compassion for Jesus or they became impatient with how long it was taking our wounded Lord to carry the cross. They seized a man named Simon who was walking by, and they made him carry the cross behind Jesus. A large crowd followed, including many grief-stricken women. Even in that awful moment, Jesus had compassion on the broken-hearted following this procession.

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD CARE FOR THOSE WHO MOURN?

But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” – Luke 23:28-31

If this could take place while the Messiah himself was in their presence — the promised Messiah the Jews had been waiting for generation after generation — what kind of evil would take place after Jesus was gone? This prophecy of what was to come had a tone of concern. Jesus loved the people he was about to leave behind; he loved those he had done life with over the last three years.

And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece…

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!” – Mark 15:22-32

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD FORGIVE?

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. – Luke 23:35-36

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:39-43

Again, the compassion of Jesus is displayed. Even while he was suffering, he was thinking of the purpose for which he was dying – salvation. The same Jesus who took the time to heal a blind man and then tell him to go and sin no more was now redeeming the life of the criminal beside him. This reveals to us the heart of our Savior; this shows us just how much he loves us. It shows us that he is willing to redeem even that part of our story we are most ashamed of.

Father God, thank you for sending your Son to die for our sins. Jesus, thank you for all you suffered in order that we may experience salvation. Spirit, remind us throughout this weekend of the LOVE we are so blessed to experience each day. Guide us, teach us, lead us, fill us. Amen.