4/15/15- The First Witness of the Resurrection

9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke 24)

Thoughts: The first witnesses to the resurrection were women. They were the first ones to tell the good news that Jesus is alive.  That women were allowed to speak the best news ever is an uplifting thing to their gender.  It did not bode well for the disciples that they did not listen to the women.  They were doubtless excited, and hard to understand.  But Peter (and John) ran to the tomb.  Later they would see for themselves.  
     The point of the story is not who gave the message.  Nor is it important exactly how they said the message- apparently they didn't say it well.  But that they said it, and the message began to spread.  The ripple that began the spread of the Gospel started.
     The women could have been so nervous that they wouldn't say anything.  But they did.  They could have thought (rightly) that they weren't trained or good or worthy of speaking this very important news.  They are to be admired for not letting their fear or their pride get in the way of just about blurting out the greatest news ever.  
     We are called to speak for Christ.  None of us are worthy to do so.  There is always someone who could do it better and with more training.  Yet, we are called nonetheless by the risen One to speak. 

Prayer: Lord, give me words to say and a heart to say them.  Bring people to me to listen. 

4/14/15 Fish for People

6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. (John 21:6)

Thoughts: This was a reminder of the call of Jesus at the beginning to witness for Him (Luke 5:1-10).  At that time Jesus told them where to find the fish; they did so and then he called to them to follow him and fish for people.  But after the resurrection Jesus intensified His call to His disciples to witness.  His call here is to listen to Him to find a fruitful witness of fishing for people.  God shows us where to bear fruit.  If God calls you to cast your nets on the other side- to try a new way- do it in faith.  Do it in faith that, even though you fished all night, God will provide fruit. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to witness for you and listen to you.  

4-13-15 Fish for People

 Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.  (John 21)

Thoughts: This passage reminds us of when Jesus first asked his disciples to leave their nets and follow Him.  He asked them to cast their nets on the other side and they caught fish then.  Jesus is the One who blesses what we do.  Fishing is a noble good profession, but when the Lord calls us to fish for people, it is even more important a call.
     Another question this passage raises is, why did Jesus let them fish all night before He tells them where to find the fish.  Perhaps it is because He wants us to see the limits of our own strength.  When we come up with nothing- He tells us how to find productivity.  Christ helps us to live fruitful lives. 

Prayer: Lord, show me how to produce fruit for you.  

4/12/15- Go to Galilee

32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Mt. 26:32)

5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28)

Thoughts: Some ask the too linear question- "was Jesus in Jerusalem or Galilee?"  But the risen Christ can be wherever He wants. The forty days of resurrection appearances are not restricted to one place (like some say ghost appearances are).  He sent them back to the place where it all started.  He later told Peter to fish on the other side as he did when he first called them- and Peter remembered the power and might of the Lord.  Peter was not embarrassed to come to Him, but He was a bit ashamed.  Jesus was seen in the upper room and ascended from Mt. Olive.  Yet he appeared and disappeared in many places.  

Prayer: Lord give me eyes to see and a heart that will listen to your commands.  

4/11/15- Jesus Shows Up

Jesus showed up at different times.  It is not that they all had to hold hands and were chanting some magical formula/spell for him to come.  In fact, He came in every day life.  He appeared to Mary Magdalene when she panicked about not finding the body.  He showed up to the disciples in the upper room with the door locked out of fear.  It was not that they had a lot of faith- and that faith elicited his coming.  He showed up to Thomas who was doubting to encourage him to believe.  He showed up to the disciples who had gone back to fishing- either to deal with the stress or perhaps to leave the ministry.
Today He promises to show up in worship- "Where two or three are gathered in my name- there am I in their midst."  In communion he comes- when we do this in remembrance of Him- His presence is there.  He shows up in witnessing- "and Lo I am with you always"He shows up when we help the needy- "as much as you have done it to one of the least of these you do it to me."  It is the message of Easter that Jesus did not stop showing up- but shows up still.

Prayer: Lord, come to me as I worship, as I commune; as I witness, as I serve.

4/10/15- Guarding the Unguardable

62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Mt. 27)

Thoughts: Many feel they can do what these guards failed to do- make sure no one believes Jesus came back to life.  Many want to guard the tomb by their arguments and rationalizing this resurrection away because resurrection is the most highly unusual event.  But Jesus was the most- uniquely highly unusual person.  He was fully human but also fully God.  No human guard, however good, can keep a god at bay.
     Some have wondered if these were Roman or Temple guards.  But the text has Pilate offering a guard and 28:20 mentions they were soldiers- not just Temple guards.  Roman soldiers could be executed for falling asleep on their post- as was claimed by the priests.  A seal- probably of wax was placed around the stone to indicate whether the stone had been moved or not.  A broken Roman seal meant that the law was broken too.  That was the easiest part of Jesus' rising- no government wax seal would make the risen Christ afraid to rise. The stone was heavy- so heavy the women worried about moving it to put the spices on Jesus.  The disciples were locked in an upper room when Jesus appeared (John 20), and were too scared to face a Roman guard.  But the one who moved the stone, according to Matthew, was an angel.  But Jesus was not contained by the stone or the seal or the guard. The stone was rolled away so that everyone could see (the angel said, "come and see" Mt 28:6).  
      You can't keep a good man down.  You can't guard the unguardable.  Not even death or hell could squish His life or His message.  The Easter message and the Easter person of Christ are both too powerful to contain.  We too, should quit trying to squish down the faith that keeps trying to pop out.  We need, as Jesus said to Thomas, to "quit doubting and believe."  

Prayer: Lord, keep me from elevating my power over yours.  Instead, enable me to see my inability to keep you from rising up in my life and in the world.  

4/9/15 Easter Appearances and Doubts

9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16)

Thoughts: The Gospel of Mark ends with almost a list of appearances of Jesus.  Most scholars think Mark 16 was added to the text but added very early (most believe Mark was written before 79 AD and is the first gospel) perhaps by the author himself.  Regardless, the early church accepted Mark 16 as just as canonical as the rest of the gospel.
     He lists almost bullet points.  He appeared to Mary Magdalene- this confirms the appearance where Jesus said to her to not hold onto her.  It also confirms their own incredulity.  This is not a sugar-coated version.  The Bible does not hide doubt- but it does rebuke it. When Jesus appeared to the two walking to Emmaus (in this instance it doesn't give the specifics of where they were walking, but we can wisely assume it was the same event).  There is unbelief here too.
     But when Jesus appeared to the Eleven, he not only rebuked Thomas (as John points out) but also the other disciples who doubted.  For the gospel to spread, belief has to happen.  If we do not believe, who cares?  If Christianity is just one ethical or philosophical system among many, and if one is as good as another- then why does it really matter?  But if Christ has truly risen from the dead, it is time to quit doubting and start spreading the news!

Prayer: I believe Lord, help my unbelief.