May 2011

On the loose

Read > James 1:19-21

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry (v. 19).

Imagine this. You’re hanging out at home when a bull blasts through the back door, crashes into the kitchen, hurtles down the hallway, and then rockets around the living room. That happened to a family in Aachen, Germany. Before the homeowner finally opened the front door and allowed it to escape, the bull had caused more than $16,000 in damage.

When I picture the bull’s rampage, it reminds me of the way anger can suddenly be set loose, ricochet from person to person, and leave emotional wreckage in our homes. Its damaging power is to be avoided: “Don’t sin by letting anger control you” (Ephesians 4:26).

James gave us some practical advice on how to get a grip on our anger. He started by saying we should be “quick to listen” (v. 19). Groan. That just feels so unnatural. But swift listening gives us a chance to discover what’s really going on. Was my child disrespectful, or just being a kid? Did my husband really mean that, or did I misunderstand? How much of this situation is my fault?

Once we train ourselves to be nimble listeners, we have to practice slow speaking. This poky approach to stating our case gives us time to pray for self-control and to form an appropriate response. After all, “a gentle answer deflects anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Being slow to speak implies that we have chosen to rein in the destructive power of our words.

Finally, if anger is inevitable, James advises us to override our explosive impulses and to be slow to let it grow. And there’s a good reason for this. He goes on to state, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (1:20).

Like a bull on the loose, untamed anger is dangerous. When we see it approaching, it’s up to us to listen quickly, speak slowly, and sidestep its rampage. – Jennifer Benson Schuldt

More >

·         Exodus 34:6

·         Proverbs 22:24

·         Ecclesiastes 7:9

Next >

When you become angry, how can you prevent your emotions from controlling you? What’s the value in being slow to get angry?

May 2011

Food court theology lesson

Read > Isaiah 40:12-31

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding (v. 28).

So here I am, sitting in a shopping mall food court. My body is tense, my stomach knotted. My to-do list is long and my progress this particular day is disappointing. Unexpected complications have brought delays and I’m fretting over the deadlines ahead: a radio show to plan, an article to write, the myriad details of a national project I’m coordinating.

I unwrap my burger, take a bite, and for a few minutes I am forced to pause. Busy people rush around me, fretting over their own deadlines. And I am struck by humanity’s finitude. We are limited beings – limited in time, energy, ability, and capacity.

And while everything in me wants to write a new to-do list – prioritize it in order of importance, asterisk the urgent tasks, and underline those to be done together – another thought enters my mind:

A thought of One who is infinite (Isaiah 40:25).

A Being who is unlimited.

A Person who effortlessly melds the desire to do and the ability to accomplish.

This God, Isaiah says, can measure the oceans in the hollow of one hand, and collect the dust of the earth in a basket (v. 12 NIV). He names the stars of the heavens and directs their paths (v. 26); He knows the rulers of the world and controls their influence (v. 23). He is enthroned above the universe (v. 22), God views the islands as specks of dust, and nations as drops of water in the ocean (v. 15).

“To whom will you compare Me?” the Almighty asks (v. 25). “The Lord is the everlasting God …. He never grows weak or weary” (v. 28).

Stress, rush, and strain are never good for one’s health, but on this day they deliver a powerful lesson. The unlimited God is not like me. He accomplishes everything He wishes. I finish my burger, pause once more. And silently worship. – Sheridan Voysey

More >

·         Job 38-41

·         Psalm 139:1-16

Next >

Considering my limited resources, how will I rely on the unlimited God? During this busy day, how will I worship the infinite One?

sunflowers

Read > 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it (v. 8).

I was gawking, but I couldn’t help myself. Painted over a century ago, van Gogh’s Sunflowers lit up the museum wall in front of me. I wondered at how such a broken man could create an image brimming with beauty. Vincent suffered from mental disorders, financial difficulty, and other challenges. Yet, he produced almost 900 paintings within 10 years.

Like van Gogh, the apostle Paul endured significant lifelong struggles – but his career for Christ flourished. At one point, he wrote, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure” (2 Cor 1:8). In other words, he was pretty sure the end was near, but something kept him going.

What was Paul’s secret? He spelled it out for us when he wrote, “We … learned to rely only on God” (v. 9). Most of us would be fine with that statement, except for one word: only. A successful life in Christ requires all of God’s wisdom, all of His love, all of His enabling power, all of His protection – not our own.

Relying only on God helps us develop confidence in Him. Paul had a bit of a spiritual swagger, but it was because of his first-hand experience with the Almighty. He announced, “We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us” (v. 10). Paul was free to go on ministering because he was not pinned down by despair or frozen by fear.

My point is this: We can be productive for Christ as we deal with strain and struggles. Jesus was not naive when He said, “I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit” (John 15:16). He knew life on earth was messy. He also knew that trusting in God alone would produce the confidence necessary to go on lighting up the world around us, just as van Gogh’s sunflowers still shine brightly today. – Jennifer Benson Schuldt

More >

Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).

Next >

How have you allowed struggles to prevent you from bearing fruit for God? How will your life in Jesus look different as you rely only on Him?

The prayer of the forgotten

Read > Psalm 13

O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever? (v. 1)

In places like Darfur, the western region of Sudan, where genocide and starvation run rampant, human crises move far beyond the theoretical. Recent UN estimates suggested that hundreds of thousands of people have perished due to disease and war. Tribal warfare exacerbated by competing national political interests has laid this province to waste (literally).

The most incomprehensible part of this travesty has been, by and large, that the international community has not intervened. There have been a few censures and resolutions, but no resolve to move beyond merely flexing muscle. It seems the world has forgotten Darfur’s nightmare.

I imagine Darfurians feel emotions similar to the psalmist: “O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever?” (Psalm 13:1) When our distress and abandonment continue endlessly, our most difficult reality might be something other than the unrelenting pain. We may find that the hardship most difficult to bear is the stinging sense that, in it all, God is nowhere to be found.

“How long will You look the other way?” the psalmist pleads, pressing a devastating accusation. He is pleading for God’s help – and God looks away (v. 1). Four times in this short prayer, the writer forces the question, “How long?” (vv. 1-2). His raw query echoes: God, are You remotely interested in my despair? This long nightmare is killing me. How long?

Prayer is not a tame, safe, meek affair. Prayer is the courageous act of honestly giving our full self, our full emotions (whatever we have within us, noble or not) to God. Somehow, the prayerful act itself offers a balm. With little indication of change in circumstances, the psalmist concludes: God “is good to me” (v. 6).

The God-encounter experienced in honest prayer reorients us to the truth that our God has never forgotten us, not for a single moment. – Winn Collier

More >

·         Psalm 22

·         Matthew 15:21-31

Next >

What are your darkest questions for (or fears about) God? What keeps you from having the courage to speak to Him about them?

Tofu buildings

Read > 1 Corinthians 3:9-15

Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials – gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done (vv. 12-13).

A massive 8.0 magnitude earthquake rocked China’s south-western Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008. It was felt as far away as northern Pakistan and caused destruction in an area three times the size of Belgium. More than 70,000 people died and another 365,000 were injured.

Although the buildings in the quake zone were supposed to be constructed to withstand a 7.0-magnitude quake, more than 4.7 million houses and buildings collapsed. Authorities warned that those responsible for these “tofu” buildings would be severely punished (tofu = bean curd; meaning shoddy construction).

Solid construction is important in buildings and in our spiritual life too. Paul likened the Christian life to a building (1 Corinthians 3:9) and he gave two safety checks for a safe and enduring structure.

First, check the substructures. Every building rests on a foundation. Jesus Christ alone is our foundation (v. 11, also Acts 4:11-12). If He is the eternal Rock (Isaiah 26:4) upon which we build, we are indeed safe and secure (1 Corinthians 3:15).

Second, check the superstructure. Are we building a permanent or a temporary superstructure? The gold, silver, and jewels mentioned in verse 12 refer to the enduring quality of the builder’s work, and the wood, hay, or straw refer to the work that is temporary and inferior.

When we come before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), our works will be tested by fire (1 Cor. 3:13). Of this judgment, one Bible teacher writes, “It is not a question of salvation, which is a gift (Rom. 6:23) … but of service, which is judged on the basis of quality, not quantity.” Another writes, “We aren’t saved by good works (Eph. 2:8-9) but we are saved for good works (v. 10).” Our reward (1 Cor. 3:14) or loss of reward (v. 15) depends on how we build. – K. T. Sim

More >

·         Matthew 6:19-21

·         Ephesians 2:8-10

·         Galatians 6:8-10

Next >

What is the foundation of your faith? What “materials” have you been using to build on this foundation? Why?

What God hates

Read > 2 Timothy 2:15-26

There are six things the Lord hates – no, seven things He detests (Proverbs 6:16).

Shortly after moving to Uganda, I learned of a volunteer who contributed significantly on behalf of the East African people he came to serve. Yet despite all he accomplished on the field, he also caused harm by speaking falsehoods that caused rifts among his mission team members.

God’s Word firmly addresses such conduct, saying, “There are six things the Lord hates – no, seven things He detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

What enters your mind as you read these things? Do you find yourself thinking of times, perhaps even recently, that you have done the very things that God detests? It’s interesting and convicting that God places “hands that kill the innocent” and “a false witness who pours out lies” in the same list of sins. One act clearly seems more heinous than the other.

The revelation that God’s scale equally weighs both behaviours should serve as strong motivation for us to speak truthfully. We should use discernment when we speak in order to prevent discord or strife among our brothers and sisters in Christ and among the other people we encounter each day (Ephesians 4:15).

In the workplace, for example, we should avoid talking in a manner that might turn colleagues against one another (4:25). If an argument or hard feelings exist between you and another person, everyone on your team might feel the tension. Subsequently, strife could spread throughout your organization.

Consider how you are treating your friends, family members, colleagues, and the other people in your life. If you are creating disunity with your words, ask the Lord for wisdom to behave differently and then act on the guidance He gives you. – Roxanne Robbins

More >

You must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you (Matthew 12:36-37).

Next >

What are some difficult relationships you have? How can you use words of truth and love to improve them?

Working from the right book

Read > 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7).

My wife recently told me about one of her students who were having problems understanding a seemingly simple math assignment. She wondered if the assignment was too difficult, but she also noted that the other students weren’t experiencing the same challenge completing it. As she walked over to help the student, she immediately recognized the problem: The student was working from the wrong book.

As believers in Jesus, we believe that we are working from the right Book because of …

·         The Author of the Bible. The author of the Bible is God. Paul said that the Scriptures were “inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that God was actively involved in the writing of Scripture. The Scriptures are God’s infallible words to us.

·         The unity of the Bible. There are 66 books, written by 40 different authors (kings, peasants, a physician, scholars, poets, farmers, and fishermen) over a period of 1,500 years. They wrote independently, and most of them knew very little or nothing at all of the others’ writings. Yet, Luke says that their writings and prophecies (300 of them) pointed to one Person – Jesus Christ (Luke 24:27).

Statistician Peter Stoner has calculated that the probability of five major prophecies coming to pass by chance would be 1 in 2 quintillion: That’s 1 in 2,000,000,000,000,000,000! Yet Jesus says that He is the fulfilment of all those prophecies (Matthew 5:18).

·         The preservation of the Bible. We have more accurate and older copies of manuscripts of the Scriptures (the oldest is about 4,000 years old) than any other ancient historical or literary source.

God has given us the right Book. It’s an authoritative answer to the otherwise unanswerable questions of life. We can trust what the Bible says (Psalm 33:4). – Marvin Williams

More >

·         Psalm 119:151, 160

·         John 21:24

Next >

What are some specific steps you can take to prove that you trust what God says in His Word? How can you increase your knowledge and application of it?

Christ rose from the dead

In a world filled with belief systems making religious claims, how can you know what to believe? How can you know who to follow? This brochure offers ten pieces of evidence and witness that verify that following Christ is reasonable. As this evidence is examined and tested—we find that it can also be trusted.

A Public Execution Assured His Death

During the Jewish Feast of Passover, Jesus was swept away by an angry crowd into a Roman hall of justice. As He stood before Pilate, the governor of Judea, religious leaders accused Jesus of claiming to be the king of the Jews. The crowd demanded His death. Jesus was beaten, whipped, and sentenced to a public execution. On a hill outside of Jerusalem, He was crucified between two criminals. Brokenhearted friends and mocking enemies shared in His deathwatch. As the Sabbath neared, Roman soldiers were sent to finish the execution. To quicken death, they broke the legs of the two criminals. But when they came to Jesus they did not break His legs, because from experience they knew He was already dead. As a final precaution, however, they thrust a spear into His side. It would take more than resuscitation for Him to ever trouble them again.

A High Official Secured The Gravesite

The next day, religious leaders again met with Pilate. They said Jesus had predicted He would rise in 3 days. To assure that the disciples could not conspire in a resurrection hoax, Pilate ordered the official seal of Rome to be attached to the tomb to put graverobbers on notice. To enforce the order, soldiers stood guard. Any disciple who wanted to tamper with the body would have had to get by them, which wouldn’t have been easy. The Roman guards had good reason for staying alert–the penalty for falling asleep while on watch was death.

In Spite Of Guards, The Grave Was Found Empty

On the morning after the Sabbath, some of Jesus’ followers went to the grave to anoint His body. But when they arrived, they were surprised at what they found. The huge stone that had been rolled into place over the entrance to the tomb had been moved, and Jesus’ body was gone. As word got out, two disciples rushed to the burial site. The tomb was empty except for Jesus’ burial wrappings, which were lying neatly in place. In the meantime, some of the guards had gone into Jerusalem to tell the Jewish officials that they had fainted in the presence of a supernatural being that rolled the stone away. And when they woke up, the tomb was empty. The officials paid the guards a large sum of money to lie and say that the disciples stole the body while the soldiers slept. They assured the guards that if the report of the missing body got back to the governor they would intercede on their behalf.

Many People Claimed To Have Seen Him Alive

About AD 55, the apostle Paul wrote that the resurrected Christ had been seen by Peter, the 12 apostles, more than 500 people (many of whom were still alive at the time of his writing), James, and himself (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). By making such a public statement, he gave critics a chance to check out his claims for themselves. In addition, the New Testament begins its history of the followers of Christ by saying that Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by [the apostles] during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

His Apostles Were Dramatically Changed

When one of Jesus’ inner circle defected and betrayed Him, the other apostles ran for their lives. Even Peter, who earlier had insisted that he was ready to die for his teacher, lost heart and denied that he even knew Jesus. But the apostles went through a dramatic change. Within a few weeks, they were standing face to face with the ones who had crucified their leader. Their spirit was like iron. They became unstoppable in their determination to sacrifice everything for the one they called Savior and Lord. Even after they were imprisoned, threatened, and forbidden to speak in the name of Jesus, the apostles said to the Jewish leaders, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). After they were beaten for disobeying the orders of the Jewish council, these once-cowardly apostles “did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).

Witnesses Were Willing To Die For Their Claims

History is full of martyrs. Countless men and women have died for their beliefs. For that reason, it is not that significant to point out that the first disciples were willing to suffer and die for their faith. But it is significant that while many will die for what they believe to be the truth, few if any will die for what they know to be a lie. That psychological fact is important because the disciples of Christ did not die for deeply held beliefs about which they could have been honestly mistaken. They died for their claims to have seen Jesus alive and well after His resurrection. They died for their claim that Jesus Christ had not only died for their sins but that He had risen bodily from the dead to show that He was like no other spiritual leader who had ever lived.

Jewish Believers Changed Their Day Of Worship

The Sabbath day of rest and worship was basic to the Jewish way of life. Any Jew who did not honor the Sabbath was guilty of breaking the law of Moses. Yet Jewish followers of Christ began worshiping with Gentile believers on a new day. The first day of the week, the day on which they believed Christ had risen from the dead, replaced the Sabbath. For a Jew, it reflected a major change of life. The new day, along with the Christian conversion rite of baptism, declared that those who believed Christ had risen from the dead were ready for more than a renewal of Judaism. They believed that the death and resurrection of Christ had cleared the way for a new relationship with God. The new way was based not on the law, but on the sin-bearing, life-giving help of a resurrected Savior.

Although It Was Unexpected, It Was Clearly Predicted

The disciples were caught off guard. They expected their Messiah to restore the kingdom to Israel. Their minds were so fixed on the coming of a messianic political kingdom that they didn’t anticipate the events essential to the salvation of their souls. They must have thought Christ was speaking in symbolic language when He kept saying over and over that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem to die and be resurrected from the dead. Coming from one who spoke in parables, they missed the obvious until after it was all over. In the process, they also overlooked the prophet Isaiah’s prediction of a suffering servant who would bear the sins of Israel, being led like a lamb to the slaughter, before God “prolong[ed] His days” (Isaiah 53:10).

It Was A Fitting Climax To A Miraculous Life

While Jesus hung on a Roman cross, crowds mocked Him. He helped others, but could He help Himself? Was the miracle suddenly coming to an end? It seemed like such an unexpected ending for someone who began His public life by turning water into wine. During His 3-year ministry, He walked on water; healed the sick; opened blind eyes, deaf ears, and tongue-tied mouths; restored crippled limbs; cast out demons; stilled a violent storm; and raised the dead. He asked questions wise men couldn’t answer. He taught profound truths with the simplest of comparisons. And He confronted hypocrites with words that exposed their coverup. If all this was true, should we be surprised that His enemies didn’t have the last word?

It Fits The Experience Of Those Who Trust Him

The apostle Paul wrote, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). This was the experience of Paul, whose heart was dramatically changed by the resurrected Christ. It is also the experience of people all over the world who have “died” to their old ways so that Christ can live His life through them. This spiritual power is not evident in those who try to add belief in Christ to their old life. It is seen only in those who are willing to “die” to their old life to make room for the rule of Christ. It is apparent only in those who respond to the overwhelming evidence for Christ’s resurrection by acknowledging His lordship in their heart.

You’re Not Alone

You’re Not Alone

You’re not alone if you find yourself honestly unconvinced about whether Christ rose from the dead. But keep in mind that Jesus promised God’s help to those who want to be right with God. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17 NIV).

If you do see the reasonableness of the resurrection, keep in mind that the Bible says Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and those who believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort, but a gift to all who in light of the evidence put their trust in Him.

review

·         In Luke 24:27, Jesus explains His mission by discussing the Old Testament. How has the consistency of the Old and New Testaments influenced the way you read the Bible?

·         Jesus speaks very clearly in Luke’s gospel about the way we should live as His disciples. How has reading and praying through Luke helped you to live for Christ? What have you learnt about living for Jesus that you didn’t know before?

·         When Luke starts his book, he says that he writes it “so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught” (1:4). How has reading Luke’s gospel helped you to see that truth for yourself?

·         Write down three ways you want your life to be more Christ-centred as a result of what you’ve seen in Luke’s gospel. Write down three things found in Luke that you are most thankful for.

Items for Prayer

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A joyful departure

Read > Luke 24:50-53

So they worshipped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy (v. 52).

Goodbyes are often sad occasions. But the farewell we read at the close of book of Luke is different and surprising. The disciples’ response to Jesus’ departure is the opposite of what we would expect. They could no longer see Jesus, yet they experienced great joy (Luke 24:52). How different from the last time they had been without Him! (23:27-28). What happened?

They had experienced two great miracles – they had seen the resurrected Jesus (vv. 36-43) and also had their minds opened to understand the Scriptures (vv. 45-49). They now saw that the journey Jesus began in Luke 9:51 had reached its goal. He had reached Jerusalem and fulfilled the purpose for which He came – suffering, dying, and rising again. Now it was time for Him to enter His glory (24:26). This wasn’t an occasion for sadness, but one of great joy. Clearly Jesus was the promised Christ and He now returned to heaven to rule the world. One day He would come back and take them to share His glory.

But, for now, He needed to go there alone. And they needed to wait for His gift of the Holy Spirit. Only then would they be prepared to embark on their exciting journey of taking Christ’s gospel message from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

It’s a journey every Christian is on. The road will end in glory, but the travelling is not easy. Following Jesus is costly (Luke 9:57-62). It involves sacrificing time, energy, body, money, and reputation for Jesus and His mission.

Many might consider such a sacrifice a waste of a life. The resurrection and ascension of Jesus tell us otherwise. Jesus is Lord. He is ruling the world today. His mission will be accomplished. Jesus is the future. Living for Him is not a waste, it is a wise decision that leads to great joy. – Paul Baxendale

More >

·         Acts 1:1-1

·         Romans 12:1

·         1 Cor. 15:55-58

Next >

How can you show that you are living for Jesus today as He rules from heaven? What areas of your life still need to be surrendered to Christ’s lordship?

Raised for righteousness

Read > Romans 4:20-25

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God (v. 25).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ can be like a pastry chef at a WeightWatchers convention or like having a pinky toe. We know each is important, but we’re not sure why.

Many Christians treat the resurrection like the end of a children’s story – “And they lived happily ever after” – a reminder that everything turned out okay in the end. They believe that the resurrection assures us that the cross “took,” and it guarantees that believers in Jesus will live forever but it isn’t strictly necessary for our salvation. Our sins, they feel, would still be forgiven even if Jesus did not rise from the dead, for the cross alone makes us right with God.

Wrong. Paul twice says that the resurrection is as important as the cross to make us righteous before God. Romans 4:25 states that Jesus “was raised to life to make us right with God,” and 1 Corinthians 15:17 declares that “if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.”

Here’s why: Jesus died on the cross as a guilty sinner in our place (Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). If the story had ended there, Jesus would continue to bear sin’s penalty of death. He would remain guilty. He would not be right with God, and neither would we.

The resurrection is the Father’s reversal of this verdict. He accepts His Son’s sacrifice and releases Him from sin’s guilt and penalty. The Father raised Jesus to restore Him to His righteous standing and the life that returns when sin and death are destroyed.

The resurrection declares that Jesus is now “right” with God, and so are we who place our faith in Him. We sinners need the righteousness of Christ. We receive this righteousness through His cross and resurrection. – Mike Wittmer

More >

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives (Romans 6:4).

Next >

If Christ’s resurrection makes us right with God, then how our continued sinning might is living a lie? Where do you need to claim the truth of the resurrection?

The main things

Read > Luke 24:36-49

“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 …: There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent” (vv. 45-47).

The Scriptures pressed home by the Holy Ghost are God’s power unto salvation, and not men’s cogitations and imaginations. There is the revealed gospel.” So said Charles Haddon Spurgeon when he reflected on the nature of sharing the gospel with others. The word of God must be central. We’ve already seen in Luke 24 just how crucial words are in creating faith (vv. 6-8, 32).

In preparing His disciples for their worldwide mission, Jesus made it clear that God’s Word was central to the task. He taught them from the Old Testament, summarising God’s purpose for the world as revealed there (vv. 46-47). His teaching highlighted three events: the death of the Messiah, His resurrection, and the proclamation of His message. Now that the first two events had been fulfilled, the third could take place. Because Jesus died and has been raised to life, the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name can go forth to all nations.

Jesus said that our response to His resurrection is to be twofold. First, we must repent (a turnaround of attitude that accepts Christ’s rule over our lives) and seek His forgiveness. Second, we’re to devote our lives to getting the message of the risen King out into the world. As Jesus prepared to leave His disciples, He clarified for them and for us what our priority should be as His followers. The central purpose of the church is to proclaim His death and resurrection and call people to repent and receive forgiveness of sins.

Charles Spurgeon is right. God’s Word – the Bible – must be our primary tool in winning people for the King. We must use words – the word of Christ as we have it in the Bible. For this is the way that King Jesus continues to seek and save the lost. – Paul Baxendale

More >

·         Matthew 28:16-20

·         Acts 6:2

·         Romans 10:13-15

Next >

Have you repented of your sin and asked Jesus for forgiveness? If not, what is stopping you?

Seeing Easter

Read > Matthew 28:1-10

Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there (v. 7).

My son Wyatt is only 5, but being typically male, he still has a bit of an issue with commitment. He told me, “I believe in God, but I’m waiting to make my choice about loving Him until I see Him.”

Wyatt’s hesitation does make sense. He wants to know what God is like before he trusts Him – and in Wyatt’s young world, someone’s face can tell him more about who that person is than any mere fact can. For Wyatt, seeing is believing.

For Jesus’ followers, what they had seen on Dark Friday gave them little reason to believe. Jesus had died a criminal’s death; His final words seemed to belie despair. Even Peter had surrendered hope and become a turncoat, a betrayer. All they saw was death.

On Sunday morning, only two people – Mary Magdalene and a woman vaguely referred to as “the other Mary” – had any desire “to visit the tomb” (v. 1). The mood was gloomy, bleak. Most everyone had seen quite enough. Jesus was dead … gone.

However, even as the women came to the garden tomb, Matthew hints, hope had turned their way. “As the new day was dawning,” he writes, the women went to Jesus’ burial plot (v. 1). It’s a simple line – down of a new day – but it offers another vision, a fresh hue on the gloomy scene. A swash of life cuts across their vision of darkness and death.

What the women saw that day was a radiant angel, shining like lightning. What they saw was a tomb empty. What they saw was hope and life, not merely dawning, but breaking forth, springing up all around them (vv. 2-3).

Gloom hovers over our world. God has more for us to see, however. There is Easter to see, Jesus (Life!) breaking forth before us. – Winn Collier

More >

·         Mark 16:1-8

·         Romans 8:18-39

Next >

Where has gloom and darkness settled in your life? What fresh insight/vision might God want you to see in that place?

All is revealed

Read > Luke 24:13-35

“Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?” (v. 26).

Of the four gospel writers, Luke alone records the journey taken by the two disciples to Emmaus (ch. 24). It’s a lovely account, as we see Jesus working a great change in their lives. Their hearts are heavy with sorrow and bitter disappointment. They had hoped Jesus was the King promised in the Old Testament who would free them from their enemies, but all their hopes were dashed by His death (vv. 20-21).

As they travelled they were joined by Jesus Himself, but they didn’t recognise Him. Jesus listened as they spoke of His powerful ministry (v. 19), His crucifixion (v. 20), the report the women gave about the empty tomb, and the words of the angels that He was alive (vv. 22-23). Remarkably, they were able to recount the story of Jesus in the clearest terms, but remained blind and cold to the reality of what had happened. They were in possession of all the facts, but had no faith.

But just a few verses later all that changed as we see that the two excitedly raced the 7 miles back to Jerusalem. They found the other disciples and told them that Jesus really was alive and that they had seen Him for themselves (vv. 33-35). Verses 31 and 32 explains the reason for the dramatic change: “Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognised Him” (v. 31). And at that moment He disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32).

A great miracle had taken place. Jesus had opened their eyes and fired their hearts to life. He had done this by teaching them the Scriptures (vv. 25-27, 45).

It’s when the Bible is taught that God opens blind eyes to see the glory of His risen Son. He alone can bring life to dead hearts. – Paul Baxendale

More >

·         John 5:39

·         Romans 10:17

·         2 Corinthians 4:1-6

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How will you seek to go about sharing Jesus with those whose minds are blinded by unbelief? How has Jesus opened your spiritual eyes?

Resurrection costs

Read > John 11:17-50; 12:10-11

Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus too (12:10).

One hundred thirty feet tall, the Christ the Redeemer statue rests atop Mt. Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A famous landmark in a city known for its sensuality, it stands in stark contrast to the offerings below. The etched nail prints on this grey, soapstone-covered statue are vivid reminders of how Jesus suffered so we might know freedom. His victory on the cross came at a great cost.

One of the greatest paradoxes of Scripture is that those who receive the free gift of salvation must count the cost of doing so. Jesus told His disciples that all were invited to follow Him, but not all were willing to pay the price (Luke 14:26-35). No one can earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8), because the blood of Christ is the only sufficient sacrifice for sin (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22). So what is the price we must pay?

In his account of Christ’s ministry, John tells of the death of Lazarus. We feel the depth of grief experienced by Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, and Jesus as they stand at the tomb. Death – the end result of man’s original sin – is a bitter thing. But for Jesus, the “resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), death wasn’t the end. It was an opportunity for life. Lazarus couldn’t earn it, he couldn’t buy it. Resurrection, like redemption, is a gift. Taking hold of it, though, means letting go of everything else.

Lazarus’ miraculous return to life didn’t sit well with the Pharisees. In like manner, the new life we have in Christ doesn’t mesh with the world or the desires of our flesh. Something must die. Either we crucify what cannot sustain us in order to truly live in Christ (Galatians 2:20), or we remain in death in order to hold on to what will eventually destroy us (Romans 7:5). – Regina Franklin

More >

·         Romans 6:5-11

·         Galatians 5:24; 6:14

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What have you not surrendered to God? What is the cost of hanging on to these things?

review

·         Note every way you see Jesus in control – despite man’s best efforts to gain that control. How is God’s great power and grace impacting the way you will live?

·         As Jesus hung on the cross, He faced a fate we cannot fathom. Spend some time reflecting on the price He paid for you.

·         As Christians, our hope is built on Jesus Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-28). How have the events of the first Easter changed the way you want to live your life today?

·         This time of year there’s a lot of talk about chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies, but the Bible makes it quite clear that Easter is all about Jesus. Have any of your friends missed Easter’s real meaning? How can you help them understand the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection?

Items for Prayer

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Resurrection responses

Read > Luke 24:1-12

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 crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day (v. 6-7).

An important date in British history is 18 June 1815. That’s when Wellington faced Napoleon at Waterloo. The future of the nation was at stake and the whole country waited nervously for news of the outcome. At long last, some signal ships came into view. Through a blanket of mist, the lookout was just able to discern the message before the fog rolled in: “Wellington defeated.” The worst had happened and the terrible news spread. When the fog lifted a few hours later, however, it became clear that the lookouts had been too hasty with their conclusions. The full message now came into view: “Wellington defeated Napoleon.”

As far as Jesus’ followers were concerned, the message of the cross was crystal clear: “Jesus defeated.” Jesus had declared Himself to be the great King of God’s kingdom. His miracles seemed to back up this claim, but now His death had done away with the whole idea. Certainly the resurrection was the furthest thing from the minds of the women when they went to the tomb. They carried spices because they were expecting to anoint Jesus’ dead body. Instead, they were confronted with the rolled-away stone (v. 2), the empty tomb (v. 3), the appearance of the angels (vv. 4-5), the question of rebuke (v. 5), and the glorious announcement (vv. 5-6).

It was the reminder of Jesus’ words that created faith in the women and cleared away the fog of unbelief. They rushed to share the full message with the others: “Jesus defeated death” (vv. 9-10).

The disciples, however, thought that the women were talking rubbish (v. 11). Even after checking it out for himself, Peter didn’t believe (v. 12). And so, Luke presents two contrasting responses to the resurrection. Like the disciples, we can scoff at the news or, as the women did, we can joyfully accept it. – Paul Baxendale

More >

·         John 20:24-29

·         Acts 17:32-34

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What is your response to the news that Jesus has risen? How has this view transformed your life?

The power of words

Read > Proverbs 18:10-21

The tongue can bring death or life (v. 21).

Before the late 1950s, the island of Cozumel, Mexico, was little more than a fishing village surrounded by Mayan ruins. Historians believe the Mayans settled there sometime in the first century AD. For nearly 2,000 years, there was little more to Mexico’s largest island than its ancient artefacts.

All that changed in 1959 when French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau declared the clear blue waters and coral reefs surrounding this Caribbean island as one of the best places in the world for scuba diving. The rest – as they say – is history. Today, the Island of Cozumel is a regular stop for thousands of cruise ship tourists, scuba enthusiasts, and snorkelling fans.

Talk about the weight of a person’s words! One man’s endorsement put a little-known Caribbean island on the map. Words can carry great power. Not only can they transform a tiny island, words also have the power to bring “death or life” to others (Proverbs 18:12).

A spiritual mentor of mine once talked about a comment his father made about him while he was a freshman in college. As a young student hoping to impress his father with all he was learning, he overheard his father say to his mother that he had a “sharp mind.” My mentor, who went on to get a Ph.D. and authored several helpful books, said, “I can’t tell you how many times my dad’s comment ‘he’s got a sharp mind’ strengthened me. During those moments in my schooling when I wasn’t sure if I was going to make the grade, the words of my father carried me through.” My friend had heard words of “encouragement” that kept him going (Ephesians 4:29).

What is the message of your words? (Proverbs 10:32). You have the power both to do build up and tear down. How are you using your power? – Jeff Olson

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Blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! (James 3:10).

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How should you change the way you talk to others? What words do you need to use more? Less?

darkness

Read > Luke 23:44-56

By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock (v. 44).

On July 22, 2009, a total eclipse of the sun was witnessed across India, China, and some Pacific Islands. It lasted just 6 minutes and 39 seconds. But that made it the longest eclipse for this century. The darkness that occurred during Christ’s crucifixion was no natural phenomenon – it lasted 3 hours that afternoon!

Luke described two other events that occurred during the crucifixion – events that resulted in dramatic changes. The first event involved the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple. It was torn down the middle (v. 45). God had decreed that a thick curtain separate His symbolic dwelling place from the rest of the temple. Access beyond the curtain was limited only to the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. After offering the requisite sacrifices and bearing the blood of a lamb, he went behind the curtain to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of Israel (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:7).

During those hours on the cross, God transferred the sins of the whole world onto Jesus. His blood shed on the cross once and for all took away our sins, something no earthly high priest could do (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 24-26). The curtain was torn in two to show that the way to God had been permanently opened to all.

The second event of that dark day was the belief in Jesus displayed by different people. Both the Roman centurion (v. 47) and Joseph (v. 50) could not continue to be silent.

They affirmed Jesus’ innocence by their actions. The former worshipped Him. The latter asked Pilate for Jesus’ body so that he could be given a dignified burial.

Have you been a “secret believer” – scared to tell someone about Jesus? Step out from the darkness in faith and proclaim what Jesus did on the cross. We can “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God” because there we will “find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16). – C. P. Hia

More >

·         Leviticus 16:20-22

·         Romans 10:13-15

·         Hebrews 10:19-25

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How are you letting others know that you’re a worshipper of God? To whom will you share the good news of Jesus today?

Free cycle

Read > Deuteronomy 14:1-21

You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk (v. 21).

A “free cycler” resists the consumer culture and pursues a lifestyle outside of prevailing economic systems. One free cycling practice is dumpster diving – foraging in garbage bins for food. One regular diver, Rebecca, has a career and financial resources (and even an art piece hanging in the Seattle Art Museum); but still, 99 percentage of her groceries come from dumpsters. She limits her purchases to butter and milk.

Free cyclers like Rebecca make what might seem to be bizarre choices because of their commitment to other values. God has called His people to a distinctly countercultural life (dumpster-diving not included).

Deuteronomy provided wide-ranging instructions for the way ancient Israel should live as God’s people amid a culture that consistently resisted God’s vision of the world. Like free cyclers, these instructions even touched on how and where and when they got their food.

For instance, God told Israel that they could eat meat from “the ox, the sheep, [or] the goat,” but never to eat a pig or an eagle or an owl (Deut. 14:4). They could eat swimming creatures with fins and scales, but if the swimming creatures did not have fins and scales, no.

There are probably numerous reasons God provided these instructions (sanitation, environmental concerns, etc.). However, one of God’s purposes became clear with His seemingly odd insistence that Israelites never “cook a young goat in its mother’s milk” (v. 21). Apparently, this cooking practice was common in Canaanite culture, part of their pagan religious ritual. The issue was not about whether or not goat meat boiled in goat milk was good or bad. The prohibition had everything to do with maintaining fidelity to God over false gods.

Likewise for us, any cultural loyalty or consumer practice or political commitment that runs counter to fidelity to God deserves to be dumped – with no diving allowed. – Winn Collier

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Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2).

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Where are you most tempted to cave-in to prevailing culture and surrender your loyalty to God? What would it look like for you to shun that competing value?

The cross

Read > Luke 23:26-43

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (v. 34).

Today, crosses are worn by some believers and placed on steeples of churches as a symbol of Christianity. But in the first century, the sight of a cross elicited gasps of horror from those who saw it. Invented by the Phoenicians and perfected by the Romans, crucifixion was reserved for the worst of criminals. The criminal was nailed there until his death by asphyxiation, and which could take up to a few days. It was so horrible that no Roman citizen could be condemned to such a death.

The sinless Jesus was led to a cross to die. The women cried, the religious leaders scoffed, curious onlookers watched, and the Roman soldiers gambled. But two people could not look indifferently at what happened – the thieves who hung on crosses beside Jesus. Soon they would meet the same end. But they held very different views of the Saviour. The first joined those who sneered at Jesus, asking Him to save them as well as Himself. The other recognised that Jesus was innocent and that He should not be crucified. He said to the Lord, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Despite His own unbearable pain, Jesus told this penitent thief, “I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (v. 43).

Jesus asked His Father to forgive all those who were there at the cross. And the thief definitely benefited from the prayer that day. He admitted his sin and received divine forgiveness.

It doesn’t matter how many crosses you hang on yourself or in your home that profess you’re a Christian. What matters is your relationship with Jesus. He’s the only One who can save you. – C. P. Hia

More >

·         1 Cor. 1:18-19, 26-31

·         Galatians 6:14

·         Hebrews 12:2, 3

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Reflect on God’s love in sending Jesus to the cross for you. Who have you found it difficult to forgive? Take the initiative to call him or her today and re-establish your relationship.

Why take communion?

Read > Luke 22:7-20

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me” (v. 19).

Recently I was the guest speaker for the worship service in a church on Communion Sunday. When the pastor asked me to oversee the taking of Communion, I did it the way my home church does it. The pastor later told me that it was not the “usual way” they did it. He also said, however, that it was good for the congregation to experience another way of celebrating Communion.

Regardless of how it’s celebrated, Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, is a remembrance feast started by Jesus. Some 3,456 years before He held the first feast, God commanded the Jews to observe the Passover meal to remind them how the blood of a lamb had protected them from certain death (Exodus 12:1-14, 13:14-16). Hours before He went to the cross, Jesus observed the Passover meal with His disciples and made it the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:13-20).

Just like the Passover meal, Communion fulfils four important functions:

·         It is commemorative. It points back to the cross where Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, was sacrificed to save us from our sins and eternal death (vv. 19-20).

·         It is instructive. It provides an opportunity to teach our children about Jesus. I believe that God intends for young ones to be part of the Lord’s Supper. It gives parents the opportunity to tell them more about what the Lord has done (Exodus 12:24-27; 13:14).

·         It is evangelistic. It reminds us that every time we eat the bread and drink from the cup, we are publicly announcing the Lord’s death (1 Cor. 11:26).

·         It is predictive. It reminds us that Jesus is coming back again (v. 26).

Communion is vital for believers in Jesus. Take it often! – K. T. Sim

More >

·         Exodus 12:3-14

·         John 1:29

·         1 Cor. 11:23-26

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What is the significance of the Communion elements to you? How can God use the Lord’s Supper to help you and your family grow spiritually?